Race Preview
Sydney Specials: Randwick - 25th October 2025
We return to Royal Randwick this Saturday after a memorable TAB Everest day last weekend, with the Group One Moet And Chandon Champagne Stakes (2000m), the feature race.
We keep our powder dry for later in the day where the Michael Freedman-trained Manaal comes up as our best bet in the Group 2 The Invitation (1400m).
The four-year-old daughter of Tassort is chasing her seventh Group victory after winning the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes (1000m), on debut as a two-year-old in 2023.
Manaal has her sixteenth race start on Saturday and has amassed just under $2 million in prize money as she chases her third straight win this campaign.
Michael Freedman is starting to see the fruits of his decision to give her a light spring last season as she has gone to a new peak winning the Group 2 Sheraco and Group 2 Golden Pendant.
Tomorrow she meets similar opposition with the exception of Miss Roumbini, who comes up from Victoria after finishing an unlucky second in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clark Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Manaal has drawn a good barrier again tomorrow (5), and Tommy Berry can park her in the box seat behind Oh Diamond Lil and Gerringong where she can pounce on them with her explosive turn of foot.
The $4.20 looks excellent value and the 59kg doesn't pose a real concern with the set weights and penalties.
Our next best comes up in the Robric Lodge Filante Handicap (1600m), with the Bjorn Baker-trained Point And Shoot.
The four-year-old Blue Point gelding has needed the three runs to bring him to his peak, and he gets out to his preferred distance range tomorrow over the mile.
Point And Shoot is on the quick backup after reeling off slick closing splits when fifth to Linebacker in the Group 3 Silver Eagle (1300m) last Saturday at this track.
After going up $3.60 on Wednesday, Point And Shoot has been crunched in betting where he now sits as the $2.15 favourite.
SYDNEY SPECIALS
Race 9 No. 2 - MANAAL
Race 4 No. 9 - POINT AND SHOOT
