Defending title holder The Monstar has drawn in close for this year’s Listed $125,000 Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.

The Monstar, above, is chasing back to back Razor Sharp Handicap wins at Randwick. Photo by Daniel Costello.

The Monstar, above, is chasing back to back Razor Sharp Handicap wins at Randwick. Photo by Daniel Costello.

The Monstar will jump from gate two in the fifteen horse field and trainer Brett Cavanough would love a shower or two at Randwick before the weekend to enhance the seven year old’s chances of claiming back to back victories in the feature Summer Carnival sprint after winning last year on a soft 7 rated track.

“I see there’s a few mills forecast, we’ll keep and eye on the weather and with Randwick being a bit close to the coast it might be more forgiving than Rosehill,” Cavanough told AAP.

“I’ll find out what’s he’s (Randwick racecourse manager Nevesh Ramdhani) doing to it. If there’s good grass cover and it’s not a road he still might go.”

Tommy Berry steered The Monstar to victory in the 2016 Razor Sharp Handicap while Grant Buckley takes over the reins from Jamie Mott who was aboard the gelding last start when third to Rich Charm in the Group 2 $300,000 Multiplier Stakes (1200m) down the Flemington straight on the first day of the four day Melbourne Cup Carnival.

The well performed James Cummings trained Chetwood has been primed for a solid first up run with two barrier trial wins at Canterbury and Warwick Farm but will have to overcome the extreme outside barrier.

Tye Angland gets the ride on Chetwood who hasn’t started since finishing ninth to Happy Clapper in the Group 3 $150,000 Coca-Cola Newcastle Newmarket Handicap (1400m) at Newcastle on March 17.

Team Snowden will have three chances in the Razor Sharp with all drawing around the middle of the pack.

Nancy with Glyn Schofield in the saddle has drawn barrier six, Kerrin McEvoy’s mount Calanda came up with barrier seven while Snippets Land will jump from gate nine with Josh Adams booked to ride.

Calanda has the best form of the three Snowden runners and is coming off a last start second to Monsieur Gustave in the Group 3 $200,000 George Moore Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on December 2.

The Robert Northam trained Big Money has drawn the rails and will be ridden by Robert Thompson who was aboard the eight year old last start when seventh to Egyptian Symbol in the Listed $125,000 Starlight Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on December 2.

Final field for the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m)

# Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Hcp Rating
1 x1111x659x CHETWOOD James Cummings Tye Angland 16 59kg 104
2 221712×700 KURO (NZ) John O’Shea Brenton Avdulla 4 59kg 104
3 x031223443 THE MONSTAR Brett Cavanough Grant Buckley 2 59kg 104
4 650980×786 JAPONISME Chris Waller Ben Melham 10 58.5kg 103
5 7542000×37 BIG MONEY Rodney Northam Robert Thompson 1 56.5kg 99
6 35x650296x SNIPPETS LAND Peter & Paul Snowden Josh Adams 9 56kg 98
7 069611×842 CALANDA Peter & Paul Snowden Kerrin McEvoy 7 55.5kg 97
8 x243279x09 NANCY Peter & Paul Snowden Glyn Schofield 6 53.5kg 97
9 19x72630x3 PALAZZO PUBBLICO Matthew Smith Jay Ford 11 53.5kg 97
10 1350×77204 ZESTFUL Kris Lees Christian Reith 8 53.5kg 97
11 7813311483 ISORICH Wayne Seelin Ms Jess Taylor 5 53kg 92
12 18120×5718 SAMANTHA Gerald Ryan Andrew Adkins (a) 14 53kg 92
13 1228461145 SIR PLUSH (NZ) Bjorn Baker Jason Collett 12 53kg 92
14 12653×4223 I THOUGHT SO David Pfieffer Ms Rachel King (a/), (late alt) 3 53kg 89
15 231026×615 MACHINEGUN JUBS Angela Davies Scratched 13 53kg 83
16 x141268045 PETROSSIAN Paul Perry Blaike McDougall (a) 15 53kg 83

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.