Veteran trainer Les Bridge has only one runner at Wednesday's Warwick Farm meeting, but he knows good things come to those who wait. The long-time Randwick horseman saddles up four-year-old mare Aye Aye Captain in an open Benchmark 72 Handicap over 1300 meters for older gallopers, the final race of the testing program.
This is only her second outing since the spring of 2024 when she promised so much as an early season three-year-old. With intermittent rain returning in the 24 hours leading up to the meeting, a heavy track is again likely, although that shouldn't bother Aye Aye Captain who has always shown a liking for wet ground. She bolted in her only previous start on soft going.
That was first-up back in early October 2024, with the daughter of Merchant Navy having only her third start. She promptly underlined her potential motoring home to claim a very strong Rosehill maiden, beating Diddle Dumpling and Straand Beauty who both quickly went on to win at BM 72 level. Aye Aye Captain then jumped sharply to a BM 68, finishing just behind the placegetters before saluting again as a well-backed favourite in a similar race at Rosehill in mid-November that year.
But then came the setbacks: a frustrating 75 weeks off via two stop-start trials before she finally returned in mid-April on the Kensington course, hitting the line from midfield into a place in a handy fillies and mares' BM 72 over 1100 meters. Given time to recover, Aye Aye Captain had an easy trial at home 19 days ago and is now seemingly ready to recapture the form that made her such an exciting young prospect.
In what is the most open race on a tough program, Aye Aye Captain opened around $5.00 in early betting, just behind Mamushka ($4.80), with a big gap to the next runner on the $8.50 mark. It would be a nice mid-week tonic for The Everest-winning trainer Bridge after talented colt Inspired Legend ran third in Saturday's Group 1 Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm.
The track is rated a Heavy 8 with the rail out 3 meters the entire circuit. Little to no rain is forecast for raceday with a top of 21 degrees and partly cloudy conditions.
Race 1 - 12:50PM SCHWEPPES HANDICAP (1100M)
6. Krasina ($4.40 on TAB) is a talented filly in the David Payne stable, with an edge in race fitness and primed to strike second-up. She had a good run here four weeks back when shuffled back to last and covered ground before hitting the line hard after getting clear late. Drawn to track a similar path settling a bit closer, and she's bred to relish wet tracks. 5. Kinetic Kiss ($3.80 favourite) is one of many eye-catching first starters. By Ole Kirk from the leading Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott yard, there was plenty to like about the second of two trials at Gosford, bouncing to the front and giving nothing else a chance. The time was only plain, but she had something in hand. Stablemate 1. Demerzel ($8) looks ready to run a race on debut at bigger odds. Also by Ole Kirk, and has been fitted with two solid trials. So too the Chris Waller-trained 2. Explosive Express ($6.50) by fashionable Japanese sire Staphanos who starts behind two progressive trials. Keep safe two other Waller stablemates in 9. Satin Serenade ($9.50), a first starter by Frankel who has had two trials, and 10. Coral ($10) who stuck on okay when debuting in that same race as the top selection. How to play it: Krasina to WIN.
Race 2 - 1:25PM DRINKWISE PLATE (1300M)
8. Our Huntress ($2.40 fav) let punters down badly first-up at Hawkesbury as a hot favourite when getting back into an ordinary spot before working home late. Gets a significant weight drop returning to metropolitan company, and the extra furlong is a further plus. Hasn't missed a place yet in five starts and she'll be hard to hold out with any decent run on preferred rain-affected ground. The one to beat. 2. Claudel ($4.80), a filly by So You Think from the Waller camp, is drawn to get a handy run on debut behind two progressive trials. 7. Miss Supernova ($5.50) is well placed to break through third-up after running home late into a place at Hawkesbury. 6. Merini ($10) second-up is the clear best of the rest. How to play it: Our Huntress to WIN.
Race 3 - 2:00PM PRECISE AIR PLATE (1100M)
13. Klocke ($8.50) is a colt by Zoustar who can make an instant impression on debut for the Waller stable at big odds in a tough and wide race. Progressed through two trials, powering home to win the latest at Rosehill with something in hand. Will likely go back from a wide draw, but he looks a smart one and is bred to thrive in the conditions. 6. Samaka ($3.80 fav) reloads off a six-week break for a leading metro stable after only being run down late in a handy provincial maiden. Looked strong winning a soft track trial 19 days ago. 12. Crescent King ($5.50) is a two-year-old stablemate of the former improving into his second start. 16. Lady Invictus ($4.60) is a well-bred filly and a big watch if she gets a run, resuming for only her second start off two progressive trials. 5. Royal Air Force ($7.50) emerges as each-way value resuming as a gelding off two trials, despite drawing wide. Has ability and took on some deeper opposition last campaign. 8. Unleash Harry ($12) off a break and a trial win goes in trifecta and first four plays. How to play it: Klocke EACH-WAY.
Race 4 - 2:35PM ASAHI SUPER DRY HANDICAP (1600M)
4. Viewpoint ($5) is a progressive three-year-old who did it too tough from the draw third-up in a deeper Saturday race over the Scone carnival. Much better placed here from a low barrier, with blinkers going on and can claim a third win from just his seventh start. 2. Hovland ($3 fav) is ready to peak third-up staying over the mile. Has worked home into a place in two runs back off a lengthy break and importantly, blinkers are back on. 5. Elle Hudson ($4.40) made up plenty of late ground here when resuming at huge odds and drawn to settle much closer this time over 300 meters further. Keep safe 7. Stellar Rhonda ($6.50) who won two straight before getting too far back in a BM 68 at Newcastle. 3. Ornithology ($8.50) coming through that same race as the former can run into the minor money second-up over more ground. How to play it: Viewpoint to WIN.
Race 5 - 3:10PM TAB HANDICAP (1100M)
2. Astronomix ($10) is an emerging Randwick three-year-old who can strike fresh off two easy trials. Bolted in his debut on the Kensington Track in mid-January before being placed in his next two up to BM 72 grade. Ready to rock at good odds with a 2kg claim offsetting the weight. 3. Hello Captain ($3.20 fav) is a lightly raced and promising three-year-old who returned with a bang, powering home to win a similar race in heavy going after being backed from $2.30 into $1.95. Has paid the weight tax though, up sharply to a hefty 62kg and drawn wider out, so the tempo up front will be vital to his chances. The natural threat. Stablemate 6. Nandina ($7.50) is in the mix third-up after working home okay in that same race as the former. 13. Jarrito ($7) is lightly raced and resumes off a trial win from the inside draw, while 12. Mrs Maree ($9.50) is hard fit and one for the exotics deep into her prep. How to play it: Astronomix to WIN.
Race 6 - 3:45PM HYLAND RACE COLOURS HANDICAP (2200M)
7. Natoya ($4.40 fav) is an improving mare who can score an overdue third career win deep into the campaign. Only missed narrowly in tougher company early in the prep and was strong late in a similar race here in heavy going a fortnight back. 2. Cormac T ($4.80) hasn't won for a while, but he's tough in the battle and will appreciate both a drop back from Saturday grade and a significantly longer trip. Keep safe 3. Black Babylon ($4.80) who can peak third-up over further after running home from near the back in that same race as the top selection. 10. Le Troisir ($6) switches states after being twice in the money from his last four in Victoria, while 6. Blacklist ($9) through that familiar formline at this track, and 9. War Ribbon ($10) fourth-up can both add value into wider exotics. How to play it: Natoya to WIN.
Race 7 - 4:20PM IRRESISTIBLE POOLS AND SPAS HANDICAP (1300M)
10. Aye Aye Captain ($5) is a progressive mare who rates on top second-up off a long break in a tough and wide open closer. Won two from three in the spring of 2024 up to city BM 68 level when right in the market before being forced into a long spell. Finally returned in autumn and duly found the line in similar company on the Kensington Track. Given six weeks since that run via a quiet trial, drawn to get to the outside and this is her right distance. 7. Mamushka ($4.80 fav) is a capable mare building a smart record and gets blinkers on second-up. Wasn't far away in mares company when resuming and a stronger jockey takes over, although still a query if the track becomes very chopped up. 3. Metaphorically ($12) is over the odds resuming from a soft draw behind two improving trials. Keep safe too 6. Formal ($10) second-up at big odds after missing by a long neck here in similar grade and going. 8. Rimbaud ($8) is a trifecta and first four player fourth-up, while 12. Twisted Queen ($8.50) is also capable of finding the minor money reloading off a fast-finishing first-up win in a weaker race at Newcastle. How to play it: Aye Aye Captain to WIN.
BEST BETS
Race 1 - 6. Krasina ($4.40 on TAB)
Race 2 - 8. Our Huntress ($2.40 favourite)
BEST VALUE
Race 4 - 4. Viewpoint ($5)
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