Heavy track sees Royal Descent’s George Main Stakes odds tumble

The odds for noted wet tracker Royal Descent have continued to tumble with overnight rain forcing the downgrading of the Randwick track to a heavy 8 for the running of the Group 1 $500,000 Colgate Optic White George Main Stakes (1600m) today.

Royal Descent will have no trouble handling the wet conditions at Randwick in the George Main Stakes. Photo by Steve Hart.

Royal Descent will have no trouble handling the wet conditions at Randwick in the George Main Stakes. Photo by Steve Hart.

The Chris Waller trained Royal Descent has firmed in from $4.40 to be the $4 second favourite behind stablemate Kermardec who has also come in for some solid support and now heads the market order at Ladbrokes.com.au at $2.40.

Randwick received 11.6mm in the last twenty-four hours taking the week’s total to 15.8mm putting the track into the Heavy 8 range for the start of the day.

Royal Descent followers can still remember her ploughing through the mud to set a ten length victory in the 2013 Group 1 $550,000 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick.

The six year old mare then took until two starts back to win her next race when she beat Pornichet in the Group 2 $250,000 Pro-Ride Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 22.

Waller was then slightly disappointed with her last start third behind Complacent an Kermardec in the Group 2 $250,000 Tattersalls Club Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on September 5 and is placing some of the blame on the second up syndrome.

“I was just perplexed why she didn’t quicken up there at the 500m last start and maybe she was just a little bit flat second up,” Waller told Sky Racing’s Racing HQ Saturday.

“There was no reason for it and her bit of work since then has been very good.”

But Waller has no worries about her handling the wet conditions today and expects her to be in the finish again.

“She gets through it very well,” Waller said.

Waller is also confident that Kermadec will handle the wet ground after the way he won the Group 1 $3m The Star 150th Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on a track rated a soft 7 during the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

“Today he has a nice draw. He got through the soft – heavy track on the Doncaster day with no problems of all and there is no reason to suggest today will be any different,” Waller said.

“He was ready to win last start, he didn’t get a lot of luck.”

Waller’s third acceptor for the George Main Stakes, Moriarty, has been scratched, leaving nine runners to go around in the Group 1 weight for age feature.

George Main Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.40 Kermadec, $4 Royal Descent, $6.50 Lucia Valentina, $8 Pornichet, $15 Hooked, Sweynesse, $19 Kirramosa, $34 Hauraki, Protectionist.

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.