Sizzling Chasing First Sydney Victory In The Bill Ritchie Handicap

Trainer Kelso Wood believes that exciting entire Sizzling is a good chance to record his first win outside Queensland in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) at Royal Randwick today.

Sizzling has been well backed to record his first win in Sydney in the Bill Ritchie Handicap this afternoon. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Sizzling has performed well in both previous starts this campaign, finishing seventh in the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) and fifth in the Group 3 Tramway Stakes (1400m), and appears well placed to maintain his stellar third-up record.

Wood told Sky Racing HQ that circumstances have been against the four-year-old in his past two starts and he is ready to run a big race from a better barrier this weekend.

“I’m pretty excited about the way that Sizzling is going,” Wood said.

“This is the first race that he has been in that suits him.

“The horses have had no luck down there due to barriers and the way the races have been run.

“Good barriers and a big track he should race really well.”

Sizzling will jump from barrier four with Tim Clark on board and Wood is confident that the Group 1 winning jockey now has an excellent feel for the Queensland Guineas winner.

“He has ridden the horse twice and has a better idea on how to handle the ride,” Wood said.

“He isn’t going to be as far back, he will be a little bit more forward and I think that he is a live chance.”

The Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 5 is the major 2013 Spring Racing Carnival goal for Sizzling and Wood is sure to have the four-year-old peaking for that run.

As a two-year-old Sizzling won the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce (1400m) third-up before capturing the Group 1 T.J. Smith (1600m) and Wood has trained him this preparation to have him peaking for his third and fourth-up runs once again.

“It is the way I have trained him really,” Wood said.

“I have aimed him at races and these have been the lead-up races and he is gradually getting to where I want him.”

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.