3 minute read

A sharp drop back in grade should see the John O'Shea trained Princess Layla make a winning return when she lines up in the fifth race at Warwick Farm this afternoon.

Stepping out at just her twelfth start the daughter of Fastnet Rock boasts some very impressive formlines having finished close behind both the Darley trained Babel and the Chris Waller trained She's Clean last preparation.

A bold front-runner, Princess Layla continued to show good improvement with each start last time in returning a career peak Timeform figure of 88 when only just edged out by She's Clean at Rosehill two starts back.

While it is obviously hard to gauge how much improvement Princess Layla can make off a break if you take a line through both She's Clean and Babel it is quite possible that she can improve up to 10 pounds this preparation as both gallopers have done so respectively.

Given two trials in the lead up to her first up performance she appears to have come back in good order most recently saluting at Randwick over 1050m.

Having collected both of her two career victories when fresh, O'Shea will hope Nash Rawiller can continue his hot run with his stable as he is currently riding at a strike rate of 25% for this season.

Drawn well on the inside expect Rawiller to roll forward and settle right up on the speed with the Gai Waterhouse trained Give My Regards and the Robert Pearse trained Arrowette expected to take up the running in front.

While she has been allotted 59.5kg for this afternoon's event it is obvious she has a distinct class edge on her rivals and appears set to continue her hot record fresh.

The Chris Waller trained Caesar's Princess shapes as the main threat as she too drops back in grade for this event.

Proven to race in career best form last time in she boasts some impressive performances in Saturday company and although she has drawn the car park this afternoon expect Cassidy to roll forward and be in it for a long way.

Craig Carmody will saddle up the in-form Xatel Ekwa and she appears well in line to produce another solid performance.

Having not finished further than 1L off the winner in her past three starts she is racing in fantastic form reiterating the age old saying that you must always respect “mares in form”.

Drawn to get the run of the race expect Nathan Berry to settle her just off midfield and save her for one final burst in the straight.

The Joseph Pride trained My Sabeel hasn’t impressed in both starts this time in however she is clearly better than that and stays under notice while the Clarry Conners trained Ciao appears the next best.

Good luck and happy punting.