Randwick

The unraced runners hold the key to this race, headed by ASTRONOMIX (1) who was a comfortable Randwick trial winner over 1050m on 30 December. Worth noting that McDonald takes the mount - his strike rate for the O'Shea/Charlton yard sits at an impressive 32%. CHARLINA (5) is the pick of the runners with race experience. Lunged late but just missed when resuming over this distance at Gosford last start. That was a career-high figure so she is back better than ever. APPIN OPAL (4) is a first starter by Exceedance from the good race mare Sarthemare who has produced three black-type winners from her six foals to race. Recent trial winner who looks to have inherited that talent. The Waterhouse/Bott-trained FARFETCHED (6) is a debutante by Farnan from a More Than Ready mare who has thrown six individual winners. Won a trial at Randwick on 30 December so she is no slouch. MUSCLE BEACH (3) was fair first-up at Kembla. One for the wider exotics.