A strong field has been assembled for the first Stakes race Sydney has to offer this season, the Missile Stakes (1200m) this Saturday at Randwick.
Down below is a speed map, runner preview and $100 betting strategy for the 2025 Missile Stakes.
2025 Missile Stakes Runner Preview:
1. Private Eye: SCR
2. Robusto: Three weeks between runs and 1500m to 1200m tells me this is a barrier trial, potentially with eyes towards the Epsom.
3. Encap: Encap looks here to play I suspect for Gary Portelli. He resumes, having not raced since the JRA Plate during the Autumn Carnival where he ran his race in patches and was never really a factor behind Bois D’Argent. Given a good break and his trial work, notably his second trial, was very good.
4. General Salute: General Salute comes here off a mini freshen up, his resumption being in the Healy Stakes where he was one of the runs of the meeting in defeat given the pattern when third to Metalart. His tick over trial was a good piece of work and he should be strong at the end.
5. Brudenell: Brudenell is a Kris Lees trained gelding that resumes. This guy is first up, having not raced since June 7 in the Bob Charley when a game second to In Flight, continuing a good prep. Trialled up super for the return, good racing style…dangerous.
6. With Your Blessing: He is the value for sure. Just looked in need of the run fresh at Rosehill behind Romeo’s Choice. He has a fab record at Randwick, like him at 1200m and has a kind map in his corner.
7. Romeo’s Choice: Loved the way he knuckled down to win at Rosehill last time but this looks harder and I think the barrier seals his fate.
8. War Eternal: Ran second last week at Rosehill but was held and struggled. I can’t see him improving enough.
9. Ang Pow: Didn’t do a bad job here fresh but needs it slightly easier.
10. Elettrica: Talented mare but don’t think she is here to play.
2025 Missile Stakes $100 Betting Strategy:
$20 Win / $80 Place Encap
Missile Stakes Odds
Missile Stakes Field
| No | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PRIVATE EYE | Joseph Pride | Nash Rawiller | 2 | 57.5kg |
| 2 | ROBUSTO | Bjorn Baker | Joshua Parr | 8 | 57.5kg |
| 3 | ENCAP | Gary Portelli | Tommy Berry | 9 | 57.5kg |
| 4 | GENERAL SALUTE | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Tim Clark | 1 | 56.5kg |
| 5 | BRUDENELL | Kris Lees | Dylan Gibbons | 7 | 56kg |
| 6 | WITH YOUR BLESSING (NZ) | John Thompson | Ms Alysha Collett | 3 | 56kg |
| 7 | ROMEO’S CHOICE | Richard Litt | Tom Sherry | 10 | 56kg |
| 8 | WAR ETERNAL (NZ) | Bjorn Baker | Ashley Morgan | 5 | 56kg |
| 9 | ANG POW | Richard & Will Freedman | Zac Lloyd | 4 | 56kg |
| 10 | ELETTRICA (NZ) | Richard & Will Freedman | Jason Collett | 6 | 54kg |
2025 Missile Stakes Speed Map
I can’t see much front end pressure here outside Brudenell, who could well get front end control. With Your Blessing can settle forward but doesn’t have the early toe of Brudenell. Encap has been ridden with intent in trials and I think will be ridden forward.