Leung Ho Yin, Simon's Bio
Simon is a well respected full-time thoroughbred racing commentator specializing in overseas international racing. Bringing with him a wealth of racing knowledge, Simon is the host and race caller for the overseas simulcast programme since 2008/09 season. He is currently the presenter on several racing television programmes including, ‘Racing Horizon’ and ‘Horse Racing – Results’.

Randwick Racecourse – Track Analysis (Epsom Handicap Day):

As the biggest racing venue located in the eastern part of Sydney, the rectangularly configured Randwick Racecourse features a 2227m outer course of 28m in width and with a 410m homestretch that grades slightly uphill towards the finish. Coupled with the typical fast fractions in Australian racing, Randwick, of its ample track width and subtly uphill stretch runs, generally favours closers – unless the track is significantly biased on a particular day.

For the pair of G1 events contested at 1600m – the Epsom Handicap and the Flight Stakes – the course replicates Sha Tin in a certain context, where runners accordingly travels through a 600m backstretch before hitting a wide, sweeping far turn, and coupled with more tepid early fractions, post positions are less of a factor, whereas the same goes for the G1 The Metropolitan over 2400m, as the runners sort themselves out over a 400m straight before hitting the first turn. Even for the 1200m trip, where both the Premiere Stakes and the BM90 Handicap will be staged, sprinters have again a 600m straight – and the time and space – to either hustle for the lead or sought coverage; rather, for the 1800m Hill Stakes, with that abbreviated run-up to the first turn, outside-drawn runners would have their work cut out for them.

With sunny weather that extends through to Saturday in Sydney, the races this weekend will be staged on firm turf. Reviewing the races of George Main Stakes Day on 16th September, even when the track was only listed as good, winners were checking in with fast times, and again as per usual at Randwick, closers reeling in their opposition from far out seemed to get a slight edge.

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