Randwick – Daily Brief (25 July 2026)
Proven speed meets building fitness
Ashley’s Profile Horse
Race 7 – Oakfield Neptune
Our TH.INTEL Profile Horse for Randwick is Oakfield Neptune in Race 7, trained by Kris Lees over 1100 metres.
The four-year-old holds a Benchmark Performance Index of 87, with a Peak Velocity Rating of 8.42. Its Average Velocity Rating (6.10) and Best Velocity Rating this preparation (7.15) both sit below that career peak, indicating the horse has not yet reproduced its fastest recorded form this campaign. That suggests there is still meaningful upside to support a stronger Performance Index reading as this preparation progresses.
Saturday marks the fourth run of the preparation, a stage where many horses begin to approach peak race fitness. Oakfield Neptune’s profile reflects that progression, with its conditioning continuing to strengthen through the campaign.
Another encouraging indicator is the horse’s positive Finishing Differential, demonstrating an ability to maintain or improve its position in the closing stages of its races. Within the TH.INTEL framework, this is an important performance characteristic, reflecting a horse capable of sustaining its effort under race pressure.
Statistically, Oakfield Neptune is one of Kris Lees’ highest-performing horses currently in work. While it doesn’t hold the highest Velocity Rating in this field, its overall performance profile suggests it has the conditioning to race prominently and be one of the strongest horses through the line.
Jordan’s Profile Horse
Race 4 – No. 2 Astronomix
Astronomix carries the race’s highest Average Velocity Rating and highest Peak Velocity Rating at the same time (10.13) — the only horse in the field leading both measures simultaneously, not just one or the other. Its most recent run also matched that career-best figure exactly, meaning this isn’t a dated peak from earlier in its career; it’s current, right-now form.
Where Oakfield Neptune’s case rests on a proven campaigner still building toward its own ceiling, Astronomix’s case rests on raw, already-peaking speed. Two different reasons to watch two different races on the same card.
TH.INTEL Race Intelligence — Randwick
R9 12. Big Red Tequila holds the meeting’s highest Benchmark Performance Index among genuinely distinct readings, 91.67.
R7 10. Zoufame holds the meeting’s highest Average Velocity Rating (9.22).
R3 5. Let’s Fly holds the meeting’s highest Last Run Velocity Rating (10.21).
Peak Velocity Rating is shared: R2 3. Michelangelo and R9 6. Hawker Hall both hold the meeting’s highest reading, 11.17.
R1 15. Yvonne’s Joy holds the meeting’s highest Preparation Velocity Rating (9.28).
Campaign Ironhorse are the horses deepest into their campaigns, and today R10 6. Bandi’s Boy and R3 15. Brannum both enter eleven runs into their current preparations.
Closing Index is shared: R8 1. Hollywood Hero, R2 11. Leovanni, R2 17. Dunstall The Gun, R6 4. Iceman, and R2 9. Saintly Sands all produced the meeting’s strongest finishing effort, +6.
Race 2 alone carries four of this meeting’s markers across four different runners — Michelangelo’s share of the Peak Velocity Rating lead, plus three of the five Closing Index co-leaders. On a ten-race card this size, that concentration is worth watching closely.