2025 Scone Cup goal for consistent Grebeni

Randwick’s weather forecast is under scrutiny from trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, who are hoping for favourable conditions ahead of their strong team this Saturday.

The stable’s headline act is Grebeni, who continues his build-up to the Scone Cup with a run in the Precise Air Handicap (1500m), weather permitting.

After a promising third in the Newcastle Stakes and a runner-up finish in the Muswellbrook Cup, the five-year-old arrives in great form.

He missed a run in the Doncaster Prelude due to track conditions, so the team is hoping to dodge the same fate this weekend.

“He likes his runs spaced and he had a big day that day at Muswellbrook,” Ryan said.

“There wasn’t much for him in between. We were going to trial him and then go to Hawkesbury and Scone but we thought he might be better off running in this race at Randwick and then going straight to Scone from here with three weeks between runs. He is going terrific.”

A possible trip to the Queensland winter carnival remains on the cards depending on his next few starts.

Also in action is Pajanti, who resumes in the Neville Waters Handicap (1200m) with Ryan hopeful of soft going. She’s a proven fresh performer with black-type potential.

“She was a bit stiff in the (Listed) Mona Lisa Stakes. She missed the kick and got back and she perhaps should have run a place,” Ryan said.

“We will just hang around Saturday grade and if there is a stakes race for the mare it might be something like the Gai Waterhouse Classic later on.”

Two-year-old Grand Eagle completes the trio, lining up in the day’s opener at Randwick.