Gai Waterhouse has a grip on another Randwick mile with Stratofortress posted favourite in first markets for Saturday's Group Two Villiers Stakes.The Newcastle Cup winner was at $6 with TAB Sportsbet ahead of the Anthony Cummings-trained Rhythm Of Dance and Snow Alert at $8.50.The favourite will have the services of Nash Rawiller who returned from a short holiday in Hong Kong to ride four winners from four rides at Randwick on Wednesday."Stratofortress is going terrific," Rawiller said.At his fi

Gai Waterhouse has a grip on another Randwick mile with Stratofortress posted favourite in first markets for Saturday's Group Two Villiers Stakes.

The Newcastle Cup winner was at $6 with TAB Sportsbet ahead of the Anthony Cummings-trained Rhythm Of Dance and Snow Alert at $8.50.

The favourite will have the services of Nash Rawiller who returned from a short holiday in Hong Kong to ride four winners from four rides at Randwick on Wednesday.

"Stratofortress is going terrific," Rawiller said.

At his first start since the Newcastle feature, Stratofortress ran second to Villiers contender Dysphonia in the Festival Stakes (1500m) last Saturday week.

The Chris Waller-trained Snow Alert ran second in the Newcastle Cup (2300m) in September and has topweight in the Villiers (1600m) of 58kg with stablemate Altered Boy on 57.5, the same as Stratofortress.

"I'm pleased with both horses but I wish they had drawn better," Waller said.

"I would rather they came out of two and three instead of nine and 12."

Altered Boy, a winner at Rosehill last Saturday, has nine and Snow Alert 12.

Rhythm Of Dance faces his toughest test yet going into the race at just his eighth start but on the plus side he goes in off a winning hat-trick.

The four-year-old has drawn barrier seven and will be ridden by Tim Clark at 52kg.

"He's still learning," Cummings said.

"But I think the mile will (1600m) suit and the blinkers come off to make sure he settles.

"He's got a good barrier, a good weight and a good jockey."

Waterhouse could be looking at a feature double on home soil with Swift Alliance the $5 favourite for the Listed Razor Sharp (1200m).

Cummings has the outsider in Red Lord but is looking to him to perform well.

"He will run and if he finishes the race off well then he will go to the Magic Millions next month if his form warrants it," he said.

Both races attracted fields of 18 with 14 to contest the $250,000 Inglis Nursery (1000m).

The Gerald Ryan-trained Hot Snitzel, a winner at Rosehill last Saturday, will back up with Rawiller aboard replacing Corey Brown who is taking a short holiday.