Racing is back at Randwick for the first time in yonks and it should be a cracking day. Didn’t have a great weekend last week, but we managed to finally hit a best bet! Can we keep it going and get on a bit of a streak? Let’s hope so!
Track Report: Currently rated a Soft 5 and with a smattering of showers predicted it could stay that way. If not, the sun on Saturday should get the track drying out by the end of race day. Rail is in the true position and the racing should be as fair as fair can be.
Race 1 – 1400M Wilson Asset Management Hcp
I am very bullish about two horses in this race.
One is the favourite, who I am siding with in Vomo Island. Think despite the fact that he is still a maiden this horse has some petrol under the hood to win a few races this winter. Last start came with a narrow loss to Kandinsky Abstract and Celestial Abstract, both of whom look exciting prospects, especially the latter, who smashed them last week. Will sit off the pace and kick hard in the final stages.
Godzilla is the other. Another horse who is still a maiden, but in his defence, he has been racing out of his depth for a while now. A decent run in the Pago Pago Stakes behind Golden Slipper winner Shinzo and a strong run behind The Novelist came before a flat run first up. Blinkers go on for the first time and that could be the making of him.
Rhythm of Love is a knockout hope with Dyl Gibbons on board, as is Matusalem, they round out selections.
Selections: 5-2-4-6
Suggested Bet: Vomo Island Win
Race 2 – 1400M Tab Highway Hcp (C3)
Gonna take a throw at the stumps and stick with What A Peach. Was with her last start at Scone where she missed quite narrowly at huge odds and we almost snagged a big one. She goes better in the dry than the wet, but she loves this distance and she will be the one to watch late as she kicks down the straight.
Titration is an interesting one. Needs to gain a start, as it is the 3rd emergency, but if it does, it will most certainly be a contender. Zac Lloyd is flying and already has a handful of wins since he returned from suspension and with his claim the consistent gelding will only carry 52.5 kilos. Will sit right on the speed and could be slingshot to victory after a Lloyd kick in the ribs.
Demitasse is obviously the horse to beat. Almost beat a smart-looking horse a couple of weeks ago in Remplaps Contender and this stable are very consistent performer in the Highways. But, do I want to be taking this short of a price in a Highway? No. Respect it if you can dive in at those odds, but I cannot.
Overlord rounds out selections. Decent horse, but just needs to carry a lot of race.
Selections: 4-19-8-1
Suggested Bet: What A Peach Each Way
Race 3 – 1200M Midway (Bm72)
Moonlight Grace for me. I am forgiving last start, which was underwhelming to say the least when she stepped up to the stakes grade. I thought she would be able to hang with them, she couldn’t. But back to Midway grade, where she won nicely last time she was here. Dylan Gibbons jumps back on board and should be proactive from the wide draw. If she doesn’t get stuck wide without cover and tire herself out, she will be one of the strongest late.
Karedada going for a 4th straight win to add to the picket fence as he has risen through the grades nicely. Will also need to be quite proactive from the wide draw and just like his son Andrew Gibbons is no slouch and should give it every chance. Undefeated at the distance and likes the wet track, will certainly prove hard to beat.
Crafty Eagle is an interesting one here. He has never missed the trifecta in his career and his recent trials have been sharp. Lightly raced and does some of his best work when first up, I am sure he will be somewhere around the mark come finish time.
Broken Arrows always puts in a consistent effort. The last run was solid without winning behind Diamond Diesel and Turning. Is a knockout hope.
Selections: 9-8-4-5
Suggested Bet: Moonlight Grace Each Way
Race 4 – 1200M Taylor (Bm72)
Wouldn’t mind specking Yoshino at odds here. Beat the promising Garza Blanca in the Spring and does well with some juice in the track. Drawn to do no work and with the Lloyd/Cummings combination he should be fighting out the finish.
Plundering is a promising horse for the Neasham camp who is lightly raced and has yet to miss the trifecta in the wet. Even if it does end up dry I think he’ll be fine. Jett Stanley’s claim gets the weight right down and has the form over talented QLD galloper Yellow Brick, so I can only see it running well.
Tashi trialled fantastically behind some talented horses, including Eduardo, which has me confident that she will certainly be somewhere in the finish as he has been in all 4 career starts.
Demiana rounds out the selections as the favourite.
Selections: 1-2-7-6
Suggested Bet: Yoshino Each Way
Race 5 – 1400M Cancer Foundation (Bm78)
Kazou certainly has shown the right amount of ability to be running at this level as she is 3/5 and has put in some fast sectionals down the straight at Randwick on the Kensington track, now time for the main track. She should push forward and get to the front and attempt to kick away, however, I am not sure she should be this short.
Air To Air struggled on the heavy ground during her previous race at Rosehill, but she bounced back when she competed at Warwick Farm last Wednesday. Had a peach ride from Nash, maneuvering her to the inside and then in the straight, she found clear running space and displayed impressive strength to secure the victory. Proven at this level and can put in a strong run again.
Daralina Belle has been struggling at the shorter distances but she has just been warming up as she does some of her best work deep into the prep. Drawn the rails and get a soft run behind the leaders and with her turn of foot she will be well suited late if she doesn’t get stuck on the fence. 1400m suits her much better as she has won 2/3 at this distance.
Vienna Princess rounds out selections as this is her pet distance.
Selections: 5-4-9-7
Suggested Bet: Air To Air Each Way
Race 6 – 2000M Swysh (Bm78)
Wrathful here. Gets a jump in grade but I think he can hang with them. He should have won last start, but he just got way too far back for even his impressive turn of foot to run them down. The 2000m start at Randwick is a tough one, as it is straight into a turn, so if McEvoy is smart about it he will immediately try and tuck him into a pocket for a cushy run in transit before letting him cross heels to the outside and go to work down the straight. The longer distance and bigger tack should let him blow them away in the final stages.
Unspoken is another who has an impressive turn of foot when ridden correctly. Love him up to to 2000m and he is proven at the distance as well with a win over 2050m. He is drawn to do no work and should find himself in a good spot from the jump. I can only see traffic stopping him from being in the finish.
Miracle Spin comes out of the same form as Wrathful when he defeated him last start so he most definitely needs to be respected and could go back to back here. However, he has also drawn quite wide, which shouldn’t have too much impact as he is a horse that runs from back in the field usually, I just fear he might get shuffled way too far back to be winning this one, but he is a must for your exotics.
Naval College shares the top of the market after a couple of really promising runs at the midweek level. I am happy to watch and learn with him on his Saturday metro debut, but a win wouldn’t shock me.
Selections: 19-3-10-12
Suggested Bet: Wrathful Each Way
Race 7 – 1100M Fujitsu Airstage (Bm78)
Death, Taxes and a horse first up off of a gelding. It is a mantra that I have and is also one that I often forget and come to regret it, but I won’t be missing it here. Iowna Merc was a decent enough horse with his nuts let alone with them chopped off, so I am keen to see how he goes here. He will be plonked on the pace and prove hard to run down.
Kin is the field favourite and for good reason. Zac Lloyd on board and with his claim this horse will carry just about no weight and with his form behind Vowmaster she can be a real player here. With the hectic pace that could be set up front with all of the horses that like to push forward, sitting behind it could be the perfect strategy to slingshot her past them in the straight.
Lady Brook is one at odds that I would 100% respect a bet on. She is a consistent type that does her best work when first up, she has never missed the quinella. She will get the conditions to suit her as well, knockout chance for sure.
Billiondollarbaby rounds out selections as I have quite a lot of respect for her. Just missed at Scone last start and can measure up again.
Selections: 14-16-11-5
Suggested Bet: Iowna Merc Win
Race 8 – 1100M Sccf J Tedesco Outreach Prog.
Fox Fighter has been flying without winning lately and is ready to burst through and get that big win. By the time this race rolls around the track should be back in the Good 4 range where he will absolutely thrive. Drawn to get a cushy run behind the speed and will fire down the straight late.
Pizzaro is the main danger when I look at it. He didn’t win a whole lot last prep but look at the form – Mariamia, Cross Talk and Think About it, all Group 1 calibre horses. That will put him in good stead here, especially with the fact that he will carry no weight.
Dehorned Unicorn is another who has outstanding form despite not having a lot of success last prep. Midwest, Mariamia, Spacewalk, Shades Of Rose, some high calibre horse there themselves. He will truck in the run just off the pace and look to blitz them late.
Conscript is a knockout chance at odds and I have to include him in any exotics.
Selections: 5-13-14-10
Suggested Bet: Fox Fighter Each Way
Race 9 – 1400M Precise Fire Hcp
This is one of the best fields you will see all winter. Some really top-quality benchmark horses, as well as some who will definitely be group players to come.
Democracy Manifest and Tamerlane how the hell do I possibly choose between them?
I think I have to be with Democracy Manifest. It should have walked in backwards last start, but for some reason they tried to turn him into a leader when he is a pure sit-and-sprint type and he is damn good at it. With an improved steer and a dry track he can absolutely smash them down the straight.
Tamerlane is the other that could seriously gap them if he wanted to, as I think he can be a serious stakes/group grade horse come Spring. Zac Lloyd will have to kick hard from the wide gate to get him to the front, but if he does, he can kick all the way down the straight and take out the win.
I see no reason why Art Cadeau should be at such a huge price, it honestly boggles my mind. Loves Randwick, loves this distance and he will be able to go at his best no matter what conditions are dished up on the day. A win wouldn’t shock me one bit.
Oscar Zulu rounds out selections.
Selections: 14-4-3-2
Suggested Bet: Democracy Manifest Win
Race 10 – 1300M Hitech Plumbing (Bm78)
GaiBott’s talented gelding Huesca had a commendable performance two races ago at the midweeks in Warwick Farm, where he finished second. However, in his most recent outing at Rosehill three weeks ago, he faced challenging track conditions and he struggled on the heavy deck. We get back to a dry deck here and he will get a much better chance here.
Shipshape should of course be respected as the short favourite. He is lightly raced and should have won last start but was just pipped on the line. Hasn’t missed the placings once this prep and I expect that to continue here. Will stalk the leaders and be one of the strongest late.
Phearson will get a cushy run on the rails with the inside draw and he should prove hard to run down if he can get a clean lead as most of the speed is drawn out wide.
Gracilistyla rounds out selections.
Selections: 10-13-7-6
Suggested Bet: Huesca Each Way
Top Selections For The Card
Race 1: Vomo Island
Race 2: What A Peach
Race 3: Moonlight Grace
Race 4: Yoshino
Race 5: Air To Air
Race 6: Wrathful
Race 7: Iowna Merc
Race 8: Fox Fighter
Race 9: Democracy Manifest
Race 10: Huesca
Quaddie
Race 7: 5, 11, 14, 16
Race 8: 4, 5, 6, 10, 13, 14
Race 9: 2, 3, 4, 12, 14
Race 10: 10, 13
$50 gets you 20.3%
So, those are my tips for this weekend? What are your best bets?
Think About What You Could Be Buying Instead. Set A Deposit Limit.