3 minute read

Tips and race by race preview by Brad Gray for Randwick.

Race 1 - 12:20PM TAB SUPPORTS NATIONAL JOCKEYS TRUST HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

2. Himalaism has a big pedigree to live up to being by I Am Invincible out of Snitzerland. That makes him a half-brother to Maribyrnong Plate winner Hard Landing. He responded to being shaken up in his first trial over 900m in late November before coasting to the line in his second trial again over 900m. James McDonald has been aboard in both hit outs and he sticks on debut. Looks ideal kicking off his career over 1200m as he may have found anything shorter a tad sharp. He shouldn't be too far away from the speed looking at the potential map. Happy to gamble on the first starter as nothing jumps off the page among those with race experience.

Dangers: 7. Uncorked found 900m too sharp on her debut, as her pedigree suggested she would. The knock is that the Max Lees Classic is yet to provide a winner from seven subsequent runs. However, as the market suggests, this doesn't look a particularly deep two-year-old race and we know she'll get herself every chance from on top of the speed. There wouldn't have been much between 5. Hyde and 8. Fireburn at Warwick Farm when they clashed if not for Hyde being chopped out late. The winkers go on Hyde.

How to play it: Himalaism WIN ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Race 2 - 1:00PM ATC THANKS JOHN WILLIAMS HANDICAP (1400 METRES)

8. Sacrimony turned for home at Rosehill last start a couple of lengths off 5. Starman and that proved the difference at the finish. It was a very slowly run race so although to the eye it looked to be a grinding finish with 1.7L from first to fifth, it was anything but. Sacrimony clocked 10.75 from the 400-200 and 11.10 for his last 200m in what turned into a sprint home. That 11.10 was the quickest last 200m split of the entire meeting. It was Sacrimony's third run in a row at 1200m and he gives the impression that he is looking for 1400m now. The case for Sacrimony to turn the tables on his stablemate comes down to him likely settling a length in front of Starman on Saturday. Given the map, and early price difference, willing to gamble that he'll turn the tables.

Dangers: Chris Waller's duo should fight it out again. Starman resumed a gelding at Rosehill and backed up a brilliant trial with his second career win from four starts. Chris Waller is of the opinion that the son of Zoustar is capable of racing his way through to Group company. No knock on his talent. 2. Kobe Rocks looks the likely leader. He did just enough first up behind Expat and Brookspire, having been well backed late. Expecting 3. Toomuchtobear to be positively ridden from the draw to land outside of Kobe Rocks. Toomuchtobear just kept stepping up last preparation, winning three of his six starts. 4. Sacred Command continues to race without luck but wouldn't think back to 1400m is ideal.

How to play it: Sacrimony WIN ($4.80 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Race 3 - 1:40PM TAB HIGHWAY CLASS 2 HANDICAP (1400 METRES)

1. Optimo has a wide draw and the top weight to overcome but the four-year-old looks to have more scope and ability at this stage than anything else here. He won a 900m Muswellbrook maiden only back in October but it's his last two runs that have suggested he's potentially better than Highway Handicap company. Two back he cleared out at Dubbo with Majority who subsequently beat Satin Ruby, an unlucky recent Highway starter herself, at Tamworth. Optimo then took late ground off Socialist in a midweek BM64 on the Kensington track. That was out to 1250m. The son of Exosphere is on trial at 1400m but the way he closed off there suggests it won't be a problem. Hugh Bowman has had six rides for Mark Scmetzer, winning three of them. If Optimo can find cover in a three-wide running line, he'll get his chance.

Dangers: 15. Furphy can't afford to keep missing the start. He made a mess of it last start in a Highway when sixth but he did a massive job to get as close as he did given the work he had to do to tack onto the field before angling to the worst part of the track. Has trialled twice since then and was tardy away on both occasions. 2. Shelby Sixtysix has been 1300m, 1600m, 1000m and now back out to 1400m. It's not conventional but it didn't matter last Saturday when he was beaten by a cruel bob of the heads by London Gal. 9. Mr Burgundy was a comfortable maiden winner at Gosford three weeks ago despite doing plenty wrong. 7. Big Steve and 10. Danza In The Dark for the exotics.

How to play it: Optimo WIN ($8.50 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS

Race 4 - 2:15PM MIDWAY HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

There is plenty of speed drawn wide in this Midway but they'd have to be going pretty quick to cross 4. Queen Bellissimo given where she has drawn. The Brad Widdup-trained mare has won four of her seven starts, all from in front. First up this preparation she was the beneficiary of Selburose missing the start as she got complete control but she kicked strongly at the finish to hold a commanding 1.5L margin against a handy field of BM78 level mares. She was then forced to take a trail with Rammstein and Much Much Better carving along up top at Rosehill, before being forced to drag the field up to that duo and she chased gamely to be only beaten half a length. Comes back to BM72 company now third up and maintains her association with Alysha Collett. So well placed.

Dangers: If Queen Bellissimo is beaten, it's likely to be something taking advantage of the leaders overdoing it. 5. Grace Bay is an unassuming mare, despite having won five of her 14 starts. She was cruelled by a wide draw in the Four Pillars. She maps perfectly in this and Jason Collett won on her earlier this campaign, by stalking the speed. 7. Colonel continues to race well and will put himself into the race again. 10. Rebel Bro may have been half a run short last start when given every chance behind Arctic Thunder and Nictock. 11. Hollywood Gossip has a tricky barrier to overcome but James McDonald sticks. 14. Twice As Special is a knockout hope.

How to play it: Queen Bellissimo WIN ($3.90 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

"She makes her luck and drops back in grade, there is a lot in her favour."

BEST BET: @BradJGray is keen on the chances of this Brad Widdup-trained mare in Randwick's Midway on Saturday @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/taDEOoDPyv

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) December 16, 2021

Race 5 - 2:50PM PRECISE AIR HANDICAP (2000 METRES)

The margin may have only been narrow for 3. Huetor last start, but the sectionals this import clocked in the run home were very slick. Kerrin McEvoy took the shortest way home, darting up the inside, and it proved the winning move. Punters Intelligence reveals that Huetor's last 600m split of 33.83s was two lengths faster than the next best in the race while his 400-200 of 10.99 and last 200 of 11.16 were among the quickest across the meeting, and that was at the backend of 2000m. Long story short, don't let the margin fool you, this was an enormous win and that of an emerging stayer capable of racing his way through to black type company. McEvoy unsurprisingly sticks with the only knock on Huetor his habit of half missing the start.

Dangers: Since stepping out beyond a mile this preparation, 4. Lord Ardmore has finished first, second and first. The defeat coming at the hands of the flying Mightybeel. Perhaps he was flattered last start on a Heavy 10 against inferior opposition but he gave them a touch up and looks to lead this field up too, with James McDonald jumping aboard. 7. Welsh Legend meets Huetor 2kg better off and was 1400m to 2000m last start. She shouldn't have any excuses now. 8. Born A King was beaten on his merits by Huetor and Welsh Legend last start. 1. Mubariz has raced well on the back up in the past and should be at his top now. Not sure what to make of 2. Wheelhouse.

How to play it: Huetor WIN ($4.20 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Race 6 - 3:25PM UNSW HANDICAP (1400 METRES)

2. Exotic Ruby found Snippy Fox simply too good last Saturday at Randwick but she kept finding the line to hold second and finds herself in a very winnable race seven days later. The six-year-old mare raced well over 1400m at the backend of last preparation so the little increase in trip seems logical now fourth up and Jenny Duggan shouldn't have too much trouble offsetting the wide draw with a positive ride. Exotic Ruby made two runs on the Kensington track two starts ago yet still won. The other key pointer to her chances is the dry deck. The daughter of Snitzel boasts a record of 11:4-4-2 on good tracks. She is winless from 12 starts on wet ground. Looks to be the mare over the odds in an even race.

Dangers: You'd love to think that 3. Saigon could park up midfield from the good draw but she possesses no gate speed whatsoever. It's largely why she has only won four from 20. She is a much better mare than her record suggests. She wasn't entitled to get as close as she did to Shihonka last start given the lack pressure in the race, running straight past 1. Nicci's Fling . 5. Fashchanel laboured into sixth in that same race but she looks much better set up from an inside draw this time. Three of her four wins have been from her dictating the race from in front. There is more depth to this than the Midway that 4. Arctic Thunder won first up but it was an impressive victory.

How to play it: Exotic Ruby WIN ($9 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Race 7 - 4:00PM CHANDON GARDEN SPRITZ HANDICAP (1600 METRES)

There is a gulf between the best of 2. Cisco Bay and the worst but at the early price, it's worth taking the punt. Two starts ago, off an eight week freshen, he ran a luckless fifth at Newcastle behind Huetor. With clear running few would dispute that he'd have won the race, or at leats have been in the finish. The form through that BM78 has stacked up since. Cisco Bay was then sent around over 1800m on a Heavy 10 and he never looked comfortable in the going. Want to be very forgiving of that performance. Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou have given the seven-year-old three weeks to freshen up from that, dropping back to the mile. He gets back onto firmer footing and with a clean getaway Tom Sherry should be able to park up just behind the leaders.

Dangers: 8. Francesco Guardi is the horse to beat, there's no argument there, but does he deserves to be an odds on pop? Sheesh, that's skinny. The import was momentarily held up at Rosehill two starts ago before Waihaha Falls got the better of him two weeks ago. He had his chance. Might want 2000m now he is deep into his preparation. 3. Canasta wasn't left with any excuses second up but he's better than that. 5. Amica is starting to get out to a trip she can win over, on the back of two runs that were much better than they read on paper. 10. Speed Legend is just about ready to win again himself but the barrier likely sees him settle last. 4. Above And Beyond for the exotics.

How to play it: Cisco Bay WIN ($10 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: EVENS

Race 8 - 4:40PM ACY SECURITIES HANDICAP (1400 METRES)

There isn't a lot between a dozen or so in this so siding with 8. Oscar Zulu who the early market, for whatever reason, has completely neglected. It's not as if he doesn't fire fresh with the four-year-old winning two of his three first up appearances. Having teased ability for a couple of preparations, he really started delivering last campaign winning three straight. That was after running Count De Rupee to two lengths first up. In the Spring Preview at Kembla Grange he jumped a well backed $4.40 chance when third to 1. Frosty Rocks ($3.80). So why is there such a big price discrepancy four months later? Significantly, there is enough pressure to keep Frosty Rocks honest up front and Oscar Zulu maps to be close enough if good enough.

Dangers: 5. Bottega ran second at Group Three level first up last preparation over 1400m, beating home Cascadian. His campaign tapered off thereafter but a repeat of that has him in the finish of this. Just not sure where he finds himself from a problematic barrier. 10. Dream Circle looked a touch disappointing on face value last Saturday but that was in Listed company. Has won well over this track and trip in the past and stays on the minimum despite coming back in grade. Josh Parr is unbeaten in four rides on Frosty Rocks. The front-running grey will give his rivals something to chase again but don't expect it to be handed to him with James McDonald on 9. Bigboyroy and Tim Clark on 6. Love Tap drawn to his inside.

How to play it: Oscar Zulu WIN ($19 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Race 9 - 5:20PM FUJITSU GENERAL HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

6. Much Much Better maps to find the front and we saw what this speedy grey is capable of two starts ago at Newcastle when he is allowed to bowl along. On that occasion he set a good clip and just kept running. Expect similar tactics this time. Last start Rammstein kept kicking up underneath him with the pair clearing out in the middle stages setting it up for a closer. Rammstein finished a long last while Much Much Better has the tenacity to keep finding the line going down by less than a length. Maybe back out to 1400m would have been a perfect progression at this stage of his campaign but expect Clark to negate that by utilising Much Much Better's high cruising speed. Gary Moore has him flying and he'll give these all something to catch.

Dangers: 5. Starla is the sleeper in the field. Hugh Bowman coaxed the best out her last preparation winning both of his rides on her and she maps to again be cuddled up on the fence before being exposed late. Ignore that she has never won first up before. 3. I Am Power ran sixth behind Mr Mosaic first up having found the 1100m a touch sharp. He did clock the fastest 600-400 and 400-200 in the race before slightly feeling the pinch, as Mark Newnham suggested he would pre-race. 10. On The Lead keeps running well with his only recent blemish a failed 1300m attempt. 8. Tycoonist has never been an 1100m horse nor a first up horse so what he did first up sets him up beautifully for the rest of his preparation. The barrier is the knock.

How to play it: Much Much Better WIN ($4.60 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT

Race 10 - 5:55PM SCHWEPPES SPRINT (1000 METRES)

12. Leo has become somewhat of a Randwick 1000m specialist with four of the sprinter's five career wins coming over this track and trip. The five-year-old had always been a handy sprinter but he went to a whole new level the last time we saw him at the races, belting his rivals in BM78 company. That was fresh out of Highway grade. Back in a distant second was On The Lead while Kinloch ran on into third. He smashed the clock late, running a sizzling 32.45s close with an 11.14s last 200m. Trainer Mark Schmetzer sent Leo to the paddock thereafter. If he holds that form he's very hard to beat in the same grade, rising slightly in weight. Can Leo hold that form, however, given it was a huge peak? And where does he get to in the run? There are a couple of questions he'll need to answer here but still want to be with him.

Dangers: Perhaps the expectations were too high of 3. The Bopper last preparation having won three of his four starts in the manner of a smart sprinter. He comes back to BM78 company this time back and wasn't beaten all that far in a reasonable race at Flemington the last time we saw him at the races. When he is on 6. Remlaps Gem is a dynamic short courser. He just needs everything to fall into place. If he doesn't lead he needs a fast run race to settle, before exploding late. 9. Fastconi has never raced over 1000m before but he has a lot in his favour – Waller, J-Mac, barrier. 5. Easy Single fits in well enough off his Melbourne form while 11. Switched maps to get the run of the race. Look out for 14. Depth That Varies late.

How to play it: Leo WIN ($4.80 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT