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Tips For Royal Randwick (Saturday)

3 minute read

Randwick in Australia.
Randwick in Australia. Picture: Steve Hart

Race 1 - 12:20PM COOLMORE PIERRO PLATE (1100 METRES)

2. Don Corleone announced himself as one of the best two-year-olds we've seen so far this season when winning at Randwick three weeks ago on debut. The son of Extreme Choice was left without cover for much of the race but it mattered little. He proved too strong at the finish. That was the key takeaway from the win too. His late strength. His last 600m was the quickest across the entire meeting, three lengths faster than the next best. The form through Coincide ties in to the early season two-year-old form. The progression out to 1100m now looks ideal. As does the draw allowing Don Corleone to balance up midfield before letting loose. His rivals will be doing well do hold him out.

Dangers: Finding it hard to make the case for anything to come from behind Don Corleone to beat him so a reasonable starting point as far as pin-pointing threats is the likely leader. That being 10. Remedies. She won with blistering speed at Cranbourne on debut before the race set up for the closers second up at Caulfield. 12. Empress Of Wonder finally draws a barrier! Her second to Charm Stone on debut and second in the Calway Gal at Eagle Farm see her running a big race in this. Was expecting a touch more from her in the Magic Millions, however. 9. Café Millenium gives away race experience but liked what we saw from him in his most recent hit out. 4. Ganbare will also be making his own luck and the Waterhouse and Bott stable have used Canberra as a springboard to success with plenty of their young horses in the past.

How To Play It: Don Corleone WIN

Race 2 - 12:55PM TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1800 METRES)

Nothing went right for 3. Epic Ranger last start in Highway Handicap company. A slow getaway was compounded by a lack of pressure in the race. And that seems like an understatement. King Of Spades crawled in front. That saw Epic Ranger race keenly in the early and middle stages. When the field inevitably packed up, there was nowhere for the five-year-old to go. Momentum is everything in what was turning into a sprint home and he didn't have any. He should have finished much closer. Prior to that the former Victorian bolted in at Inverell having led from start to finish. The booking of Tim Clark looks a clever one by Tamworth-based trainer Jacob Perrett. The five-year stretches beyond the mile for the first time but it looks to suit at this stage of his career.

Dangers14. Amarantz also comes through the same slowly run Highway Handicap. Despite running fifth, the mare clocked the second fastest last 200m in the race. She is still eligible for easier races having just the maiden win to her name but this looks winnable none-the-less. Just didn't expect the market to find her! 1. King Of Spades was a nostril away from no longer being eligible for Highways last start. He'll be thereabouts again. He always is. 8. Byakko charged home to win at Grafton first up over 1700m. Look for him flashing home again at big odds. 7. Mr Severino is a proven Highway performer now while 12. You Are King brings a very strong SP profile and maps to geta a soft run throughout.

How To Play It: Epic Ranger EACH WAY

Race 3 - 1:30PM MIDWAY HANDICAP (1000 METRES)

5. Prince Invincible will give a sight at big odds if he can find the fence first. The speedy five-year-old was plagued by wet tracks last preparation hence by he has been overlooked in the early market. He is no stranger to Midways either having run in five of them for a win and a narrow second. He can be a little tricky to catch, as his win strike rate attests, but there's enough in the price to take the gamble. Suspect his race will be won or lost in the first 200 metres. His speed is his asset and all three of his previous wins have been from in front. He recently trialled at Hawkesbury and looked sharp under Louise Day, who sticks with him first up.

Dangers1. Depth That Varies is a 1000m specialist so that's the first box ticked. Coming back to BM72 comes at the cost of more weight but he ran in a hot Rosehill race last start won by subsequent Expressway Stakes winner Mariamia. Don't love the low gate form him given his get back style. 10. Goofy Mick produced a booming finish from last to win at Taree first up after a lengthy lay off before having no luck at Warwick Farm last start. 16. Another Cognac looks well placed in this company while 13. Nicci's Song profiles to improve sharply on what she produced first up. The knock on 7. Hard To Say is the price. Respect 12. Headwall and if he line up from a wide draw.

How To Play It: Prince Invincible EACH WAY

Race 4 - 2:05PM $1M INGLIS PINK BONUS HANDICAP (1600 METRES)

1. Ascension drops back from a BM100 where he was competitive behind Pounding and Corner Pocket. That's a strong reference in the context of what he faces in this. Ciaron Maher and David Eustace are now shrewd operators when it comes to bringing the right horses up from Melbourne. The other big thing in the favour of the six-year-old grey is the scratching of Major Artie. Not only was he the horse to beat in the race but also the likely leader. Now the lead is up for grabs, expecting Brenton Avdulla to drive forward from barrier 1 and take up the running. It was from in front that Ascension won at Warrnambool two starts ago. Worth an each way ticket given the set up and that most of his key rivals here will find themselves towards the back half of the field.

Dangers3. Bullfinch continues to race well without winning. He'll be at the opposite end of the field, with the barrier doing him no favours, however. The depth of his form lines through Nugget and Jojo Was A Man are hard to ignore. The lack of speed here is a concern now. 4. Bold Mac scrambled home last start, attacking the line to run down Major Artie. James McDonald sticks. Not going to drop off 11. Tazaral just yet. Was very one paced in his Australian debut having led over 1400m but he'll appreciate the mile and the drop in weight. 8. Bazooka's form ties in through the Bold Mac form reference and he's not without a shout.

How To Play It: Ascension EACH WAY

Race 5 - 2:40PM DAVALI THOROUGHBREDS SOUTHERN CROSS STAKES (1200 METRES)

2. Mr Mozart might be four and 15 starts into his career but he is still far from the finished product. He'll need to start curbing his overracing as he finds himself in better company but there is a depth to his form lines that's hard to ignore in this. Yes, 1200m is as short as he wants it these days and he'd prefer a wetter track but he's good enough to still get away with this race. The son of Snitzel went down fighting first up last preparation in the Theo Marks despite doing so much wrong and finding himself planted wide for the second half of the race. Five weeks later he ran second to Vilana. Jason Collett rode Mr Mozart in his one trial back and is the man tasked with helping him settle.

Dangers5. Quantico has spent 48 weeks on the sidelines recovering from a minor injury so he is sure to improve with the run but the lightly-raced six-year-old is devastating on his day. His record attests to that and respect that he started single figure odds in the G1 Newmarket when he last raced. 3. Gravina is very genuine and will run to his level. He comes off a last start third in The Hunter and he maps to get the same soft him here. Deserves his spot in the market. Patience is starting to wear thin with 10. Espiona after promising so much earlier in her career. 8. Ranch Hand resumes a gelding and his first up form in the past has been among the best in his career. The race fit 7. Titanium Power is sure to give a sight.

How To Play It: Mr Mozart WIN

Race 6 - 3:20PM INGLIS MILLENNIUM (1100 METRES)

14. Kundalini is a striking filly and she ran right up to her looks, price tag and pedigree on debut, matching motors with Don Corleone. We'll already have a guide on that form reference from earlier in the meeting with Don Corleone expected to take out the Pierro Plate. This filly wasn't beaten far in that race and there was three lengths back to third. Don Corleone had to produce the fastest closing splits of the meeting to beat her yet she didn't shirk her task despite absorbing pressure in the early and middle stages of the race from outside of the leader. This promises to be even more truly run which is where the barrier looks significant for her chances. Jason Collett, who ride her on debut, can box seat and let the rest take care of itself. At the price, have to be in her corner.

Dangers: That's no knock on the talent of 8. Learning To Fly. She just faces a much tricker draw to overcome. It certainly isn't as straightforward as on debut when she parked outside of the leader and fought off all challengers late, coming away on the line. The price is the other obvious negative. Short enough. 10. Lazzago left a big impression after winning on debut at Randwick, defying a late betting drift. She was particularly strong through the line so the promise of a genuinely run race here suits her. She has trialled sweetly since then too. Surely the market has been too quick to sack 13. Perfect Proposal. She started shorter than Learning To Fly in the Widden Stakes and reportedly didn't handle the heat that day. 9. Facile had her chance on debut but respect that she jumped an even money favourite. Could be ridden with cover.

How To Play It: Kundalini WIN

Race 7 - 4:00PM TAB LIGHT FINGERS STAKES (1200 METRES)

1. In Secret just kept getting better with each run over the spring, culminating in a devastating win in the G1 Coolmore down the Flemington straight. Prior to that she was cruelly touched off by Jacquinot in the G1 Golden Rose having beat up the boys in the Run To The Rose. With the scratching of Zougotcha there isn't a lot of meat left on the bone as far as her price now but her benchmark rating tells you everything you need to know about her three-year-old sprinting status. She sits alongside Giga Kick as the best we've got at the moment. The only little concern is that she has missed the start in both of her trials this time back. If she can jump and settle down in behind the speed, she should be too good from there.

Dangers6. North Star Lass wasn't far away from In Secret in the Silver Shadow last preparation before winning the Furious Stakes. Perhaps she didn't quite see out the mile thereafter. Love the way she ran through the line in her recent trial win. Should find the front and finish in the first couple. 11. Sunshine In Paris is the wild card. This will give us an indication of where she fits in but it's been a sharp ascent for the Invader filly and she deserves her shot in this company. 5. Sheeza Belter has a tricky draw to offset but like the way she ended last preparation beating the older mares. 2. Fireburn is also disadvantaged by the barrier but look for her late.

How To Play It: In Secret WIN, 1,6 QUINELLA

Race 8 - 4:40PM TAB APOLLO STAKES (1400 METRES)

1. Anamoe should justify his odds on quote to resume a winner, just as he did last preparation in the spring's equivalent to the Apollo Stakes, the Winx Stakes. There was no speed in that race, turning into a dash home yet Anamoe still proved dominant at the finish. This looks similar without a designated leader on paper. Anamoe has shown in the past that he can settle anywhere. Wouldn't be surprised to see James McDonald stride forward and park outside of the leader. The four-year-old took all before him over the spring, winning four Group Ones in a row, stamping himself as the best middle distance horse in the country. And by some margin. Has done everything we needed to see from him in his two trials. His CV and all-important tactical versatility given the lack of pressure on paper here, can see him make it 12 wins from 22 starts.

Dangers: Going back to the Winx Stakes over the spring, 11. Fangirl ran a fantastic second there coming from the tail of the field. That was no easy task give the shape of the race. Has a task in turning the tables on Anamoe but she should be able to settle down a couple of pairs closer and the promise of a dry track suits. 12. Hinged may find herself in front as the default leader. That looks a huge advantage. She didn't get a lot of room first up last preparation in the Winx Stakes beaten only 2.5 lengths. Any rain around would be a bonus. 2. Mo'unga is likely to settle down last from the barrier but he has a turn of foot that should see him at least dash past the resuming stayers. Respect the class of 9. El Bodegon while 10. Icebath is capable of showing up fresh.

How To Play It: Anamoe WIN

Race 9 - 5:20PM ROBRICK LODGE TRISCAY STAKES (1200 METRES)

1. Swats That's record of three wins from 21 starts doesn't do her justice. She has placed in three Group Ones. Two of those behind Nature Strip. Hence the top weight she has been asked to carry in this. The five-year-old is also a proven first up performer. Be very forgiving of her finishing positions at the backend of last preparation as the runs were better than they looked. She slipped up the fence to be beaten just two lengths in the Sydney Stakes over this same track and trip despite running 10th. That was before settling without cover in the Invitation from a wide gate. Most recently she caught the eye late in the Hunter, again suffering the consequences of the wide draw. Looked sharp in winning a recent Hawkesbury trial. Suspect she's too classy for these.

Dangers2. Norwegian Bliss has been exceptionally well placed by Nathan Doyle throughout her career. She got her first taste of Group company last campaign at Caulfield and was beaten less than a length. Draws wide on Saturday but there is no natural leader. Or is 12. Kir Royale sent straight to the front? Tactics look to be everything with her on Saturday. Chris Waller is attempting to get her to settle in her races, ridden with cover last start and she won. Perhaps that doesn't change now. 3. Larkspur Run at least maps to get the right run. The same can't be said for many of her other dangers. She has proven to be better on wet tracks though. The barrier does 4. Jamaea no favours, nor does it 5. Written Beauty.

How To Play It: Swats That WIN

Race 10 - 5:55PM WILD OAKS SPRINT (1300 METRES)

There are two factors that make taking short odds about 4. Waterford slightly worrisome. The first of those is that 1300m is as short as he wants it and the inside draw. He won't want to be buried away back on the fence unable to click through his gears. We'll leave that in the hands of James McDonald, however. To counter that, what's hard to deny when assessing the chances of Waterford is the upside he still possesses. He's won four of his five starts in Australia and has only has six starts overall. The four-year-old left a big impression winning his maiden back in March last start and hasn't looked back since. Just the one trial ahead of his return but that's be design to keep the speed in his legs and there was a lot to like about how he worked through the line.

Dangers13. Think About It is on a similar upward spiral. The gelding justified his even money quote at Rosehill last start, albeit by a narrow margin. He boasts a similar record of four wins from five starts and he was luckless in the one defeat. Suspect he gets back from the draw. 5. Much Much Better looks to be the runner that the market has overlooked. He sat outside of the leader in a genuinely run Expressway Stakes and boxed on bravely. The winner smashed the clock. It was a welcome return to form from the front-running grey. He'll keep 1. Vreneli company up front. 6. Pizarro also comes through the Expresssway. Back to BM88 company suits and he is jumping the same price. 8. Kanazawa rates a mention.

How To Play It: Waterford WIN


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