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Ladbrokes Blog: Epsom Preview – 30th September 2023

3 minute read

Epsom Day is one of the great days of the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival with three massive Group 1 features.

Picture: Racing Photos

For more racing and sports previews, visit the Ladbrokes Blog.

Headlined by the Epsom Handicap, Saturday's 10-race Randwick meeting also includes The Metropolitan, The Flight Stakes and four other black-type contests. 

We've analysed the entire program and provided our best bets below

RACE 1 - 11:55AM: MIDWAY HANDICAP (1800 METRES)

State Of America (5) has improved with each run this preparation and was scratched from a winnable race at Rosehill on Wednesday in favour of this. 

The David Payne-trained four-year-old gelding finished off powerfully to win easily by 2.66 lengths over 2000m at Hawkesbury two starts ago. 

He was unlucky not to make it back-to-back wins last start when held up for most of the straight at Canterbury. Once clear with 100m to go, he hit the line hard to finish third. 

Young gun hoop Zac Lloyd takes the ride and should give him an economical run from barrier 3. 

1 Unit – State Of America (5)  

BET NOW: Randwick Race 1

RACE 2 - 12:30PM: GROUP 3 GIMCRACK STAKES (1000 METRES)

With every two-year-old filly on debut, it makes for a tough job of analysing the race. 

Lady Of Camelot (6) looked professional in her only public trial. 

The Waterhouse Bott-trained Written Tycoon filly jumped well in the 850m Kensington trial to lead before cruising to the line in slick time to win by 3.9 lengths. 

In a good indicator of her chances, top jockey James McDonald takes the ride. 

1 Unit – Lady Of Camelot (6) 

BET NOW: Randwick Race 2

RACE 3 - 1:05PM: GROUP 3 BREEDERS' PLATE (1000 METRES)

It's the two-year-old boys turn and it doesn't get any easier with every colt or gelding having their first race start. 

Scampi (11) was super impressive in winning his only public trial in preparation for his debut. 

The Maher Eustace-trained son of Blue Point jumped well to take up the running and worked to the line nicely with Jason Collett sitting as quiet as a church mouse as he strode to a 2.64 length win in good time. 

He has the early speed to be able to take up a forward position. 

1 Unit – Scampi (11) 

BET NOW: Randwick Race 3

RACE 4 - 1:40PM: BENCHMARK 88 HANDICAP (1600 METRES)

Altivo (13) resumed last start over 1400m here and unfortunately, it was little more than a run. 

The Team Hawkes-trained four-year-old gelding looked to have plenty to offer in the straight but was pocketed away on the fence and never got clear. 

He'll strip fitter and is undefeated in both his previous second-up races including last preparation when running on powerfully to win over this distance at Flemington. 

The wider gate might be a blessing as it will enable him to wind up down the outside. 

1 Unit – Altivo (13) 

BET NOW: Randwick Race 4

RACE 5 - 2:15PM: LISTED DULCIFY STAKES (1600 METRES)

Tom Kitten (1) impressed when running on strongly to win the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes. 

The James Cummings-trained Harry Angel colt then raced three wide with no cover in the Ming Dynasty yet still had the audacity to power to the line for a 2.35 length third. 

He'll strip fitter third-up and the rise to 1600m looks ideal. 

Unlike last start, he has drawn a decent gate which should see the in form Nash Rawiller give him a great ride. 

1 Unit – Tom Kitten (1) 

BET NOW: Randwick Race 5

RACE 6 - 2:50PM: GROUP 1 FLIGHT STAKES (1600 METRES)

Tiz Invincible (1) has not put a hoof wrong this preparation, winning all three of her starts. 

The I Am Invincible filly's most dominant win came last start in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes where she ran on strongly for a 1.35 length win which was quite soft on the line. 

The rise to 1600m looks ideal given the way she found the line over 1400m and she's at peak fitness fourth-up. 

The outside barrier is not ideal but she does have good gate speed so Zac Lloyd should be able to cross and find a spot. 

1 Unit – Tiz Invincible (1) 

BET NOW: Randwick Race 6

RACE 7 - 3:25PM: GROUP 2 PREMIERE STAKES (1200 METRES)

Think About It (2) makes his highly anticipated return as he heads towards The Everest. 

The Joe Pride-trained son of So You Think, who has won nine of ten races, took all before him last preparation with Group 1 wins in the Kingsford Smith Cup and the Stradbroke Handicap. 

The popular galloper has come back in terrific order with two excellent trials. 

He's drawn perfectly in barrier 2 which should see Sam Clipperton give him the run of the race. 

2 Units – Think About It (2) 

BET NOW: Randwick Race 7

RACE 8 - 4:05PM: GROUP 1 EPSOM HANDICAP (1600 METRES)

Rediener (17) ended last preparation in super form with back-to-back wins including the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic at Eagle Farm. 

The Chris Waller-trained four-year-old gelding picked up where he left off with a fantastic audition for this race by running on strongly to win the Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap by 1.2 lengths first-up. 

He gets in with just 50kg and maps to get a similar run as she did last start from barrier 2 for Kathy O'Hara. 

1 Unit – Rediener (17) 

BET NOW: Randwick Race 8

RACE 9 - 4:45PM: GROUP 1 THE METROPOLITAN (2400 METRES)

Just Fine (14) could not have been more impressive since arriving in Australia. 

The Waterhouse Bott-trained son of Sea The Stars showed them a clean set of hooves to win easily by 2.63 lengths first-up over 1600m at Randwick. 

Last start he settled handy before racing away for a 1.71 length win in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes over 2000m here. 

He maps to get a great run from barrier 2 and with just 50kg on his back will be awfully hard to run down. 

2 Units – Just Fine (14) 

BET NOW: Randwick Race 9

RACE 10 - 5:25PM: BENCHMARK 94 HANDICAP (1200 METRES)

Kibou (8) made an impressive return to racing when chasing strongly to win over 1200m here last start. 

The Waterhouse Bott-trained four-year-old gelding looked to have plenty of improvement to come and will strip fitter second-up. 

He won his only previous second-up race but also won last year's Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes at his second run following an eight-race let-up. 

Regan Bayliss should be able to settle on speed which will make him tough to beat. 

1 Unit – Kibou (8) 

BET NOW: Randwick Race 10


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