A bumper nine race card has been assembled for Randwick this Saturday where it is Apollo Stakes Day. The weather forecast is for showers, the track is soft (6) and the rail is out six metres for the entire circuit.
Apollo Stakes 🏆: View the Field and Odds for the Apollo Stakes
Race 1. (13:15) THE AGENCY REAL ESTATE (BM78) 2400m
4 Kaapfever (Bet Now: $6.50 TOP ODDS) is racing well for Joe Pride. Got a mile out of his ground last time out in the Australia Day Cup but loved the way he closed off late in the piece when third to the in form Skymax. Drops to a 78 from a Stakes race and gets Nash on, who will stand over him and take no BS. Hard to beat.
3 Harpo Marx (Bet Now: $4.20 TOP ODDS) has the Great House form and that has to be respected. Been up a while for Bjorn Baker but is holding his form really nicely. It was survival of the fittest over 2000m two weeks ago and he beat the rest comfortably, but no match for Great House. Back up to 2400m, leading contender.
Is 2 Accountability (Bet Now: $10.00 TOP ODDS) looking for the paddock? Market will be the guide because he was pretty plain three weeks ago here behind Sacramento. He’s around double figures and does get J Mac to steer, so he could easily be $10-$5 and win comfortably, so watch the market with him.
Race 2. (13:50) SILVERDALE FARM PIERRO PLATE 1100m
1 Stay Inside (Bet Now: $2.00 TOP ODDS) looks the safe option. Team Freedman trained colt that debuted here three weeks ago over 1000m and it was sustained speed from near the front which saw him bolt up and run very sharp time. Extra 100m should be no issue and now gets J Mac back aboard.
12 Headliner (Bet Now: $6.00 TOP ODDS) can be dangerous here. She ran second to Stay Inside in that race mentioned above. Just found the 1000m too short but got out late and worked home strongly to run second, albeit beaten comfortably. Extra 100m will be no issue for her and hopefully can sit closer in the run.
2 Akihiro (Bet Now: $21.00 TOP ODDS) is a Gary Portelli trained colt that resumes. Hasn’t raced since the Victory Vein in the Spring when sitting behind the speed and battling away strongly when second to Captivant, a juvenile I hold in high regard. Trialled well behind Profiteer and draws soft once again.
Race 3. (14:25) TAB HIGHWAY (C3) 1800m
This is an 1800m Highway, but I think 7 Birdonawinningpost (Bet Now: $4.00 TOP ODDS) is a good thing and the best on the card. Lightly raced mare for Will Freedman who was around a month between runs when racing over the mile at Gosford. The tight track wasn’t her go, and held up badly, but she savaged the line when clear. She will eat up 1800m, the bigger track, fitter and copping the tip that Grant Buckley comes to Sydney.
2 Lamington Drive (Bet Now: $4.20 TOP ODDS) is a John Bateman trained gelding who is in a real purple patch at the moment. Has won his past two, both coming over 2000m at Canberra. Has knuckled down strongly to win both times with a good gap to the third horse in each victory. Hard fit, in form, has to be respected.
16 Diorissima (Bet Now: $8.00 TOP ODDS) is the knockout chance here. Talented filly who is still a maiden believe it or not, but that will change soon. Whether it’s here or not I’m not sure, but the big tick for me is that Tim Clark is booked. This filly can be tardy from the gates and Clark is one of the best in the business at getting them out with purpose, so should she get away clean and settle midfield, she’ll take a power of beating.
Race 4. (15:05) ROBRICK LODGE TRISCAY STAKES 1200m
1 Madam Rouge (Bet Now: $7.00 TOP ODDS) is a ripping mare for Chris Waller that resumes. I find it interesting that they dodged the Magic Millions and focused on the Autumn, with her target being the Coolmore Classic, searching for that elusive Group l win. Usually sprints well fresh and has trialled up nicely leading in.
6 Tailleur (Bet Now: $1.65 TOP ODDS) is a James Cummings trained mare who looks hard to beat. She was backed with confidence late a few weeks ago at Rosehill and the money was landed. Sat off a fast pace, edged towards the outside and was able to finish over the top. No reason why she can’t win again. Just too short.
If 4 Subpoenaed (Bet Now: $11.00 TOP ODDS) is within range on the turn, I think she has the late speed to finish over the top of these. Somewhat put it together in the Spring, highlighted by a romp in the Golden Pendant where she jumped clean. That is the key to her. If she can get away with him, she’ll take a power of beating.
Race 5. (15:45) ACY SECURITIES (BM88) 1600m
8 Canasta (Bet Now: $3.50) is the interesting runner. Dominant win a fortnight back at Rosehill, getting total control in front and once he got the lead and was able to dictate, it was race over and he gapped them. Much harder here, but he has got the right racing pattern and should have upside to come.
12 Cisco Bay (Bet Now: $6.00) is three weeks between runs for the Ryan/Alexiou camp since racing at this track/distance. Bombed the start and you could make a case to say that cost him the win. Had to sustain a long run and by the time he hit the front, he was a tired horse and was bloused late. He’s going super and is hard to beat.
3 Yonkers (Bet Now: $12.00) looks to have returned well for Chris Waller. Resumed over 1500m at Rosehill two weeks ago and didn’t receive the best of luck in the run. He wouldn’t have won but should have finished closer behind Brutality in a good effort. Excellent second up record and will be strong at the end.
Race 6. (16:25) CELLARBRATIONS SOUTHERN CROSS 1200m
I’m with 4 Roheryn (Bet Now: $3.40). He was really good during a Brisbane Summer prep, winning the Falvelon fresh to get his way into the Magic Millions Sprint and he was great from the back when third to Jonker. He loves wet ground, loves Randwick and will be strong at the end. Hard to beat.
7 Masked Crsuader (Bet Now: $2.60) is the hype horse and will likely go around short in the market. He can win, but in terms of a betting proposition, he isn’t that due to the hype and boom. He failed to live up to that in the Spring where he was talked up as an Everest/Golden Eagle horse. Trial win was outstanding. If he wins, good luck to connections. He can easily blow this field away, but I couldn’t touch him as a betting proposition.
I like 1 Victorem (Bet Now: $7.00) as a knockout chance. He’s a quality animal for Jenny Graham that resumes. Hasn’t raced since the Stradbroke when outclassed behind Tyzone in what ended a mixed Winter Carnival. Dodged the Spring and Summer to focus on the Autumn and his two trials to get ready have been very encouraging.
Race 7. (17:05) YULONG APOLLO STAKES 1400m
The term ‘Champion’ gets tossed about too easily but it sits comfortably 6 Verry Elleegant (Bet Now: $2.60). Post the Winx era, IMO, she has been the best Australia has seen and the Waller stable has done a remarkable job with her. The Spring campaign was a champion prep, winning at WFA over 1400m and going on to win the Caulfield Cup. Sparkling piece of work on Saturday looks to have her in top order for this.
1 Kolding (Bet Now: $4.80) is a beauty for Chris Waller and he has really turned the corner the last six months. This time last year, his career was at the cross roads, but he bounced back in a big way in the Spring and confirmed he has maintained that form with a strong second in the Expressway two weeks ago. Loomed to beat Savatiano but that mare was too brilliant. Hard to beat here.
3 Fifty Stars (Bet Now: $18.00) is a beauty for the Hayes/Dabernig camp that resumes. Had a somewhat mixed Spring, but his main target was the Mackinnon and he ran well in that, finishing second to a star mare in Arcadia Queen. Trialled without Blinkers at Geelong and moved well. He’ll be strong at the end.
Race 8. (17:40) TAB LIGHT FINGERS STAKES 1200m
Back to 1200m I like for 1 Away Game (Bet Now: $2.80). She’s a very underestimated filly for the Maher/Eustace camp that just found the 1400m a bridge too far in the Magic Millions Guineas when game in defeat behind Aim. This looks more her go and with race fitness, she has to be highly respected.
What to do with 3 Hungry Heart? (Bet Now: $4.20) I was a leading member of her fan club, and have been since day one. She let me down badly in the Spring. Teased to win, but just couldn’t put it together, and forget the Thousand Guineas. That was an afterthought and she looked a tired horse. Looks in great shape for her return and I think she has the class to win this fresh.
Don’t think 5 Thermosphere (Bet Now: $9.50) is up to this level, but she has race fitness on her side, which should count as a positive against these better class fillies. Took forever to wind up but was good late fresh two weeks ago at Rosehill behind Big Parade. She’ll be strong at the end and potentially can finish first four.
Race 9. (18:15) RANVET (BM88) 1300m
I’m looking for an improved effort from 10 Cristal Breeze (Bet Now: $5.00) with eyes towards the Provincial Championships, with Kris Lees saying that this guy is top seed alongside Animate for that Series. He resumed in a fast run race at Rosehill and just had to chase from too far out but was good. Tick over trial I liked and Blinkers are back on.
I’ve loved the way 1 Thy Kingdom Come (Bet Now: $6.00) has returned. Good late fresh over 1200m here behind King Of Hastings before going to the Carrington when back and again finishing off his race nicely behind Bandersnatch, running third. Third up now, hard fit and is racing as if this set up will be ideal.
4 Cliff’s Art (Bet Now: $17.00) creates interest here. Former German mare that makes her Australian debut for Matty Smith. Comes here off the back of a Listed win against the Mares at Hoppegarten over the mile. Looking at the subsequent form around it, it hasn’t been strong, but always have to respect these imports.
Best Bets & Quaddie Tips
BEST BET: Race Three Number 7 Birdonawinningpost
NEXT BEST: Race One Number 4 Kaapfever
LONG SHOT: Race Four Number 1 Madam Rouge
Quaddie Tips (Races Six Through To Nine):
Leg One: 4, 7
Leg Two: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
Leg Three: 1, 2, 3, 5
Leg Four: 1, 3, 4, 10
$50 Investment = 31.25% of the dividend if successful
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