Sydney racing returns to Randwick this Saturday for the first time since Melbourne Cup with a bumper program, headlined by the third best mile at the track, the Group ll Villiers Stakes (1600m), with the winner getting a free ticket into the Doncaster Mile. The weather is fine, the track is soft (5) and the rail is in the true position for the entire circuit.
Race 1. (12:40) ANZ Bloodstock News Handicap (75) 1100m
5 Awesome Pluck (Bet Now: $2.15) is a very smart three year old that resumes for the Jenny Graham team. Not sure he is quite at the level of stablemate Victorem but he is pretty good in his own right. Won like Black Caviar on debut at Taree before going to Warwick Farm where he did a bit of work in the run and was strong late when third to Manicure. Ran sizzling time in winning a Rosehill trial last week and appears ready to go.
1 Calculated (Bet Now: $3.30) is a smart son of So You Think that resumes here. This horse created quite an impression in his first three runs before having no luck and racing like a tired horse in the Up And Coming. Been given two trials to prepare for his return to racing and he is high in early markets for the Magic Millions Guineas. Very interesting to see how he goes.
3 Boyish (Bet Now: $19.00) is a Gerald Ryan trained three year old who kicked off this prep with a couple of impressive wins at Kembla and Gosford respectively before being freshened up and racing at Canterbury where he didn’t pull up 100% post race behind Brookton Punch. Should lead these comfortably and a firm Randwick with rail true, will be no disadvantage being on speed.
Race 2. (13:20) TAB Highway Handicap (Class 3) 1000m
6 Victorem (Bet Now: $2.05) looks the good thing of the day. Very promising three year old resuming for the Jenny Graham stable at Port Macquarie. Should be unbeaten from three outings but he buck jumped on debut at Casino. Has had two trials to prepare for his return, the latest at Rosehill when second to Music Magnate in 52.20 for the 900m. Horses who run sub 53 at Rosehill generally win.
1 All Stand (Bet Now: $8.50) is a nippy customer for the Todd Howlett team who landed some good bets when leading all the way to win over 900m at Cessnock on Cessnock Cup Day. Josh Adams took advantage of the inside gate to lead comfortably from the draw and won impressively. Randwick 1000m is a different pain barrier, but he’s hard fit/in form.
2 Oakfield Time (Bet Now: $18.00) is a Terry Evans trained mare who is blessed with early speed and has run well in Highways before, so she’s definitely up to these. She ran over 1000m at Taree last Tuesday and got involved with a speed battle with The Wasp. She looked as if she was going to run last but she picked up late and was good when third to Aristograts. Her three wins have come when copping no pressure on speed, so that’s the worry here, but she tries hard.
Race 3. (13:55) Christmas Cup 2400m
1 Broadside (Bet Now: $1.70) should be putting this field away. He was confidently backed when resuming in the ATC Cup a fortnight back and under a lovely ride from Tim Clark, he stalked the speed, presented on the turn and put them away quite quickly to win impressively. Can only improve off that and meets a thin field.
3 Prince Cheri (Bet Now: $8.50) will love the rise to 2400m I feel. He ran in the November Topaz (1900m) last time out at Rosehill where he tried very hard from off the pace but he just didn’t have the dash behind Interlocuter. Doubt he needs a dash here. Will be a slog and his 2400m record is very good. Definite threat.
5 Last Wish (Bet Now: $10.00) is racing okay at the moment for the John Thompson yard and he is hard fit with the miles in the legs. He ran over 2400m a fortnight back at Rosehill and worked to the line okay without being a winning threat when third to Imperial Aviator. He can be a bit hit and miss at times, but a definite for multiples.
Race 4. (14:30) Inglis Nursey 1000m
Going to take a chance on the first starter 5 Irish Bet (Bet Now: $5.00). John O’Shea trains this Smart Missile colt for China Horse Club. This bloke trialled last Tuesday at Warwick Farm and led all the way to win the trial under Avdulla. Ran okay time, won by a space, but the thing I liked is that when he asked for an effort, the horse responded.
10 Miss Invincible (Bet Now: $3.90) is a Bjorn Baker trained filly who debuted over 1100m at Rosehill a fortnight back and did a good job to run second. She sprung the gates as if she was a greyhound, led comfortably but like in the trial, she wanted to pull hard and that just left her gassed with 100m to go. If she can relax on speed, she’ll take some beating.
4 Cosimo (Bet Now: $10.00) could be the improver. Team Snowden trains this colt. He debuted in the Golden Gift three weeks back and did a good job in defeat when fourth to Secret Lady. His condition just ran out with 150m to go. Back to 1000m, home track, has the run under the belt, and that form has already stood up. Ticks a few boxes.
Race 5. (15:05) Catanach's Handicap (85) 1200m
12 Sugar Bella (Bet Now: $2.90) is a mare I’m prepared to take the gamble on. Kris Lees trains this girl and she was first up for 14 months when resuming under the lights at Canterbury and the market thought she’d be wound up to run well. She did better than that, she bolted in and ran good time. Worried there might be second up syndrome, but her quality/upside can’t be ignored.
4 In Times Of War…(Bet Now: $5.00) dear me she is a nightmare but to her credit, she does try and is always thereabouts…problem is she doesn’t win. Race shape didn’t suit last time at Rosehill when Don’t Tease Me teared away on speed and she just couldn’t sustain the run. Looks suited at the Randwick 1200m and with a cold ride and cover, she can go close.
6 Suspenders (Bet Now: $13.00) is a quality mare trained by Brad Widdup that resumes. This girl can be a bit hot and cold at times but when she is right, there is a decent engine under the hood and she looks to have returned in good order off the back of a couple of really sharp trial efforts. Goes well fresh so it’ll be interesting to see what the market does.
Race 6. (15:40) Right2Drive Handicap (84) 1600m
6 Chatelard (Bet Now: $12.00) looks the value. Chris Waller trains this bloke and he is first up after a strong Winter/Spring prep to kick off the career, which ended with a second to Alward, who went on to be Stakes class. Thought his two trials leading in were quite good, he draws well and gets the claim for the Magorrian.
2 Sedanzer (Bet Now: $3.00) is a mare that is just low flying at the moment for the Waterhouse/Bott yard. Has been confidently backed in both runs this time in and both times she has saluted for the punters. I will say she has beaten up fields that have carried less depth than what she faces here, and Randwick is a different beast to Rosehill. Just wouldn’t want to take anything silly short if you fancy her.
11 Vaucluse Bay (Bet Now: $20.00) looks great value to me in a tricky race. He resumed over 1500m at Rosehill three weeks ago and despite the form guide saying he didn’t do much, the late splits were sound given the leader/winner Dreamforce had an absolute picnic in front and dashed on the home turn, giving nothing from the back a look in. Up to the mile is ideal and he has plenty of scope.
Race 7. (16:20) Inglis Villiers Stakes 1600m
8 Interlocuter (Bet Now: $3.90 ODDS BOOST) looks the safe option in what looks a very intriguing edition of the Villiers. This bloke has been given a freshen up since winning the November Topaz (1900m) at Rosehill where he sat off a fast speed and rounded them up to win, but he didn’t exactly dash away, which does suggest that beyond a mile as the class increases will be a test, so freshened up to the mile, off the back of a nice trial last week, looks an ideal recipe for him to run well.
7 Crack Me Up (Bet Now: $8.00 ODDS BOOST) gets enormous respect for me and he’d be clearly on top had Interlocuter not been in. On the seven day back up after racing in the Brisbane Handicap last Saturday at Doomben where the market was cold on him and they got it right but he wasn’t far off when a narrow fourth to Cantbuybetter. He has been set for this race all prep and he’ll be very strong at the end of a hard Randwick mile.
15 Salsonic (Bet Now: $20.00 ODDS BOOST) is a quirky horse but if he puts it all together, he can definitely beat these. Got well back off them in the Festival but you had to like the way he worked to the line and through it behind Testashadow. Another that has been set for this for some time and the Randwick mile with a genuine tempo looks perfect.
Race 8. (17:00) Razor Sharp Handicap 1200m
Few of these runners are facing their D-Day, and 14 I Thought So (Bet Now: $6.00 ODDS BOOST) fits that bill. Hasn’t raced since Cup Day down the straight when sitting near the speed on the outside rail and battling away well behind Ocean Embers. Trialled up a storm last week at Warwick Farm, he maps well, 1200m on the fresh side…ticks all the boxes.
7 Calanda (Bet Now: $6.50 ODDS BOOST) has been a bit costly his last couple but I think he goes very close to winning here. Browne rode him an absolute treat in the George Moore a fortnight back at Doomben and really, should have won, but the winner Monsieur Gustave just wanted it a bit more and got the bob in. Back to Randwick, 1200m…D-Day.
8 Nancy (Bet Now: $21.00 ODDS BOOST) is a high quality mare for Team Snowden in search of some blacktype. Ran down the straight on Cup Day and I thought she ran well in a race which didn’t really appear to suit her behind Ocean Embers. Was down to run in a couple of mares races in Brisbane, but instead is saved for this and I think she sets up nicely.
Race 9. (17:40) Tab.com.au Handicap (82) 1400m
Siding with 9 Malaise (Bet Now: $5.50). James Cummings trained four year old who resumed at Canterbury where he lad to lump 62kg but was confidently backed. Tried hard from off the pace but couldn’t quite reel in stablemate Bratislava. The trials leading in were great and that resumption confirmed he has come back in good order. Really good weight relief here and has a good second up record.
8 Desert General (Bet Now: $21.00) is a Liam Birchley trained gelding who has returned this time in with some solid efforts under the belt. The latest run came over 1400m at the Sunny Coast when trying to chase down the in form Privlaka, who confirmed that form with a win at Doomben this Saturday. Giving him respect in a tough race.
13 Savvan (Bet Now: $9.50) is a John O’Shea trained mare who has been solid in two runs back from a month freshen up. Wasn’t far off Drachenfels on Cup Day at Randwick, with that form franked last week, before this mare went to Rosehill where she got back and worked home okay late behind the in form mare Sedanzer. The Randwick 1400m looks ideal and she is a knockout chance.
Best Bets & Quaddie Tips
BEST BET: Race Two Number 6 Victorem
NEXT BEST: Race Three Number 1 Broadside
VALUE: Race Six Number 6 Chatelard
Quaddie Tips (Races Six Through To Nine):
Leg One: 2, 3, 6, 8, 11, 15
Leg Two: 5, 6, 7, 11, 15
Leg Three: 3, 7, 8, 14
Leg Four: 4, 8, 9, 13
$50 Investment= 10.41% of the dividend if successful
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