An outstanding nine race card has been assembled for Randwick on Saturday, where it is Apollo Stakes Day. The weather is fine, the track is good (4) and the rail is in the true position for the entire circuit.
Race 1. (12:45) TAB Highway (Class 3) 1800m
Thought each way I could have something on 8 Not Bossy (Bet Now: $13.00 BOOSTED ODDS). Joe Cleary trains this mare, who broke the maiden status last time out over 1400m at the Sapphire Coast during their Cup Carnival. Didn’t produce a turn of foot but lived the way she kept finding and she was strong late, so up to 1800m is no concern and she has upside.
1 Mate Story (Bet Now: $2.60 BOOSTED ODDS) had been bursting to win a Highway for some time and he got it a fortnight back over 1500m at Rosehill when he put the pressure on the hot pot Acquittal and outgunned him late. The weight and 1800m at Randwick are the concerns, but he’s got the form on the board and is rock hard fit.
3 So It Is (Bet Now: $5.50 BOOSTED ODDS) comes through the Rosehill Highway won by Mate Story and I thought her effort was quite good. Got a fair way off the two leaders and gave away a huge start but she worked home well to be beaten only a couple of lengths. Think the rise to 1800m will really suit her and hopefully she can sit closer in the run.
Race 2. (13:25) The Luxury Network Pierro Plate 1100m
5 Exceltic (Bet Now: $6.00 BOOSTED ODDS) on top. Gary Portelli trains this colt, who they have Slipper aspirations for so with that being the case, he has to go close to winning here to warrant that path. Debut run in the Canonbury was pretty good to my eye behind Performer. Just think the stop/start tempo was against, and I don’t think he was entirely happy on the soft track. Provided we get a firm surface, I think he’s the one to beat.
1 Irish Bet (Bet Now: $11.00 BOOSTED ODDS) is a China Horse Club colt trained by John O’Shea who was confidently backed when debuting in the Inglis Nursery here back on December 16 and gee he was impressive in winning, letting down strongly over the final 150m to pull clear and stamp himself as a really nice type. Trialled up well last Monday at Rosehill and 1100m fresh is ideal.
6 Toulouse (Bet Now: $21.00 BOOSTED ODDS) is a David Payne trained colt first up. Made his debut at Rosehill back on December 2 and I really liked the way he closed off late when third to Perfect Pitch. Looked sharp in winning a Rosehill trial last week and to my eye he certainly seems forward enough to run well here first up.
Race 3. (14:00) Fairfax & Roberts Jewellers Handicap (85) 2000m
1 Emperor’s Way (Bet Now: $4.10 BOOSTED ODDS) just. Team Snowden trains this galloper, who is flying at the moment. Last two wins have come over 1800m, firstly here, before going to Rosehill where he really had to dig deep to wear down the tough nut Get On The Grange. Unknown at 2000m, but I prefer horses with the fresh legs and speed, which he has.
7 Almost Court (Bet Now: $11.00 BOOSTED ODDS) is a very interesting runner. Former kiwi who has had a couple of preps in Australia now for the Joseph/Jones team. He comes here off the back of a last start second in the Bega Cup at the Sapphire Coast where he went very hard on speed and just felt the pinch late when second to Makeadane. I like him up to 2000m and he’ll give a bold sight.
Don’t be shocked to see 3 The Bandit (Bet Now: $17.00 BOOSTED ODDS) run a much improved race here. He finished fourth behind Emperor’s Way at Rosehill where he covered a bit of extra ground and though beaten convincingly, I thought he stuck to the task really well in fourth spot. Has the upside, proven stayer and third up, he should be nearly ready.
Race 4. (15:1015) ACJC Southern Cross Stakes 1200m
I think class/brilliance gets 2 Deploy (Bet Now: $2.40 BOOSTED ODDS) home. Gerald Ryan trains this speedster, who hasn’t raced since the Everest when finishing a disappointing ninth to Redzel. Been given just the one trial, which came last week behind Redzel, and while I’ve seen better trials, that is just him. He is a race day beast.
1 Clearly Innocent (Bet Now: $7.50 BOOSTED ODDS) is similar to Deploy and that he is a race day horse. Never been a star trialler and that is the case again this prep. Wasn’t asked to do much in a Wyong trial behind stablemate Artlee, but we know on his day, he is a proper Group l horse. Does normally need a run or two to find his best, but he does have the brilliance to go close.
4 Boss Lane (Bet Now: $13.00 BOOSTED ODDS) is an absolute beauty for the Ron Quinton team. This bloke raced four weeks back here in the Summer Sprint when a solid second to Memes, beaten a length. I think his blacktype winning days are behind him, but he trialled well here on Monday and he does save his best for Randwick.
Race 5. (15:45) Derucci Handicap (86) 1600m
9 Prometheus (Bet Now: $4.20) gets the nod. Team Snowden trains this gelding who is three weeks between runs since racing over 1500m at Rosehill where he worked home with purpose late to just miss out on the win when second to Show A Star, who franked the form by bolting up last Saturday. Randwick mile looks perfect and form around him reads super with the win two back seeing him beat a subsequent city winner.
1 King Darci (Bet Now: $7.00) is racing really well at the moment for the Tim Martin camp. Just needs to put another win on the board. Heavily backed a fortnight back at Rosehill but just found the dash of Cellarman too good on the line. Draws wide, but I think he can get a pretty comfortable lead here and gets in well after the claim.
11 Quick Defence (Bet Now: $23.00) is a Chris Waller trained galloper who can be a real enigma at times, but on his day he is certainly up to these. Resumed with an encouraging effort behind Flow before going to the Bye See race at Rosehill a fortnight ago where he had a touch of the second up syndrome. Expecting hm to bounce back hard third up and is a must for multiples.
Race 6. (16:25) The Star Apollo Stakes 1400m
6 Comin’ Through (Bet Now: $5.00) on top in a solid edition of the Apollo. Chris Waller trains this gelding, who had a mixed Spring prep, highlighted by a win in the Bill Ritchie. Been given a good break and has been prepared for his return with a couple of really nice trial efforts. Noted fresh performer who loves Randwick, so I’ll be in his corner.
If you are looking at weights from the Carrington, then 2 Prized Icon (Bet Now: $5.50) is the horse. He paraded quite big in condition when resuming there three weeks back but despite that, gee I thought he ran well and it was only the hard fit/in form Lanciato that beat him. I highly doubt anything from that race turns the tables here, he goes well second up, draws the paint…ticks alot of boxes.
If he runs up to his trials, then 1 Classic Uniform (Bet Now: $17.00) will run a beauty here. Gary Moore trained stayer who is first up here, and while he is better suited at 2000m+, the way he has been trialling does suggest he has come back in outstanding order. He can pull out a run first up and he loves Randwick. I’ll definitely have a peanut each way on him.
Race 7. (17:05) Robrick Lodge Triscay Stakes 1200m
Taking a chance on 5 Raiment (Bet Now: $4.60). James Cummings trains this mare, who is first up after a two run Winter prep in Brisbane where she was disappointing both times. Dodged the Spring, been given a good break, and to my eye, has trialled really well on a couple of occasions in readiness for her return. Career best efforts have come at this track.
11 Gibraltar Girl (Bet Now: $16.00) is a talented mare that resumes for the Snowden camp after a three run Spring prep, where her best effort came first up over the 1000m here behind Super Too when working home strongly against the bias. She generally tends to race best fresh, and her trials indicate she is ready to run a beauty first up.
9 Hermosa Beach (Bet Now: $61.00) is a quality mare that is second up here for the Matty Dale team who resumed over 1000m on her home track where she was a hard favourite early before blowing out big time in betting and running accordingly when fifth to Perizada. Too good to dismiss off that and her trial prior behind Single Gaze was outstanding.
Race 8. (17:45) TAB Light Fingers Stakes 1200m
3 Alizee (Bet Now: $1.90) is a high quality filly that resumes for James Cummings. This girl hasn’t raced since the Thousand Guineas where she ran a game third to another star filly in Aloisia. The wraps on her are huge and she looks set for a big Autumn if the trial behind Redzel last week is anything to go by. The one to beat.
Keen to see 2 Melody Belle (Bet Now: $4.80). Te Akau trains this filly, who comes here off the back off a couple of really solid runs in high quality races, firstly the Railway at Ellerslie on a bottomless when far from disgraced before bolting up in the Mongolian Khan. This kiwi filly has showed great promise throughout and I’m confident she can measure up.
Great to see 1 Frolic (Bet Now: $12.00) back at the races. Formerly with Michael Freedman but is now with the Edward O’Rourke yard. Hasn’t raced since the Sires of last year when doing an excellent job against the bias behind Invader. Been given a really good break and has trialled up really well to my eye for her return.
Race 9. (18:20) Mosteyn Copper Group Handicap (85) 1200m
8 Suncraze (Bet Now: $4.50) on top. Very talented gelding for the Mel O’Gorman yard who is first up here with an eye towards the Country Championships. He hasn’t raced since the Anniversary Highway when a narrow second to After All That. Been given a good break and I thought his Muswellbrook trial win was outstanding. Looks ready to go.
13 Star Of Monsoon (Bet Now: $6.50) has been a revelation since becoming a gelding. He won two for two to start the prep before going to an Evening Star race at Canterbury and if you were on, gee whiz, it was a nightmare watch and he really should have beaten Ghostly. Bigger track looks ideal, as does a fast run 1200m.
If you are looking for one at odds, definitely include 16 Mishani Honcho (Bet Now: $20.00). Three weeks between runs for the Shane Edmonds team since racing over 1400m at Rosehill where they crawled in front but he still managed to clock home a sub 34 for his final 600m. Should be good speed here, so he’ll get his chance, and looks the value.
Best Bets & Quaddie Tips
BEST BET: Race Eight Number 3 Alizee
NEXT BEST: Race Two Number 5 Exceltic
VALUE: Race One Number 8 Not Bossy
Quaddie Tips (Races Six Through To Nine):
Leg One: 1, 2, 3, 6, 8
Leg Two: 5, 7, 8, 9, 11
Leg Three: 1, 2, 3, 4
Leg Four: 2, 8, 13, 16
$50 Investment= 12.50% of the dividend if successful
Bookmaker | Why Bet | Sign Up | Full Review |
---|---|---|---|
Back Yourself with Ladbrokes! | Join | Review | |
Back a Winner with Neds! | Join | Review | |
Sign up to Unibet and start betting in minutes! | Join | Review | |
Sign up to swiftbet and start betting in minutes! | Join | Review | |
Sign up to Unibet and start betting in minutes! | Join | Review |