Group l racing returns to Randwick this Saturday, where it is George Main Stakes Day. The weather is fine, the track is soft (5) and the rail is out seven metres from the 1600m-Winning Post; Out four metres for the remainder.
George Main Stakes 🏆: View the Field and Odds for the George Main Stakes
The Shorts 🏆: View the Field and Odds for the Shorts
Race 1. (11:40) Tab Highway Hcp (c3) 1000m
17 Battleground (Bet Now: $6.00 TOP ODDS) does seem to be ridden best with a sit so with that in mind, I want to give him another chance. Ridden warm when racing here last time out and it backfired. Despite sitting off a strong speed, he was pulling his head off and ended up being a beaten horse at the top of the straight. Off the resumption, he’ll take beating here.
10 Private Agent (Bet Now: $5.00 TOP ODDS) is a talented animal for Kurt Goldman that resumes. Hasn’t raced in just under a year when second at Goulburn behind Shanaya, a proven Highway performer. Has clearly had his issues, but looks to have trialled well in readiness for his return, so watch the market.
I’ve always had time for 6 Shelby Sixtysix (Bet Now: $10.00 TOP ODDS). Danny Williams trained gelding that resumes and he has shown previously he can measure up to this grade. The positive is that he has trialled well leading in. The negative is that the stable is having an awful year, so watch the market.
Race 2. (12:15) Peachester Shoot Out Mile-bm88 1600m
4 Bigboyroy (Bet Now: $3.10 TOP ODDS) isn’t far off a win I feel. Looked to have every chance when racing here a fortnight back but couldn’t quite finish it off when a close up third to surprise winner Soldier Of Love. The mile should be okay for him and fourth up from a break, should be at peak fitness.
7 Cisco Bay (Bet Now: $7.50 TOP ODDS) is a hard horse to catch but he’s generally around the mark more often than not at this level. Got a mile back behind Soldier Of Love two weeks back and loomed but the sustained run just weakened the final 100m. If he can sit closer in the run, he’ll be dangerous.
1 New Arrangement (Bet Now: $7.00 TOP ODDS) should appreciate the weight relief. Comes through the Atishu race from several weeks ago and he just looked a big bogged down by the weight, but was still far from disgraced in defeat in a fast run race won by his stablemate. He’s a first four threat with the soft gate and hopefully a more genuine tempo.
Race 3. (12:50) Midway (bm72) 1600m
I want to butter up with 15 Love Me Quietly (Bet Now: $14.00 TOP ODDS). Was on her at the big odds when she raced here two weeks ago. Not sure she would have won but she should have finished much closer, getting badly held up in the straight. Convinced she’s racing well and can take this out.
Good test here for 9 Big Surprise (Bet Now: $4.60 TOP ODDS) but he’s flying for Kristen Buchanan, a trainer that is in form when it comes to these races. This gelding led throughout at Gosford last time and gave them a spanking under Bowman. Harder here, but have to like the way he is going about it.
4 Bowery Breeze (Bet Now: $6.00 TOP ODDS) is flying for Paul Cave. This mare ran behind Royalzel at Kembla three weeks back and just forget she went around. Got too far back in the run and did make up good ground, but was never really a winning factor given where she was in the run. Dangerous if she can sit closer.
Race 4. (13:25) The Agency (bm78) 1400m
Fitter and up in trip are two big ticks for 11 Tony Be (Bet Now: $11.00 TOP ODDS), a former Kiwi galloper for Chris Waller that made his Australian debut over 1300m here two weeks ago and was good late from off the speed in an eye catching effort behind Brigantine. Second up syndrome potentially, but he looks a likely type.
10 Suave (Bet Now: $10.00 TOP ODDS) is a lightly raced son of Lonhro for James Cummings that resumes. He is six years of age but is only having start eight, so clearly is showing something at home to keep persisting and in his short career to date, that has been seen on occasions. Couple of soft trials to get ready, 1400m first up, I’d watch the market.
5 High Supremacy (Bet Now: $5.50 TOP ODDS) is the class runner of the field and that will carry him a long way. Resumes for Team Freedman after a mixed Autumn/Winter prep, where he looked a potential Derby candidate but after a luckless Frank Packer run, he went to the Rough Habit at Doomben, struggled and was spelled soon after. Has looked great the trials and if he’s ready to go, he will give this a shake.
Race 5. (14:00) Bill Ritchie Qlty 1400m
11 Atishu (Bet Now: $3.90) is a quality mare for Chris Waller and confident she can bounce back into the winners list. Not sure what to make of the run two weeks ago here. Pilot error in a negative ride? Resented kick back? Could be a number of things, but one thing I know was that she was huge in defeat. If she’s within range 400m out, she’ll just about be winning.
4 Amarelinha (Bet Now: $6.00) is a high quality mare for Jamie Richards that resumes. This girl had one run down under in the Autumn, which came in the Oaks when a game fourth to Hungry Heart. Given a good break and though just has one trial under the belt, she does have class on her side and brilliance.
D-Day here for 8 Prime Star (Bet Now: $23.00). Good late fresh in the Show County before going to the Tramway when ridden on speed, and IMO, ridden upside down, which ensured he had nothing left for the straight when down the track behind Zaaki. His best can see him run an improved race. First four threat.
Race 6. (14:40) Tea Rose Stakes 1400m
I want to give 3 She’s All Class (Bet Now: $3.60) another chance. Chris Waller trained filly that had an interrupted prep leading into the Furious and that was on display. Loomed to win but her condition just gave way late. She’ll take good improvement from that and I think fitter, up to 1400m, I think she can bounce back.
1 Four Moves Ahead (Bet Now: $4.50) is getting closer to D-Day. Entitled to put them away fresh in the Silver Shadow. Then went to the Furious when dragged back from the wide gate and worked home strongly nearer the inside. Clearly has the engine under the hood to beat these. Just depends how well she’s going.
4 Mallory (Bet Now: $5.00) is racing like she will eat up the 1400m. Ryan/Alexiou filly that has run in both the Silver Shadow and Furious this time in. Each time she has got back in the run and finished off her race with real purpose. I’m worried that this bunch of fillies are average, but she is progressive.
Race 7. (15:15) George Main Stakes 1600m
7 Verry Elleegant (Bet Now: $1.90) is a champion mare and I think she’ll win another major here. Arguably should have won the Winx first up but was wide no cover for the trip, but in turn gave the perfect drag up for Mo’Unga and that was the difference. She looks spot on and can’t see anything other than a win for her.
2 Think It Over (Bet Now: $4.60) is such a beauty for Kerry Parker. Jockey downgrade cost him dearly fresh in the Winx. Got the jockey upgrade in the Chelmsford where Nash really lifted him late and got the bob on the peg. Continually gets underestimated but he’ll run well once again.
9 Hungry Heart (Bet Now: $14.00) looks to be spot on for the Epsom/Golden Eagle IMO. But this run will be a good guide as to where they head, whether they keep her to the mile, or step her out in trip. She got flattened in the Winx but picked up and was quite good late. She’s a definite threat if Verry Elleegant is off her game.
Race 8. (15:55) The Shorts 1100m
Have to be with 1 Nature Strip (Bet Now: $2.30). It wasn’t a strong field he beat in the Concorde, but he made an absolute mess of them and J Mac said post race that is as good as he has felt first up compared to other preps, which bodes well for the prep. He’ll find the fence first, lead and take a power of beating.
7 Lost And Running (Bet Now: $8.00) is the boom horse leading into The Everest. He came from really nowhere last prep, with his win here during the Autumn Carnival and the time he ran over 1200m suggesting he could match it with the big boys and girls. Trials have been strong and he can produce sustained speed, so he’s hard to beat.
5 Rothfire (Bet Now: $5.50) is the biggest query of the meeting and the biggest query leading into The Everest at this stage. Hasn’t been sighted on the track since breaking down in the Golden Rose and it’s been a remarkable job to get him back. Trials have been sharp and the piece of work between races last Saturday at Doomben was stunning. He’s ready to rock and roll.
Race 9. (16:35) Kingston Town Stakes 2000m
14 She’s Ideel (Bet Now: $3.00) gets another chance. Bjorn Baker trained mare that was fabulous fresh in the Winx Stakes before going to the Chelmsford where she just raced a touch on the flat side but was good late. Getting to a more suitable distance range and third up, should just about be at peak fitness.
3 Montefilia (Bet Now: $5.00) looks to be in for a really good prep. Resumed in the Chelmsford when wide with cover before peeing wider and finishing off strongly late in the piece when third to Think It Over. Such an encouraging return for a horse being aimed at a Caulfield Cup so keen to see how she goes.
5 Shared Ambition (Bet Now: $6.50) has a fab second up record and at this level, he’s quite effective. Resumed in the Chelmsford where the Waller camp said they would ride him cold but instead he was ridden positive, on speed, and stuck to the task pretty well when fifth. Gets a much better set up here and is a key threat.
Race 10. (17:15) Heineken (bm88) 1100m
12 Equation (Bet Now: $3.20) is a huge yard/market watch. Annabel Neasham trained four year old that resumes, having not raced since finishing best from off the speed and taking out the Canberra Guineas on what was a shifty track. Resumes without a trial, but he is a good race horse that has talent. Market will tell you if he’s ready.
8 Lancaster Bomber (Bet Now: $26.00) is bursting to win a race and interesting he was scratched from what looked a winnable race at the Gold Coast to run here. Richard Litt trained gelding that ran at Randwick last time out when given a peach steer and when the button was pushed, he looked home, but was nailed late by Geist. That form looks strong for this. Just needs luck from the draw.
18 Hulk (Bet Now: $23.00) speaks for himself. He’s such a hard horse to catch but he’s definitely capable of winning without totally shocking. Back and held up when racing three weeks back at Kembla but was out in time to win. Just couldn’t get past Andermatt. Couldn’t back him to win but a first four threat.
Best Bets & Quaddie Tips
BEST BET: Race Seven Number 7 Verry Elleegant
NEXT BEST: Race Eight Number 1 Nature Strip
LONG SHOT: Race Three Number 15 Love Me Quietly
Quaddie Tips (Races Seven Through To Ten):
Leg One: 7
Leg Two: 1
Leg Three: 3, 5, 14, 15
Leg Four: 3, 8, 12, 18, 19
$50 Investment = 250% 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 |