Nine talent-rich races are set to be run and won at Royal Randwick on Saturday and there is plenty of value to be found from a betting perspective.
Race 1 – ATC Owners Benefit Card Handicap (1400m) – 12:40pm
Only six three-year-olds will step out in the first race at Randwick on Saturday, but the depth of talent confirmed suggests that this will be one of the more competitive races on the card.
Godolphin gelding Barbeque flew home to win at Wyong first-up this time, but faces a notable step up in class here. The three-year-old has two wins from three starts to his name and is drawn to get a good run behind the early pace from barrier 4.
Scream Park is seeking a third consecutive race win and can go on with the job here. The son of Ocean Park led all the way at Warwick Farm last time before eventually finding the line three lengths in the clear of his closest rivals. There is something of a question mark over his stepping back in distance, but he can cross the small field from the outside stall and will give them something to chase.
Aqua D’Ivina his drawn ideally and seeking a second-consecutive race win. The talented daughter of Pierro resumed for a close second behind Maid Marilyn at Canterbury on November 17th, before returning to winning form over 1350m at Wyong with ease last time out. She has conditions to suit here and should be right in the finish once more.
Tip: No. 6 Aqua D’Ivina ($4)
Race 2 – TAB Handicap (1200m) – 1:20pm
Race 2 looms as a difficult one to analyse from a betting perspective, given the limited form around the twelve two-year-olds confirmed as starters.
Canyonero worked to the line well to finish third in the Inglis Nursery on debut for Mark Newnham and appears to have plenty of talent. The son of Pierro has drawn ideally into this race, but has been charged with carrying a race-high 57.5kgs.
Commissioner debuted for third in the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes (1100m) on December 16th, but did finish more than eleven lengths off winner Ef Troop. Having returned to Sydney for fourth in a 1000m sprint on Boxing Day, he’ll need to improve again to win here.
There is potential in each of these juveniles, but is it extremely difficult to trust anything and I am happy to watch on this occasion.
Tip: No Bet
Race 3 – #TheRaces Sprint (1200m) – 1:55pm
An open field of sprinters has been taken for Race 3 and this is another occasion whereby a case can be made for several.
The Pharoah has failed to make an impact through his first two starts this time, but should be in peak order ahead of this. A step back in distance actually looks ideal for this horse and he shouldn’t find issue in taking up the running from a central draw.
Tswalu resumed for a smart win at Wyong and drops 4.5kgs into this race. The Northern Meteor mare will look to slot in on the heels of the race’s early leaders from the outside barrier and looms as the horse to beat once more.
Viceroy is another horse that resumed for a win and he looks to be the value in this field. The son of Magnus dug deep to beat a notable field over 1100m at Canterbury first-up in December and with natural improvement, should be fighting out the finish again.
Tip: No. 3 Viceroy – Each Way ($8/$2.40)
Race 4 – TAB Highway Handicap (1300m) – 2:30pm
Eleven country horses will step out in this weekend’s Highway Handicap, but it appears set to be a race in two between Awesome Pluck and Runway Ready.
Awesome Pluck has made only three appearances at the races to date, but has failed to miss a place and will take plenty of improvement into this race following a credible third over 1100m at Randwick first-up. Awesome Pluck will have the notable advantage of Hugh Bowman in the saddle and will leave from gate 6.
Runway Ready was an easy winner at Ipswich last time out, but this is an obvious step up in class and will need to improve again. The daughter of Zoffany has finished outside the places only a handful of times throughout her career and could enjoy the run of the race from an inside draw here.
Tip: No. 2 Awesome Pluck ($1.90)
Race 5 – Youth Insearch Inspire Mile (1600m) – 3:05pm
We are set for an exciting race when nine milers step out in Race 5.
The impressive Cellarman has found strong and consistent form this time and will prove extremely difficult to beat again in this race. Cellarman was a smart winner of his first two starts this time, but gave his rivals too great a head start when finishing third in both his third and fourth runs. Having responded well when stepping up to a mile and delivering a smart field an easy defeat last time, the Mossman gelding is at peak fitness and jockey Blake Shinn will have plenty of options from the rails draw.
Caerless Choice has been racing competitively and looms as a potential threat, while Positive Problems and Medaille can both perform well under these conditions.
Tip: No. 3 Cellarman ($2.35)
Race 6 – Spinalcure Racing4Research Sprint (1000m) – 3:40pm
At the time of publish, Race 6 is rich with value and betting potential.
Guard Of Honour is the current race favourite and likely to jump with the favourite’s tag, and he can post a second-consecutive win with appropriate luck in running. The Northern Meteor gelding won at Muswellbrook first-up and while he is stepping up in class here, he’ll be boosted by Bowman in the saddle.
Fickle Folly failed to fire last time out, but she was a smart winner in each of her first two starts this time and can return to winning form here, should she produce a similar performance.
A horse that appears over the odds in this market is Alart. Alart gave her rivals a huge start at Narromine first-up before peeling off some nice close sectionals to finish second, with 62kgs in tow. The daughter of Excellent Art will appreciate a step up in distance and takes 7.5kgs from topweight Guard Of Honour. She might not win, but she is worth consideration as an each-way chance at current odds.
Tip: No. 9 Alart – Each Way ($19/$4.20)
Race 7 – 2018 ATC Membership Handicap (1400m) – 4:20pm
Live To Dream returned to winning form via an outstanding performance at Randwick on Boxing Day and can repeat that result in this race. The Snitzel mare required a couple of runs to find form upon resuming this time, but took up the running last time out and sustained well to the line to beat Pioneering by a length. Her fitness should be at a peak and a step back to 1400m shouldn’t be an issue.
Siren’s Fury has been racing well without much luck and without returning to winning form this time, but is offered another chance here, from a good draw.
Tip: No. 2 Live To Dream ($5.50)
Race 8 – TAB.com.au Handicap (1400m) – 5:00pm
Nine horses will step out in the penultimate at Randwick on Saturday, but it really does look like Noire’s race to lose. Noire was an easy winner first-up on November 17 and has continued to rise through the grades perfectly; winning BM83 and BM85 races at her two most recent appeances. She has a fitness edge on much of this field and is facing a number of staying types either resuming or early in their preparations.
There’s value for the Bjorn Baker-trained Coolring at each-way odds.
Tip: No. 5 Noire ($2) BEST BET
Race 9 – Australian Turf Club Handicap (1400m) – 5:40pm
There has already been plenty of money for several horses in the field for the final race at Randwick on Saturday and it is looming as an open race from a betting perspective.
Level Eight has continued to firm and at the time of publish, is our clear $5.50 market mover having opened at a quote of $7.50. Level Eight failed to make up the distance require last start, but is drawn to settle closer to the speed on Saturday and will be ridden by Hugh Bowman.
All of Samadoubt ($3.60), Pipeline ($4.70) and Malaise ($4.20) loom as live chances in this race, while there is plenty of value to be found in Francesco. The Wanted gelding resumed for a close second at Wyong should take plenty of improvement into this race.
Tip: No. 7 Francesco – Each Way ($11/$3)