We are set for an outstanding feature race at Royal Randwick on Saturday when some of the country’s best three-year-olds step out in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m).
Godolphin colt Kementari is seeking a third-consecutive race win and first at the highest level, and has opened a $2.50 favourite in our 2018 Randwick Guineas betting market.
Plenty of hype has followed Kementari’s career since his debut run for second in a Canterbury sprint in May last year and he will take his place in the Randwick Guineas field with an impressive record of three wins and as many minors from only eight starts.
Finishing second behind Mighty Boss in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) most notably in spring, the Lonhro colt trialled well leading into his Autumn Carnival campaign before delivering a strong field a resounding first-up defeat in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) on February 10th.
Kementari repeated that effort and result in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) a fortnight ago and will be extremely difficult to beat upon returning to a mile in the Randwick Guineas.
D’Argento ran on well for third in the Hobartville and has so-far received the greatest share of attention in our Randwick Guineas market; firming into $4.70 second-favouritism from an opening quote of $5.
The So You Think colt has only made four competitive appearances at the races so far, but has shown above average talent and won three in a row before his run in the Hobartville.
He appears to be up to the class of this field and will have the notable advantage of Hugh Bowman in the saddle once more on Saturday.
A horse that warrants interest in Randwick Guineas betting is Pierata, who was strong to the line for second in the Hobartville Stakes and appears to be over the odds at a current $6.50 quote.
The son of Pierro was a strong and consistent performer for Greg Hickman as a two-year-old, but has come back a far-more furnished horse this time and is a live chance of winning his first Group 1 title on Saturday.
An easy winner of the Winning Rupert Plate (1200m) at Doomben first-up on December 2nd, the Pierro colt was slow away before finishing second in the Listed Gold Edition Plate (1200m), but responded with consecutive wins in the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) and Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m).
Having received a freshen-up leading into the Hobartville, Pierata is primed for another big performance in the Randwick Guineas and will have plenty of options from the rails draw.
Ace High ($14) has run two excellent races in unideal conditions and should be extremely effective over the Randwick mile on Saturday.
The High Chaparral colt was a standout three-year-old in spring and won each of the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m), Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) in succession.
Ace High has hit the line well for fifth in both the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) and Hobartville this time and can run a cheeky race from barrier 2 in the Randwick Guineas.
We’re offering Fat Odds on every runner in the 2018 Randwick Guineas field!