2018 George Main Stakes Day Preview & Tips
Winx will chase an unprecedented fourth-consecutive Cox Plate. Photo: Steve Hart

2018 George Main Stakes Day Preview & Tips

Royal Randwick will host a big day of Group 1 racing on Saturday and there’s plenty of value to be found in betting on George Main Stakes Day.

The second campaign appearance of equine superstar Winx is the obvious highlight, but all nine races on George Main Stakes Day boast terrific fields and plenty of exciting contests are sure to materialise.

Last weekend’s soft conditions look like carrying over to Randwick and that will suit a number of key runners, including the three-time Cox Plate champion.

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Highway Handicap (1000m)
No. 4 Lifesaver

This week’s Highway race is a 1000m dash and thirteen horses remain in contention following the early scratching of Princess Lottie and Clang’s Victory. This is one of the stronger Highway fields in recent weeks and there is a case to be made for several runners. I’m leaning towards Lifesaver ($7.50) at current odds , but I wouldn’t want him a lot shorter given his awkward draw (barrier 15). The Helmet gelding resumed for an impressive win over 1100m at Rosehill four weeks ago and will only improve second-up here. Trainer Matt Dunn has a terrific record in these races and I think that Lifesaver can run well again.

Listed Heritage Stakes (1100m)
No. 3 Neutrality

Black type racing is underway early on George Main Stakes Day and a classy crop of three-year-olds will contest the Heritage Stakes, though it is shaping as a race in two between Neutrality ($2.75) and the resuming Santos ($4.40). Neutrality has been a strong and consistent performer throughout his entire racing career so far and resumed for a credible second behind Graff in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) three weeks ago. He’ll only improve from that run and will be hard to run down here. Santos was an impressive two-year-old and resumed in autumn for consecutive wins in the Pierro Plate (1100m) and Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m). He’s trialled well in the lead-up to this race and can be fighting out the finish on class alone. I’m confident that the run will prove the difference and Neutrality is the horse to beat here.

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Shoot Out Mile (1600m)
No. 2 Old North

It’s not a black type race but it might as well be, as the field confirmed for the third boasts plenty of quality, and there is subsequently plenty of value to be found in betting. All Too Soon failed to fire last time out but was posted an outstanding win a week prior and is worth consideration again at $6 here. The daughter of All Too Hard was settled at the tail of the field two starts back and worked who way through the middle of the pack in the straight to record the dominant win. She’s drawn ideally on Saturday, will enjoy a relief in the weights and is suited to a mile. A horse that looks over the odds at his current price in betting is the Godolphin-trained Old North ($14), who has continued to receive steady support since the market opened. Old North did take a couple of runs to tune up this time, but he worked home well to finish third at this track and distance a fortnight ago and will be nearing peak condition.

Group 2 The Shorts (1100m)
No. 1 Redzel

A talented field of sprinters will assemble for The Shorts, but it’s carryover champion Redzel that all the money is coming for and it’s not difficult to see why. The multiple Group 1 and inaugural Everest winner did not add to his tally of wins at the highest level in autumn, but did win the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1100m) second-up and resumed this time for a dominant win in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes over this track and distance a fortnight ago. Even without improvement, it’s tough seeing him lose.

Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m)
No. 2 Pierata

There has been a few early and key scratchings to the field of the Bill Ritchie Handicap but there is still plenty of talent, and value to be taken from a betting perspective. Pierata will carry winning form into the race and remains the $3 favourite at the time of publish. Winner of the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) in January, the Pierro entire beat a talented field to the line, including Kementari in the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) first-up and will only improve from the run. A return to his pet trip is ideal and while he’s been charged with overcome the outside barrier, is the horse to beat. Invictus Prince ($7.50) ran second behind Winx at Group 1 level last time out and will strip fitter for the performance. The Dansili gelding has been kept up to the mark with a trial at Wyong and he will look to finish over the top of his rivals after drawing wide. Siege Of Quebec ($5) is nearing peak fitness and will give them something to chase. The Fastnet Rock entire did not handle the heavy going last weekend, but will enjoy a return to good going and is drawn ideally in barrier 4. There is a case to be made for literally every horse in this field, but I’m happy to back Pierata again at current odds.

Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m)
No. 6 Winx

The George Main Stakes has drawn seven rivals for equine superstar Winx, but obviously it is impossible to tip against the mare and she remains the $1.12 favourite. Stable mate Unforgotten was a smart winner of the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) last time out and looms as the major danger at $12. CLICK HERE FOR FULL 2018 GEORGE MAIN STAKES ODDS & BETTING UPDATE

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Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m)
No. 2 Oohood

The Tea Rose Stakes could be the most competitive race on George Main Stakes Day and at the time of publish we are looking at $6 the field. The John O’Shea-trained Pretty In Pink ($6) returned for a smart third in the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) a fortnight ago and will take plenty of benefit into this race. The Sebring filly is yet to be tested at the trip, but her first-up run suggested that 1400m will be ideal. Group 1 winner El Dorado Dreaming will have her first start for Kris Lees in this race and is drawn ideally in barrier 3. The daughter of Ilovethiscity surprised as a $101 when she won the Group 1 Inglis Sires’ (1400m) in autumn and was last seen finishing third in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m). Oohood ($7) should be rock-hard fit for her run in the Tea Rose Stakes and could prove the value at $7. Several times placed in Group 1 company, Oohood placed fifth in the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) first-up and fourth in the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) last time out.

Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m)
No. 5 Avilius

The only capacity field on the George Main Stakes Day card will see several outstanding stayers step out and plenty of winning potential. Godolphin import Avilius has posted two impressive wins from as many starts since arriving in Australia and is the horse to beat again. The Pivotal gelding has form around some of the world’s best horses in Europe and was an easy winner of the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (1900m) three weeks ago. A horse at odds that I am interested in is the Chris Waller-trained Alward ($16), who will strip fitter into his second-up run here and will be returning to his pet trip. Alward was settled off the pace in the Listed Rowley Mile (1600m) first-up but mustered a decent turn of foot to fill the minors. He can enjoy a soft run from an inside gate and has the advantage of James McDonald aboard and only 55kgs in tow. I’ll be backing Avilius straight out, but will also have something small on Alward each-way at his current price in the Kingston Town Stakes.

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E Group Security Handicap (1200m)
No. 12 Eawase

The last looms as a tricky task for punters, but there’s plenty of value on hand if you can find the right one. I’m leaning towards backing the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Eawase ($6.50) at her current price and I am confident that she can fight out the finish of this race on class alone. The three-year-old returned to the races in April for a smart win at this track and distance before heading north for a maiden win at black type level in the Listed Bill Carter Stakes (1200m). Trainers Peter & Paul Snowden elected to scratch the filly from a mid-week race in favour of this one and she’ll carry only 53kgs.