2019 The Championships Day Two Tips & Preview
Winx will win one more race when she contests the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart

2019 The Championships Day Two Tips & Preview

Tears will flow on Saturday when Winx salutes at Royal Randwick and that is sure to be a highlight. In saying that, there are nine other races on the card and nine opportunities to find a winner that actually pays a decent price. We’ve analysed every single race and we’d be staggered if we don’t find a stack of winners. 

Listed Kings Of Sydney Sport Mile (1600m)
AMERCEMENT

You don’t need to be a star punter to have backed a winner in a two-year-olds race this year – just back the Godolphin runner. James Cummings has made it very easy for us by only including Amercement in this field and you shouldn’t bet against her. She has been freshened-up since she finished fourth in the Magic Night Stakes and her best form does give her a genuine edge over the rest of this field.  

Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m)
GEM SONG

I generally don’t like to bag bookies, actually I do it every week, but they have gotten one horse completely wrong.  The fact that Gem Song is currently available at $14 is well and truly over the odds. His first-up win in the Eskimo Prince Stakes was nothing short of outstanding and I am happy to forgive her for her flat effort in the Darby Munro. Her best form is right up to this race and you won’t find better value at any meeting this weekend. 

Provincial Championship Final (1400m)
ARCHEDEMUS

I’m not going to lie you – I’m not a huge fan of this race and the overall Provincial Championships concept. In saying that, I am always happy to back a winner and Archedemus does look as though he will be very hard to beat. He has recorded five wins from his seven race starts and he showed a huge amount of toughness to claim victory at Newcastle last start. He has genuine metropolitan form and I expect him to end up as a proper stakes-winning horse. 

Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m)
KIAMICHI

James Cummings has made this very difficult for us. Instead of giving us one Godolphin horse to back, he has included five fillies in the Percy Sykes Stakes. I would not be shocked if any of the Godolphin runners were able to get the job done, Cummings is going that well, but I’m going to side with Kiamichi. She won a bloody Golden Slipper, so she is definitely good to win the Percy Sykes Stakes and she was as tough as they come in the Sires’ Produce Stakes last week. I like the fact that Cummings has her on the quick back-up and she will be tough to run down again. 

Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m)
AVANTAGE

The Kiwis have an excellent record at The Championships and that can continue in the Arrowfield 3YO Sprint. I don’t want to get carried away, but Avantage might be a superstar. She has now recorded seven wins from eight race starts and there are no stars in this contest. She looked like she was completely cast in the Birthday Card Stakes, but she just kept on finding and she should only benefit from that effort. I think that she has a Group 1 win in Australia for the taking.

 

Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m)
VERRY ELLEEGANT

I’ve got to put the hand up – I took on Verry Elleegant in the Australian Oaks and she made me look very stupid. The only negative about the filly was the fact that she carried on like a nutcase during her races and she looks to have gotten that out of her system. If she settles and runs out a strong 2400 metres they simply won’t beat her and class alone might be enough to get her over the line. She is an odds-on favourite for a reason and one of the best bets of the afternoon. 

Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m)
WINX

What do you expect me to say. Winx wins. Chris Waller will cry. Debbit Kepitis will carry on like a pork chop. Maybe have a bet on her for old times sake and the battle between Hartnell and Happy Clapper for second will be interesting, but bring on the next race and a proper betting contest! 

Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m)
BIG DUKE

My love affair with Godolphin isn’t just to do with James Cummings. I have a serious, and I mean serious, man crush on Charlie Appleby. Everything he touches, particularly stayers, turns into gold and it is no surprise that he has the Sydney Cup favourite in the form of Dubhe. The shock is that I’m taking Dubhe on. Don’t get me wrong, he could very well come out and win this race in a canter. Appleby is that good. But the current price is crazy. It has been a long time between wins, but I’m with the old warrior Big Duke. He chased home Avilius in the Tancred Stakes last year and the step-up to 3200 metres suits. He deserves to win a Group 1 and he gets his chance in the Sydney Cup. 

 

Group 1 Coolmore Legacy Stakes (1600m)
AMPHITRITE

The Coolmore Legacy Stakes is always something of a lottery from a betting standpoint, but I’ve found serious value in the form of Amphitrite. Punters have a short memory. Some experts were calling her the second best horse in the country following her win in The Vanity and she wasn’t disgraced in either the Australian Guineas or the All-Star Mile. Three-year-olds have an excellent record in this race and she still has a huge amount of upside. I’m more than happy to take $9.50 in a very open race. 

Group 2 Sapphire Stakes (1200m)
SPRIGHT

I can’t believe I’m actually doing this. Spright is a cat. She might be one of my least favourite horses in the country, but I still think she will win the Sapphire Stakes. Winter Bride just had her measure first-up, but I doubt that she will improve on that and Spright has since finished second behind Sunlight in a William Reid Stakes. She will probably flash home for second again, like she always does, but at $5 I am willing to take the gamble in a fairly weak race.