Kiwi raider Long Jack will carry winning form into the second on Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Day and looks the one to beat again. The So You Think colt finished second at each of his first career starts when debuting earlier this year, before arriving in Victoria for an easy win at Ballarat. Trainer Murray Baker rarely misses when he brings horses to Australia and Long Jack can return the stable another winner.
Pippie has boasted good ability throughout her entire racing career but has returned to the track in particularly devastating form this time and can record a fourth win in succession in the How Now Stakes. The Written Tycoon mare put away a fair field at Doomben with absolute ease first-up, before returning to Melbourne for consecutive wins in a BM78 sprint and the Cockram Stakes. I cannot find a reason why she can’t win again, and she is my best bet of the day.
Group 1 winner Amphitrite mustered an eye-catching turn of foot to run on from the tail of the field in the Cockram Stakes first-up and there is little doubt she’ll enjoy good improvement from the hit-out, while the small rise in trip into the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes will also suit. Craig Williams can slot in behind a genuine early tempo and with even luck the horse can finish over the top of her rivals. This looks a typically open contest, but I’m more than eager to have an each-way play at around the $8 mark.
Finche was excellent off a long spell a fortnight ago and will be far more effective for the run and over 2000m in the Kingston Town Stakes. The Frankel gelding hasn’t run a bad race since arriving in Australia and should relish the soft conditions at Randwick today. This looks to be a pretty standard field of Saturday stayers and with appropriate luck, Finche should be given every chance to win.