Rivalling a stacked All-Star Mile card in Melbourne, Randwick is set to play host to two Group 1s on Saturday, including the Randwick Guineas between the 3YOs and the Canterbury Stakes at weight-for-age.
Rain earlier in the week has us racing on a Soft 6 at the time of writing, while the added chance of a few downpours on Saturday could see a downgrade.
Our best bet can be found midway through the program with Chris Waller and James McDonald combining, before some short-priced favourites take their place in the features.
For our thoughts on all 10 races in Sydney, check out our Randwick Guineas Day best bets below!
ICEMAN (4) gave good chase second-up at Rosehill two weeks ago and looks ready for longer now.
He’s third-up and racing well for Clarry Conners and draws to do no work early from the low gate. If he can get back and switch off early, he should be strong when it matters most in a typically open Midway race to start the day.
PIGGYBACK (7) should be racing with confidence after prevailing by half a length at Rosehill a few weeks ago.
The Trapeze Artist mare came on with a well-timed run to score over 100m shorter and looks ready for the step up to 2000m now with growing fitness on her side.
Any rain about will strengthen her claims and she’s no stranger to winning two on the bounce.
MISS CHANEL (3) gets the blinkers on for the first time still chasing her maiden win.
She gave good chase in two place efforts to start her career at Rosehill, before stepping out in the Pierro Plate here at Randwick last month where she was three-wide the trip and a touch disappointing over the late stages.
All three of her runs have come over 1100m, so the step up to 1200m here is noteworthy. Fitter and getting better with each start, she’s worth a look each way.
Hard to knock STRETAN RULER (1) after that brilliant run to claim the Silver Slipper two weeks ago.
The Wild Ruler colt put his rivals to the sword that day by close to 3.5 lengths, showcasing an electric turn of foot in the process to indicate he’d handle getting out over further.
Draws to find the box seat here from the soft gate and do no work early in the run, so he should be just as strong over the late stages with Chad Schofield sticking.
CAFFE FLORIAN (6) appeals coming off a handy Gosford Guineas win late last year.
She’s been kept on ice with a good three-month break between runs, given a nice soft trial at Rosehill a couple of weeks ago where she wasn’t asked to do much.
Jason Collett has a great feel for the Snitzel filly, combining to win over 1100m at Canterbury last November. They’ll likely look to get back off the speed early from the wide gate and save something for the finish.
PINITO (2) could be one of the better bets on the day following a very encouraging return in the Millie Fox Stakes first-up.
The times she ran over the final furlong tell the full story, getting right back in the run early on before improving steadily along the inside to finish 2.8 lengths away from Cinsault.
She’s a big improver second-up I feel and the booking of James McDonald suggests the Waller stable think she’s ready to handle the big step up to the mile now.
MAZU (2) is always a threat first-up, particularly with conditions to suit if there is some extra give in the track.
We haven’t seen him since the spring when he was third to Jimmysstar in the Russell Balding here at Randwick over 1300m, leading for a good chunk of the way before two quality horses (the other being Lady Shenandoah) got the best of him.
Whether 1000m suits is the question, but he’s trialled up well ahead of his return and will no doubt run his usual honest race up on the speed.
SHEZA ALIBI (9) looks ready to take the next step now up to Group 1 level for Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman.
Her return in the Armanasco Stakes two weeks ago was nothing short of superb, finding teh rails run and clicked up at the 100m mark, dashing home to win by a solid margin of more than two lengths.
This is the stiffest challenge she’s faced so far, but in with only 54.5kg and Luke Nolen already having won twice in the saddle, she’ll be incredibly hard to hold out when it matters.
No shock to find JOLIESTAR (6) short in the market after giving good chase to claim the Expressway Stakes fresh from a spell a few weeks ago.
She’s always been a proven first-up performer, but her second-up record is no slouch either as she gets out to 1300m for just the second time – the other being a Group 1 win at Eagle Farm when she claimed the Kingsford Smith Cup last year.
Her wet track form gets a big tick and J-Mac has a lot to work with from barrier 4.
IDLE FLYER (3) is a proven Randwick performer with an equal amount of wins ot her name over the 1200m trip.
A previous Group 3 winner, she’s drawn perfectly in barrier 2 on Saturday and only carries 54.5kg on return under Zac Lloyd.
There was a lot to like about the way she found the line her most recent trial and this looks to be the ideal trip for her to kickoff her prep.