A big ten race program once again this week and while there is no Listed or Group racing on the program, there is still some very competitive races and winners to be found.
The track is currently rated as a Good 4 with the weather fine and the rail out 5m for the entire circuit.
Race 1 Two-year-old Handicap (1200m) @ 12:40pm
Paulele
Could not of been more impressive on debut at Moonee Valley when winning by two lengths over the 1000m. The son of Dawn Approach got through the line nicely, so the 1200m should not be an issue. He was given a very hot speed for him on debut and did get a lot go right for him last start. Looks a bit short for me.
Zarastro
Has trialled up well to suggest that he could he in for a big performance on debut here. His first trial was a brilliant second to Readily Availabull, who came out and won the Ballarat Magic Millions Two-year-old Clockwise Classic. His most recent trial was an equally sound effort when he won well under little riding. Looks set for a big debut.
The Art Of Flying
Brings in very solid form after terrific runs behind Sneaky Five and Anamoe in his previous two starts. He was good in both of those efforts and looks a horse that’ll greatly appreciate stepping up in trip to the 1200m. Not a lot of speed in the race so if he settles just in behind the speed, he should be right in the finish.
Coastwatch showed sharp improvement last start when finishing third at Warwick Farm.
Selections: 1-5-2-6
Suggested Bet: The Art Of Flying looks a terrific bet here in the first and is a good price to back each-way ($7.50 win, $2.00 place).
Race 2 Class 2 Highway Handicap (1300m) @ 1:15pm
Perfect Pitch
Returned to form when she charged home late to finish a narrow second to Majella at Warwick Farm over the mile. She drops in distance here and comes back to Highway class from Benchmark-72 grade. She is drawn wide but there does not look to be much speed drawn inside of it. Has a good chance but prefer others.
Nuremburg Castle
Is knocking on the door for a win after three terrific runs for placings in his three starts this preparation. He has drawn a nice barrier and has the in-form Tommy Berry on for the ride. The step up to the 1300m should suit and should go close.
Chap's Dream has been quite consistent in her career to date and could be a good place chance while Westgrove will get his chance from the inside barrier and Belleistic Lad comes in very light at the weights for this.
Selections: 13-8-1-7
Suggested Bet: Looks a good race to back Nuremburg Castle with a bigger place than win bet to ensure profit if it places ($4.40 win, $1.85 place).
Race 3 Class 2 Highway Handicap (1300m) @ 1:50pm
Kattegat
Eye-catching run from back in the field first-up at Rosehill over the 1200m. The extra 100m should suit him here and he should improve second-up. He may need some luck if he goes back in the field from barrier one however.
Another One
Comes out of the same race last start as Kattegat where he was the solid favourite for the race. He did not finish that far behind Kattegat on that occasion and he could go closer here if the favourite does not get the luck from the inside barrier. Should be rock hard fit now with this being his third run this preparation.
Loving Cilla
Looks a very progressive mare and has looked good in her two starts so far in her career. She ran home brilliantly on debut to finish third at Canberra and then got her maiden win nicely at Nowra last start over the 1400m. Draws well and could be the big improver.
King's Trust was a solid winner two starts back in a Class 3 Highway Handicap and a similar performance to that could see him challenge while Clay Pan Boogie and Stonecold Flex both look decent chances at the big odds.
Selections: 2,1,5,13
Suggested Bet: Struggled to split a few of these. No Bet.
Race 4 Benchmark-88 Handicap (2000m) @ 2:25pm
Accountability
Has struck some nice form this preparation and he should go close once again here. He was a nice winner two and three starts back before getting too far back last start when finishing third to Significance. He was beaten by Gone Bye on that occasion but gets a 0.5kg weight swing in his favour this time. Good chance.
Gone Bye
Beat home Accountability last start when he was very tough and was only narrowly beaten by Significance. He gives Accountability half a kilogram weight swing for this but he looks to get a soft lead once again and will give Accountability something to catch once again.
Vadiyann
Very interesting runner in this. He was a solid favourite when he dropped back sharply in the straight after settling on speed. He has had a trial since and he won that in brilliant fashion. The step up to the 2000m should suit perfectly and if he can show a similar run to his first race in Australia, he can go very close to winning here.
Elaborate and Parry Sound are both in great form and do look over the odds in this while Milestone comes out of a good form race at Pakenham last start.
Selections: 4-6-8-1
Suggested Bet: Very keen to back Vadiyann each-way here ($6 win, $2.10 place).
Race 5 Benchmark-78 Handicap (1600m) @ 3:00pm
Fulmina
Excellent run first-up over the 1500m behind Two Big Fari when she came charging home from back in the field. Steps up to the mile here which should suit nicely and is second-up where she should show some improvement. Barrier slight concern if she goes back but she looks a great chance.
New Arrangement
Comes into this on the seven day back-up after finishing well back in the field behind Kirwan's Lane in Benchmark-88 level. He was well supported last week and he drops back in grade for this. Can bounce back to form here and go close.
Betchaflying is a model of consistency but does not tend to win out of turn while Nyami and Cisco Bay are racing well and get their chances here. Wild About Her has good second-up form.
Selections: 4-2-9-10
Suggested Bet: Think Fulmina will be hard to beat but she is too short. No Bet.
Race 6 Fillies & Mares Benchmark-78 Handicap (1400m) @ 3:40pm
Vitesse
Was a nice winner in this grade last start when beating Savigne at Rosehill over the 1350m. She should be able to lead this field up from barrier one. Her third-up record is not flash with four starts for just the one place, and she has more weight than some of her rivals from last start, but she is in good form and should lead for a long way.
Sausedge
Gave herself too much to do last time when she charged home from back in the field to finish third to Vitesse. There looks to be a stronger tempo in this and she gets a 2.5kg weight swing in her favour on Vitesse. Looks a big chance.
Invinciano
Was no match for Vitesse last start when up on speed with her but she gets the weight swing in her favour this time around. She rarely runs a bad race and should be able to settle up on the speed once again from barrier three. Will be a bit more pressure in this race but she looks a decent each-way chance.
Maui Girl was a real eye-catcher first-up when she charged home behind Surreal Step, step up to the 1400m should suit while Helga has solid claims second-up here and Saigon is a big watch first-up.
Selections: 4-2-9-11
Suggested Bet: Very tough race this one with plenty of chances. Hard to be too confident. No Bet.
Race 7 Benchmark-78 Handicap (1000m) @ 4:20pm
Lashes
Comes into this first-up where she normally goes well fresh. She has trialled up nicely leading into this run with her most recent trial being an impressive one. She has drawn the outsider barrier, but there looks to be plenty of speed inside of her so James McDonald should be able to follow the speed and get some cover in the race. Good chance.
Sally’s Day
Big run first-up when finishing third to Lillemor on the Kensington track. That was over the 1100m so she steps back in trip here but there looks to be enough speed in the race that she should get her chance to run on. May need a bit of luck from the barrier if she goes back.
Mission River
Comes into this after having a nine week let-up and has had a nice trial leading in where he beat Mr Colorful (who has won since) and the smart Away Game. He usually goes well fresh and looks well drawn to be prominent in the race. Expecting a big first-up performance.
Our Bellagio Miss can bounce back here while Partners is a big watch first-up.
Selections: 12-10-3-5
Suggested Bet: Mission River looks a good chance to in first-up but is a good price to back each-way ($6.50 win, $2.10 place).
Race 8 Open Handicap (1400m) @ 5:00pm
Edison
Has returned in great form this preparation with a win and two seconds. His last start win was as tough as it gets when he was challenged, and looked beaten, only to fight back and win. This looks his toughest test this preparation and the wide barrier will make it tough for him but he is in good form.
Hilo
Has form around Edison and beat him two starts back here at Randwick on a Heavy track. He has had a bit of time off since his last start and has had a nice tick-over trial since. Has drawn barrier one so expecting Rachel King to be prominent on him if he jumps out well. Good chance.
Irithea
She has been a bit underwhelming so far this preparation but she gets her chance today in what looks an easier race than she has faced. Thought her last start effort in the Group 3 Festival Stakes was full of merit and she can run well here in weaker grade.
Romani Girl ran home terrific last start and has a good third-up record while Passage Of Time should be fitter and Special Missile has claims second-up at big odds.
Selections: 2-8-10-7
Suggested Bet: Keen to take the two favourites on here and go with two horse that look appealing. Backing Irithea ($17 win, $4.20 place) and Romani Girl ($17 win, $4.20 place) each-way.
Race 9 Benchmark-88 Handicap (1200m) @ 5:40pm
Big Parade
He disappointed his backers last time when he led and looked to be travelling before not finding much in the straight as an odds-on favourite at Kembla Grange. He has had nearly a month between runs and comes into this second-up with the blinkers off for the first time. Not a lot of speed horses in the race so he should lead and be in the finish.
Mo's Crown
Should be prominent from barrier one and may make Big Parade work for the lead from out wide. Has been in good form this preparation. His last start effort behind Pandemic and Albumin was sound and he is rock-hard fit now. Should be right in the finish once again.
Yamazaki
Looks really well placed in this race first-up. This is the easiest race she has seen in some time and was competitive at Group 3 level on multiple occasions. While there does not look to be a stack of tempo in this race, she has the class edge to overcome that and win this.
Poetic Charmer has was good first-up just in behind Mo's Crown and should take a lot of benefit from that run while Kordia is a big watch first-up. A horse with a lot of talent and could be in for a big performance.
Selections: 3-10-7-9
Suggested Bet: Backing Yamazaki each-way here first-up ($10 win, $3 place).
Race 10 Benchmark-72 Handicap (1400m) @ 6:20pm
More Prophets
Was a brilliant winner first-up over the 1100m at Warwick Farm. This is a bit tougher but she progressive and has yet to miss a place in her five career races. She is drawn to get a good run in the race and she should be right there in the finish once again.
Arabian Hussey
Can Victorian-trained horses win the last at Randwick once again? I Am Vinnie did it for us last week and I think Arabian Hussey is very capable of winning this with the low weight. She was a dominant winner in 64 grade at Sandown last start when beating Chequerboard and she looks to be progressing nicely. Not a lot of speed in the race will help her greatly.
St Covet's Spirit
Is capable of a big run here third-up. Gets out to the 1400m which should suit nicely and we should get a guide on how strong the formline behind Vitesse will be earlier on in the program. She may need a bit of speed on to bring her into the race however.
Black Duke was good last start and should be fitter third-up here while Tamerlane was a good winner last start and could show good improvement to go close here.
Selections: 14-4-13-1
Suggested Bet: Backing Arabian Hussey each-way ($4.80 win, $1.95 place).
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