Winx returns to the racetrack this weekend in the G2 Warwick Stakes and she'll face just six other starters all of whom are G1 winners in their own right.
Thankfully we'll have something approaching a good track in Sydney too for the first time in months.
Thankfully we'll have something approaching a good track in Sydney too for the first time in months.
Who's Hot?
Team Hawkes has had a great start to the new season with five winners and six placegetters from just 20 runners including four winners in the last seven days.
They saddle up Divine Prophet (Race 4 No. 3), Messene (Race 6 No. 2) and Satya (Race 8 No. 10) at Randwick tomorrow.
RANDWICK
Warwick Stakes (Group 2, 1400m, w-f-a)
*** There are no early scratchings ***
A small but select field but no obvious leader and that isn't going to suit all the get back and run on types. It looks like being another typical Australian w-f-a sit and sprint affair. Especially given most of these are either on a G1 Cox Plate or G1 Caulfield Cup path and won't be fully wound up.
Winx has won nine in a row, six of them G1's and four of those victories came here at Randwick. First-up this time last year (below) she claimed the G2 Theo Marks Stakes from a seemingly impossible position. I think she's the obvious top selection and should win but I don't want to take $1.35 to find out. The only possible knock is the fact she's had rather secretive off-season surgery to have a bone chip removed.
Lucia Valentina did win the G2 Tramway Stakes first-up at this track and distance almost two years ago and is capable of running a cheeky race fresh but the likely dawdling tempo is against her. A bit more rain would have helped her chances too. She's had two trails and I expect her to be pretty fit given she'll probably only have one more run leading into the G1 Cox Plate.
Rebel Dane has race fitness on his side because the rest of these are first-up and many are stayers getting ready for more prestigious assignments during the Spring Carnival. Unfortunately he's another who needs a strong pace up front to chase and he won't get that here. Since winning the G1 Rupert Clarke Stakes almost three years ago he's won just once in 22 subsequent appearances.
Hartnell has had three fresh runs in this country and all were sound without being spectacular. The problem is they were all at the mile. He's sat handy to the speed in his last two first-up runs and battled on gamely behind Complacent in a G2 Chelmsford Stakes and Winx (below) in a G1 Chipping Norton Stakes. He's never placed at Randwick in three starts here but was far from disgraced in some high quality races.
Vanbrugh has only won once below 1600m and that was on debut. I hate to sound like a broken record but like so many of these he is looking for further with his best performance to date (below) being a win over 2000m in the G1 Spring Champion Stakes. He was comfortably beaten in the G2 Hobartville Stakes fresh last preparation at this trip. He has won twice at Randwick though.
Who Shot Thebarman and Grand Marshal won't even get warm here. They are both nominated for the G1 Cox Plate and G1 Caulfield Cup and won't hit their peak until they reach 2000m+. I think trainer Chris Waller will just be happy to see them running through the line late.
Locky's Selections
BEST
7. Lucia Valentina
6. Winx
DANGER
FOR EXOTICS
OTHER BETS
Manaya (Randwick Race 5 No. 4) won the Listed Woodlands Plate on debut following two massive trial wins where she gapped her rivals. Not many horses can notch a Black Type victory at their first run so I think she's got a bit of class about her. She's one to watch going forward in the good 3-y-o fillies races and I think she's backable tomorrow despite the short odds.
Le Romain (Randwick Race 6 No. 5) is an up-and-coming 4-y-o in a race full of older horses who, if they were going to get any better, would have done so by now. He had five starts last prep for a first-up win, seconds to Spill The Beans and Press Statement and then a win (below) in the G1 Randwick Guineas. His only miss was when they tried to stretch him to 2000m. He's had two trials to prepare for this and both were solid.
Heavens Above (Randwick Race 8 No. 1) hasn't had much support in the market but I'm happy to take her each-way at around the $8 mark. Sure she's giving her opposition a stack of weight and will no doubt be giving them a head start too but she progressed into a G1 competitive filly last prep and I think she has many lengths on this lot. She'll get better deeper into her campaign but she's still got good first-up form.
2. Hartnell
4. Rebel DaneOTHER BETS
Le Romain (Randwick Race 6 No. 5) is an up-and-coming 4-y-o in a race full of older horses who, if they were going to get any better, would have done so by now. He had five starts last prep for a first-up win, seconds to Spill The Beans and Press Statement and then a win (below) in the G1 Randwick Guineas. His only miss was when they tried to stretch him to 2000m. He's had two trials to prepare for this and both were solid.
Heavens Above (Randwick Race 8 No. 1) hasn't had much support in the market but I'm happy to take her each-way at around the $8 mark. Sure she's giving her opposition a stack of weight and will no doubt be giving them a head start too but she progressed into a G1 competitive filly last prep and I think she has many lengths on this lot. She'll get better deeper into her campaign but she's still got good first-up form.
Good punting!
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