With a wet track for the fourth time in four editions I'm beginning to wonder if they should have named this The Champion Ships.
Last time we were at Randwick it was similar conditions and they all went in search of the outside fence in the straight.
Last time we were at Randwick it was similar conditions and they all went in search of the outside fence in the straight.
Who's Hot?
Since returning from suspension on March 11 jockey Hugh Bowman has ridden Black Type winners Falcool, Winx, Jameka and Zanbagh.
What a book of rides he has at Randwick tomorrow with (amongst others) Property (Race 1 No. 1), Perfect Dare (Race 4 No. 3), Invader (Race 6 No. 8), Anaheim (Race 7 No. 7), Spieth (Race 8 No. 7) and Le Romain (Race 9 No. 2).
RANDWICK
*** At time of publication the track was rated a Heavy 8. The forecast was for a mostly sunny day. ***
The Doncaster Mile (Group 1, 1600m, handicap)
Current Sportsbet market
*** Tosen Stardom is an early scratching ***
Only three winners in the last 20 years returned more than $13. The last 17 had their previous start at Rosehill. Eight of the last 13 came out of the G1 George Ryder Stakes. Five 3-y-o's have been successful in the last 11 years. Chris Waller has won the last four.
Le Romain has started here eight times for four wins and a second. He has three runs at the mile for wins in a G1 Randwick Guineas and a G1 Cantala Stakes. His only "failure" at the trip was a one length fifth in the G1 Epsom Handicap last Spring when he had to drag the field up to the tearaway leader Fabrizio. Last start (below) he chased home a handy mare called Winx in the G1 George Ryder Stakes.
McCreery meets Le Romain 3.5kg better off for his last start defeat (above) in the G1 George Ryder Stakes and with even luck he probably would have beaten him in the G1 Cantal Stakes last Spring. He was soundly beaten last start and jockey Kerrin McEvoy said he didn't handle the really heavy track at all but his mile record (7:3-3-0) is exceptional.
Hauraki is the only horse in the last 18 months to have won an open G1 mile at Randwick that wasn't named Winx. He has to give Le Romain half a kilo here and he hasn't been able to get near him at level weights his last two runs. I'd be a lot more confident about his chances on a drier track.
Happy Clapper finished second to Winx in this race last year (below) and has also won a G2 Villiers Stakes at the track and trip. His only other run at the course and distance was a half length fourth to Hauraki in the G1 Epsom Handicap last October. It was hard not to like his last start win at Newcastle where he gave the placegetters 5kg and beat them by three and a half lengths under a hold.
Palentino is a specialist miler with five runs at the trip for wins in a G1 Australian Guineas, a G1 Makybe Diva Stakes and a G2 Blamey Stakes. He was well tried in the G1 Epsom Handicap here last October but forget the run because there had to be something amiss. I'd be all over this bloke if they ran this race at Flemingon but he still can't be ignored. The heavy track is an unknown but he handles slow.
Le Romain has started here eight times for four wins and a second. He has three runs at the mile for wins in a G1 Randwick Guineas and a G1 Cantala Stakes. His only "failure" at the trip was a one length fifth in the G1 Epsom Handicap last Spring when he had to drag the field up to the tearaway leader Fabrizio. Last start (below) he chased home a handy mare called Winx in the G1 George Ryder Stakes.
McCreery meets Le Romain 3.5kg better off for his last start defeat (above) in the G1 George Ryder Stakes and with even luck he probably would have beaten him in the G1 Cantal Stakes last Spring. He was soundly beaten last start and jockey Kerrin McEvoy said he didn't handle the really heavy track at all but his mile record (7:3-3-0) is exceptional.
Hauraki is the only horse in the last 18 months to have won an open G1 mile at Randwick that wasn't named Winx. He has to give Le Romain half a kilo here and he hasn't been able to get near him at level weights his last two runs. I'd be a lot more confident about his chances on a drier track.
Happy Clapper finished second to Winx in this race last year (below) and has also won a G2 Villiers Stakes at the track and trip. His only other run at the course and distance was a half length fourth to Hauraki in the G1 Epsom Handicap last October. It was hard not to like his last start win at Newcastle where he gave the placegetters 5kg and beat them by three and a half lengths under a hold.
Redkirk Warrior caused a boilover when claiming the G1 Newmarket Handicap first-up at $31. Now he's trying to win a G1 Doncaster Mile second-up. Jumping straight from 1200m to 1600m is never easy but the stable is in great form, he has no weight and jockey Regan Bayliss could win on a broomstick at the moment. He's been well backed too.
Antonio Giuseppe finished on the heels of some quality G1 w-f-a performers last start (below) in the G1 Ranvet Stakes. He's dropping back from the 2000m but trainer Chris Waller took the same path in 2010 with Rangirangdoo. He handles all going and first-up over 1500m he bolted in with 59kg. Getting back to 52kg is a big plus.
Spectroscope has burst onto the Australian scene with two wins from as many starts and he does profile well for a race like this. He's lightly raced young horse who is still on an upward spiral and he gets in with no weight. He overcame trouble to come from last at his previous run and given his racing pattern the wide draw isn't the end of the world. Joao Moreira flies in from Hong Kong to ride.
I Am A Star is building a formiddable record but all her wins have been on dry tracks. She's never missed a placed in four runs at the distance but her two wins were in fillies and mares grade. She takes on all comers here and the only 3-y-o filly to manage the feat in the last 20 years was the mighty Sunline. 52kg and barrier one are plusses.
There's a bunch of others at longer odds that I could entertain in wider exotics.
Ecuador comes out of that hot G1 Australian Cup which provided the trifecta in last weekend's G1 B.M.W. Arod has had a freshen up and Glyn Schofield will be smarting after having to surrender the Le Romian ride to Hugh Bowman. Stablemate Endless Drama has had two runs behind Winx at w-f-a and now drops to 53kg. Sense Of Occasion has never missed a place in three tries at the Randwick mile and came from last to win the G2 Villiers Stakes fresh late last year. I'd like to know what Hey Doc has done wrong to go up at $15 and then drift. His mile record is super and he's a last start G1 winner. Dibayani has had three runs at the Randwick mile for seconds in a G1 Epsom Handicap, a G1 Chipping Norton Stakes and a G2 Villiers Stakes. It's Somewhat has some claims.
A good betting race.
Locky's SelectionsAntonio Giuseppe finished on the heels of some quality G1 w-f-a performers last start (below) in the G1 Ranvet Stakes. He's dropping back from the 2000m but trainer Chris Waller took the same path in 2010 with Rangirangdoo. He handles all going and first-up over 1500m he bolted in with 59kg. Getting back to 52kg is a big plus.
Spectroscope has burst onto the Australian scene with two wins from as many starts and he does profile well for a race like this. He's lightly raced young horse who is still on an upward spiral and he gets in with no weight. He overcame trouble to come from last at his previous run and given his racing pattern the wide draw isn't the end of the world. Joao Moreira flies in from Hong Kong to ride.
I Am A Star is building a formiddable record but all her wins have been on dry tracks. She's never missed a placed in four runs at the distance but her two wins were in fillies and mares grade. She takes on all comers here and the only 3-y-o filly to manage the feat in the last 20 years was the mighty Sunline. 52kg and barrier one are plusses.
There's a bunch of others at longer odds that I could entertain in wider exotics.
Ecuador comes out of that hot G1 Australian Cup which provided the trifecta in last weekend's G1 B.M.W. Arod has had a freshen up and Glyn Schofield will be smarting after having to surrender the Le Romian ride to Hugh Bowman. Stablemate Endless Drama has had two runs behind Winx at w-f-a and now drops to 53kg. Sense Of Occasion has never missed a place in three tries at the Randwick mile and came from last to win the G2 Villiers Stakes fresh late last year. I'd like to know what Hey Doc has done wrong to go up at $15 and then drift. His mile record is super and he's a last start G1 winner. Dibayani has had three runs at the Randwick mile for seconds in a G1 Epsom Handicap, a G1 Chipping Norton Stakes and a G2 Villiers Stakes. It's Somewhat has some claims.
A good betting race.
BEST
2. Le Romain
DANGER
5. Happy Clapper
11. McCreery
16. Antonio Giuseppe
19. Spectroscope
OTHER G1'S
Tulip (Randwick Race 6 No. 14) had a torrid run (below) in the G1 Golden Slipper last time out whereas Frolic managed to hug the rail and cut the corner. The roles are reversed tomorrow with Tulip drawn to get all the favours while Frolic will probably have to go via the car park. The wet track holds no fears and her last two runs suggest 1400m is no concern.
Inference (Randwick Race 7 No. 3) is back to the scene of his barnstorming G1 Randwick Guineas victory and gets a similar surface. He was unlucky not to go closer when third in the G1 V.R.C Derby last November when badly held up. He's the one who looks set to peak here fourth run back and I'm prepared to risk the favourite given he's been in work a long time.
Chautauqua (Randwick Race 8 No. 1) has not won in five starts since his breathtaking win (below) in the G1 Chairmans Sprint in Hong Kong but his last two starts have indicated to me he's not done with yet. Both were on a Heavy 10 and he beat home all bar Winx and Le Romain. He's won this race the last two years running and at a backable price I think he can make it a three-peat.
Good punting!
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