No more G1 races now until February.
A few nice contests on this weekend though but after that it's pretty slim pickings until the Melbourne Autumn Carnival.
A few nice contests on this weekend though but after that it's pretty slim pickings until the Melbourne Autumn Carnival.
RANDWICK
*** At time of publication a track was rated a Good 4. The forecast was for a partly cloudy day with a medium chance of showers. ***
Villiers Stakes (Group 2, 1600m, quality handicap)
*** Someday is an early scratching ***
Interlocuter has won three on end lumping 56 - 58.5kg and drops back to 54.5kg here. He would have won six in a row if not for a loss on protest four runs back. He's drawn to get a great run in transit. Mister Sea Wolf missed by a whisker in the G3 Festival Stakes at his first Australian run. The wide gate is no help but McEvoy offsets that. Second-up last prep he lumped 61kg into second in a Listed mile race in his native Ireland.
Cabeza De Vaca was well beaten last start despite being well backed but the jockey suggested he didn't handle the soft conditions. He could improve here back on a dry track and the stable has had a great few months. Crack Me Up wasn't helped by the tempo last start when a beaten favourite. He's a lightly raced 4-y-o who is still improving which is usually a good recipe for this race. Two wins and two seconds at the mile.
Red Excitement gave Winx supporters a fright six starts back (below) in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes at this track and trip. He showed a glimpse of a return to form last start. Embley has won two mile races at Randwick previously. Inside gate, races handy, rock hard fit and down in the weights. Hopfgarten draws a wide barrier just as he did last year when fifth in this race. He only just missed last start to a horse he was conceding 5kg. Four wins at 1600m.
Federal is a two-time winner at Randwick but has never won beyond 1400m and hasn't won since March 2016. His only run at the trip was an OK fourth to The United States in a G2 Crystal Mile last year. Testashadow won at big odds last and it was his first win since claiming the Magic Millions Cup (below) in January at $31. He doesn't tend to win out of turn so I'm looking elsewhere. Mighty Lucky appeared to have his chance last start but he does get a 2kg swing here on the two that beat him home. He's winless in 15 starts since last year's Brisbane Winter Carnival. Fifth in this race in 2015.
Salsonic won the G2 Queensland Guineas at his fourth run last prep. His last start run in the G3 Festival Stakes was a strong closing effort. Dark Eyes draws the widest gate here and has three runs at this track and distance for no placings. He's hard to recommend. God's In Him hasn't won for 826 days but he was OK in the Goulburn Cup last start. He was a four and a half length eighth to Happy Clapper in this race two years ago. Destiny's Kiss needs it further and wetter and 59kg from barrier 11 doesn't appeal to me.
Locky's Bet
7. Crack Me Up EACH-WAY
OTHER BETS
Vinland (Caulfield Race 4 No. 6) comes off a last start win at Sandown and the fourth horse in the race Civil Disobedience subsequently won at Mornington on Wednesday. That victory made it two from three this prep split by a solid fifth in the G2 Sandown Guineas.
Pierata (Doomben Race 7 No. 3) was awesome fresh at this track and trip to win by nearly three lengths. Sure he got the run of the race that day but he maps well again from barrier four and meets them at set weights again. I suspect this horse is the reason Corey Brown is in Brisbane.
Good punting!
