It’s the second day of The Championships in Sydney with another blockbuster day of Group 1 racing ahead at Randwick. The day is headlined by the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, with the Australian Oaks, Sydney Cup and Queen Of The Turf also on the card. We're also treated to two quality supporting cards at Caulfield and Morphettville.
The Randwick track is currently rated a good 4 with the rail out 3m, there is a slight chance of rain but we shouldn’t see any significant downgrades throughout the day.
There looks to be some cracking bets throughout the country today and Billy Bestford has done the form to find them. Check out his preview and tips for some of the main races throughout the day below.
If you're looking for full race-by-race analysis including odds comparisons, betting tools and tips for every race, then head to our dedicated horse racing site at www.racingbet.com.au.
Horse Racing Tips: Saturday, April 17th
Randwick Race 1
Pretty keen that we can start the day off with an early win here at Randwick. (1) Converge easily brings the strongest form lines into this race and a repeat of his last start performance should be winning today. Think Tim Clark will be able to find the front quite easily and now looks suited stepping up to the mile for the first time. (4) Maurice’s Medad is the obvious danger after finishing just off Gin Martini two starts ago. He comes into this off a maiden and now needs to take a big step up to win here.
Randwick Race 4
Think (2) Najmaty can make it a hat trick of wins to start her career and looks a horse that can go on to win at the highest level. The debut win was impressive, defeating Sonnet Star by more than a length with that horse going on to win the Wellington Boot. She then went down to Melbourne and put away a decent field after not having much in her favour throughout. She rounded them up in a few strides in a race that lacked speed and looks ready to go on with it now. The 1200m shouldn’t pose any issues and Jmac has options from gate 4.
Caulfield Race 5
Thought (2) La Mexicana could bounce back here today after a little freshen up since an impressive preparation last time in. She was disappointing after racing keenly in the G1 Surround Stakes down in Sydney last start but now gets back to her favoured track andf trip, while getting regularly jockey Jamie Kah back on board. She ran good time her two wins at Caulfield last time in and this race is well within her reach today. Barrier 2 can see Kah roll forward and race up on speed and be hard to catch.
Randwick Race 8
The highlight of the day sees a small but select field do battle in the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes. It has been touted as a race in two with (7) Verry Elleegant and (1) Addeybb dominating the top of the market as they face off yet again in what has been an intriguing match-up in recent times. The dry track makes things interesting with both horses preferring a bit of sting out of the ground. With that being said, I can’t go past Australia’s best horse at the moment in Verry Elleegant. She has found another length or two this prep and comes into this off the back of a tough win in the Chipping Norton before putting a length on Addeybb in the Tancred Stakes. The latter wears blinkers for the first time in his 21 start career and I’m not sure what to make of it. Could they be getting desperate?
The class of Addeybb will take him a long way and there’s no doubting how tough he is, but I think (3) Mugatoo can be the horse at some value to run in behind VE. Was tough with the big weight in the Doncaster last week and I like the quick backup and getting out to 2000m. WIll be having something on him to run top two.
Value: (3) Mugatoo PLACE $3.30 Sportsbet
(7) Verry Elleegant
$2.50
Randwick Race 9
We have to wait almost all day but my best bet of the day comes up here in (1) Probabeel. The star Kiwi mare was undone by the wet track in a strong All Star Mile where she was sent out favourite. You can forgive that run and she now finds her favourable good surface back against her own sex. She looks extremely hard to beat in a race of this standard and should enjoy all the favours from gate 6. Won the Epsom over this track/trip last time in and that was a tougher race than she faces here today. (11) Odeum is the danger after giving a good sight in the Darby Munro. I like her getting out to the mile third up and should be ready to peak here today.
Randwick Race 10
Thought (4) Fiesta presented some value in the final race of the day. Love the booking of Bowman now and comes out of a strong G1 Galaxy where she was probably a touch outclassed. She ran the fastest last 600/400/200m splits of the entire meeting when first up and has won twice in her career following a three week freshen up which she has had coming into today. Barrier 6 is ideal and she looks a great bet at an EW price.
(4) Fiesta E/W
$9.00/$3.00
