Saturday racing in Sydney takes place at Royal Randwick with ten races on the program. Spring is well and truly here, and we see some of the top-liners return to the track today. Zaaki headlines affairs in the Tramway Stakes while Eduardo returns in the Concorde as he begins his quest towards The Everest.
The track is currently rated a soft 7 but there are some showers around on Friday and are predicted to continue into race day. I think it’s safe to assume we will be racing on a wet surface today. The rail is out 7 metres the entire circuit.
As always, Billy Bestford has cast his eye across the program and brings you his free horse racing tips, including best bets and race previews.
Randwick Racing Tips: Saturday September 3rd
Race 1
Getting stuck into the action nice and early here and think (8) Opal Ridge is a good thing back in Highway grade. Enormous win fresh and equally as good 2nd up when flashing home in some of the fastest late splits of the entire meeting. Then no luck from a wide draw in the Silver Shadow. Clearly much better suited back in this company and should be hard fit now 4th up. Draws well and Jmac booked is a strong lead.
Plenty to like about the return of (4) Participator who got back and flashed home to run 2nd here a couple of weeks ago. That was off the back of a 6-month spell so he should take plenty of improvement out of the run and expect he is suited rising to 1200m now.
(9) Optimo was a drifter in betting last start, but he ran on very well from back in the field. He’s super consistent and rarely puts in a poor run. Looks a touch over the odds.
(3) So Country will enjoy a drop in the weights after Dylan Gibbons claim and has been in good form this prep. He’s missed the quinella just once from eight career starts and will be thereabouts once again.
(8) Opal Ridge
$2.60 (2.5 Units)
Race 5
No prizes for finding him but think something around even money looks a decent enough bet for (1) Eduardo. He’s obviously not getting any younger, but his form is top notch in group 1 sprints. With his archrival Nature Strip out of action I think he can take care of this field as he heads towards The Everest. Since joining Joe Pride, he has had three runs over the trip, winning two group 2’s and running 3rd in the Lightning. Flies fresh, Nash gets the best out of him and I don’t think they will be able to keep up. Keeping it simple and backing him as the best horse in this race.
(2) Masked Crusader has beaten Eduardo before, but his racing pattern really lets him down. He’s probably more suited at 1200m as well but there’s no knocking the turn of foot he possesses. If he’s on song he could be the one who runs the big boy down.
(8) Andermatt has trialled superbly for his return and is unbeaten from four first up runs. Loves the Randwick 1000m and Jmac is sure to give him every possible from a gun draw. Will stalk the speed and could be ready to announce himself as an Everest chance.
(7) Zapateo was dominant winning first up and there was plenty to like about that effort. She’s got the benefit of race fitness and form around Mazu last prep is good for this.
(9) Rocketing By is going well. Touch out of grade here but can run a bottler.
(1) Eduardo
$1.90 (4 Units)
Race 6
Have a bit of an opinion of (3) Paris Dior who returns to the track today off the back of some nice trial work. She’s done nothing wrong in her career so far, winning two and running 2nd on the other two occasions. The stable has a good record in this race and know how to get the best out of their 3yos. Just get the feeling we haven’t scratched the surface with her yet and she is ready to go on with it now.
(6) In Secret was very unlucky last start not finding room at a key stage. If she got the gaps there, she would have won easily. She’s another filly who has a heap of upside. Plenty to like about that first up effort and interesting to not McDonald has chosen to ride her over Paris Dior.
(5) Willinga Beast nearly knocked off Paris Dior last prep and was well fancied first up. Probably would have liked to see more fresh but he is open to improvement and wouldn’t shock to see him right in the finish.
(1) She’s Extreme is a group 1 winner and was last seen knocking off Fireburn over 1600m. Her form throughout her career is easily the best on paper in this race and she may be too classy for these.
(3) Paris Dior
$4.60 (1.5 Units)
Race 7
Would have really liked them to go to the Chelmsford instead but just think at the price (4) Profondo has to be worth a small bet here. Was enormous first up when wide throughout and showed he could be back to some of his best form. He loves racing here at Randwick and so long as it isn’t too wet, he looks a winning hope. Still so much upside and is still very green. If he can put it all together, look out.
No doubt (1) Zaaki will be mighty hard to beat, and we know at his best he is a genuine group 1 WFA horse. He won this race first up last year and has had two nice trials leading into this. He handles sting out of the ground and always puts himself in winning positions up near the speed.
(3) Converge has some strong formlines around Anamoe last prep and will be rolling along up near the lead. He’s trialled up very nicely and could win a couple of good races this prep.
(11) Icebath drops out of WFA level and was solid enough there first up. Any rain will increase her chances and with the minimum weight I expect to see her flying down the outside late on.
(4) Profondo
$6.50 (1 Unit)
