It’s the official start of the Sydney Spring carnival of racing this Saturday with Royal Randwick putting on ten cracking races across the afternoon. The program is highlighted with the group 1 George Main Stakes where we will see a mouthwatering clash between Anamoe and Zaaki. We’ll also get to see the return of the world’s best sprinter in Nature Strip as he lines up in The Shorts which looks to be a great lead up to The Everest.
The track is currently rated a soft 5 and while there has been some rain around on Thursday, sunshine and warm weather is forecast for Friday and Saturday.
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 17th
Race 2
James McDonald has as strong a book of rides as you will see today and I think (6) Mahogani is one of his better chances. This horse ran the smart Waterford to within a nose last start when letting down strongly 2nd up over 1500m. Waterford has since come out again and demolished a handy Saturday field last week. Up to 1600 here looks a perfect setup and expect Jmac gets him back with cover and will get the last crack at them. Will enjoy getting onto the big Randwick track.
(10) Onemore Sapphire looks a very good each way chance and could not talk you out of having something on him at a price. Scratched from Wednesday for this and 2nd up record is very good. Out to the mile is another tick and draws kindly in gate 4.
(1) Zou De Moon looks one of the likely leaders and gets Tim Clark in the saddle - always a handy setup. She’s been in winning form this prep and the drying conditions will suit.
(12) Bella Violet was too bad to be true 3rd up but it might have been too wet for her. Is a winner 4th up and should be hitting peak fitness now. She can bounce back.
Value: (10) Onemore Sapphire - $21 (0.25 units)
(6) Mahogani
$3.10 (2 units)
Race 4
(13) Arnold has won as he pleased at his two starts to date this prep and he looks a horse with a stack of upside. Many of his rivals here have reached their ceiling and I think he can take care of them and go on to win some better races. The drying ground will be a big positive and McDonald draws for options in barrier 7. Getting to Randwick will a suit a horse like him as he takes some winding up but can let down with a better turn of foot than anything else in this race.
Up to 1400m will suit the stablemate (11) Roots who was an impressive winner fresh with a big weight. He’s got strong form on the board for a race like this and he might be able to go on with it now. Sure to take a stack of improvement out of that and expect he will be making his run out wide from the back of the field.
Worth forgiving (1) War Eternal who was never in the right part of the track fresh and has a much better 2nd up record. The 3kg claim for Gibbons gets him in well at the weights and up to 1400m is his bread and butter.
(3) Silent Impact had post race issues so best to be forgiving off the fresh run. A drier surface here will see him turn in a much improved performance and will give them something to catch up on speed.
(13) Arnold
$2.00 (2 units)
Race 6
Very keen on the chances of (5) Zougotcha who could be the X Factor in this crop of 3 year olds. She was last seen here beating in Secret in the Silver Shadow with that horse now a firm favourite for the Golden Rose. Trialled up well for her return and expect she can stalk the leaders and be too strong for them late. Looks talented!
(3) Paris Dior got back first up on a day where it was impossible to make up any ground. She whacked away into 4th and should improve into this run. On a drier track and hopefully on a track which will play fairly, she has to go into this race with a big winning chance. At the price I just think she could be worth having a saver on.
(6) Seven Veils is a big price. She’s had little luck at two runs this prep and should be ready 3rd up from a spell. Her form last prep says she is good enough to win.
(4) Willinga Beast was much improved 2nd up and will have a bit more race fitness on his side than a few of these. Bowman is in good form.
(1) North Star Lass was the beneficiary of a strong on-speed bias a couple of weeks ago here. She showed plenty of fight however and will be the one they all have to run past yet again.
(5) Zougotcha
$2.55 (2.5 units)
Race 7 - George Main Stakes
What a mouthwatering clash we have here with two of the best horses in the country going head to head over 1600m. Both Anamoe and Zaaki were brilliant winners first up at 1400m and will improve out to the mile.
I’m siding with the colt in (3) Anamoe who is arguably the best horse in Australia at the moment as he looks towards redemption in the Cox Plate later this year. It was a simply dominant win in the Winx Stakes when a few were potting him but he showed his class that day. His ability to win from anywhere in the pack or to win off slow/strong speeds makes him such a likeable horse. He is a freak when at his best and I think the Randwick mile will give him every chance to put on a great display for racing fans.
(1 Zaaki is a very strong competitor and makes this race extremely interesting. He is a geniuine group 1 WFA winner and returned to the track with a very good win here a couple of weeks ago on a heavy surface. He handles dry just fine and will be in front of Anamoe for much of this race. Could just run them into the ground.
(5) Profondo will be much better suited on top of the ground and showed he has come back in good order with a great first up run. Best to be forgiving of the heavy 2nd up when running on against the bias. He could be the one at odds to challenge these top two.
(6) Duais was doing best work late in the Memsie and that was an encouraging sign for a horse who is touted to be a big cups chance. Look for another improved showing here.
(9) Fangirl was good behind Anamoe in the Winx Stakes and that was a run which screamed to back her as she gets out in trip. This is a very tough field but she could be the new horse on the block.
(3) Anamoe
$2.20 (3.5 units)
Race 8 - The Shorts
From one awesome race to another here we get to see Nature Strip return against his old sparring partner in Eduardo. New kid on the block Mazu will be out to spoil the party as we see the top 5 in the market for The Everest line up here.
It is impossible to tip against the big boy (1) Nature Strip who goes in search of career win number 22. He stamped himself as the world’s best sprinter at Royal Ascot earlier this year and showed no signs of jetlage at a recent trial. Don’t need to say much more about how good he is and I think he can take care of these as he marches towards another Everest crown.
Think (4) Mazu will be his big threat here who has turned into one of the best sprinters in the land since a gelding operation. Won five in a row last prep and now has to measure up to the top-liners. He is ready to take the next step.
(2) Eduardo is a marvel, continuing to dominate races as an 8yo. Fresh win was dominant and with race fitness on side he is sure to take some running down. Nash not riding is a slight knock.
The drying track might see (3) Masked Crusader regain some of his best form. We saw what he could do in last year’s Everest and has drawn to get back and let rip down the outside.
(8) Lost And Running is no slouch and has a gun fresh record. The depth of this race is shown with the fact he is double figures.
(1) Nature Strip
$2.20 (2 units)
