There’s a stacked card at Randwick on Saturday with multiple Group 1’s to look forward to. Blake Lalor has cast his eye over all 10 races on the program and has provided his thoughts and betting strategy for each race below.
Randwick Racing Tips – Saturday, April 15th 2023
Race 1
(3) Pericles has a peak figure over 2000m. He drops back after failing over 2400m in the Aus Derby last time which should give him the lungs to see out a strong 2000m, not that he’ll need to in a small field.
(1) Osipenko gets up to 2000m for the first time. It’s a massive unknown for the colt especially on a wet track this weekend. If he runs a peak figure he should be able to win, but the trip and conditions are a query.
(5) Ain’t He Grand was close to the winner in the Tulloch last start. He’s got Tom Marquand aboard and is drawn well. One for minors.
No bet
Race 2
(8) Preemptory wins this race with even luck. He went back to last from a wide gate last time under Zac Lloyd but motored home for 2nd between horses. He’ll settle a lot closer from gate 2 this time and if he produces the same performance as last start, he’ll be unbelievably hard to beat.
(15) Remlaps Commander is young and inexperienced. The large field here may pose some difficulties particularly with the horse drawn the carpark. He does look capable and progressive though so can’t be ruled out.
(2) Super Extreme is a consistent performer of late in these Highway races. He should turn up yet again and put in a solid effort from the wide draw under James McDonald.
(8) Preemptory - Each Way
$7.10/$2.75 (1 Unit)
Race 3
(5) Floating will find it difficult to lose here. He was unlucky 1st up over this trip in a bm72 at Warwick Farm on wet ground. This race should be no harder than that, conditions will be similar and James McDonald is booked from gate 8.
(6) Miss Einstein does appear to be the most obvious threat to Floating in this event. She’s no spring chicken but did run well last start and is drawn nicely in gate 6 here for the in-form Dylan Gibbons.
(7) Anythink Goes maps well here at a great price. His form isn’t the most ideal coming into this race but there’s no reason it can’t improve here under Brenton Avdulla.
(5) Floating - Win
$2.50 (2 Units)
Race 4
(1) Magic Time will probably be one of the anchor bets for the weekend to most punters. She scorched the track in the P J Bell Stakes last time winning in emphatic fashion there. No reason she can’t reproduce a run like that on wet ground again. She looks an exciting young prospect.
(3) Opal Ridge would appear the main competitor in the race to the favourite. That said, a 1kg weight swing from their last meeting doesn’t appear to be enough to turn the tables unless Magic Time regresses notably this time.
(2) Renaissance Woman resumes here over an unsuitable trip. She’ll be targeted towards some longer trips deeper into her preparation but she’s classy enough to perform well and fill the minors.
(1) Magic Time - Win
$1.90 (3 Units)
Race 5
(1) Vilana is the horse to beat here. He’s a 4yo now boasting a strong record of 11 starts for 6 wins and $1.6 million in prize money. The team are careful with his placement and they’ve found a race he’s highly capable of winning provided he’s tuned for his return.
(9) Waihaha Falls would be a solid selection here if not for the wide barrier. He should be able to find a back under Tom Marquand and may be able to find a cart into the race if the speed is hot enough early.
(6) Coal Crusher will be setting the tempo somewhere near the speed here. He stuck on well last time when 2nd up and should appreciate getting on to a wet track this time around. Go well.
No bet
Race 6
(4) Protagonist looks the horse to beat here after beating Zeyrek 2 starts ago over this trip. The horse then took on the Doncaster and was never a chance after getting back and cluttered up behind runners over an unfavourable distance. Back to 2000m with Tom Marquand aboard here looks ideal.
2) Sunshine Rising looks a strong chance in the JRA on Saturday. He was 2nd to Zeyrek last time out but comfortably beat the rest of the field after working early and fighting Zeyrek through the line.
(4) Protagonist - Each Way
$6.50/$2.60 (1 Unit)
Race 7
(2) Militarize has hit new levels since being dragged out of the race by a riderless horse in the Golden Slipper 2 starts ago. He won impressively last start under Joao Moreira and lines up for the Champagne Stakes as the surprising horse to beat.
(7) Felix The Scat is a horse from Queensland with above average ability. He comes into this race with mediocre form compared to some rivals but he’s yet to be tested and therefore cannot be discounted at a big price.
(4) Tom Kitten surprised when winning last weekend and backs up for this race on wet ground which he appeared to relish when swallowing up the leaders last start.
No bet
Race 8
(1) Zaaki returns here off a long break and naturally has to be a query having not raced since November last year. He goes well fresh, has trialled well enough, can lead comfortably, gets Jmac to ride, and likes it wet. Plenty of his rivals will be back in the field and a chopped up Randwick track can show some leader bias on occasion.
(12) Giga Kick stormed home last time and was just caught by I Wish I Win. 1400m is uncharted territory for the horse but he’s extremely capable of running well.
(3) Private Eye has to be given a second chance after a below-average performance last time in the wet. Maybe a slightly drier track this time will help? He’s drawn well and is usually quite consistent.
No bet
Race 9
*SCRATCHED* (8) My Sugar enters the Australian racing scene from Hong Kong off the back of a nice trial where he finished 2nd to Palaisapan. That’s not bad trial form and neither is the horse’s record from Hong Kong where he had been progressing nicely through Class 3 and Class 2 and finished with a 3rd placing in a Group 3 event.
(12) Tamerlane looks capable of repeating the dose from last start where he won comfortably on dry ground. Wet ground will keep things interesting this time but he’s capable on all going and gets 2kg off for Zac Lloyd.
(8) My Sugar - Each Way
SCR
Race 10
(3) The Face led last time and worked hard to do so from a wide gate. He was run down by 4 horses including Bacchanalia and Coal Crusher who go around earlier in the day. Their performances could frank this form but The Face should perform well here regardless if he can lead from a far better draw in barrier 2.
(9) Democracy Manifest is one of the horses in this field who is better proven on wet ground. He has Joao Moreira in the saddle and boasts an enormous 1st up record so look out!
(3) The Face - Each Way
$15/$4.40 (1 Unit)
