It's a big day of racing at Randwick on Saturday, August 20th as the huge Warwick Stakes headlines! We have horse racing tips for every race, including an extensive preview of the big one.
Randwick Racing Tips - Saturday, August 20
Race 1 - Super Tycoon
Race 2 - Richard Of Yorke
Race 3 - Grand Rouge
Race 4 - Divine Prophet
Race 5 - Omei Sword (best bet)
Race 6 - Le Romain
Race 7 - Winx/Rebel Dane exacta (preview below)
Race 8 - Elle Lou + Heaven's Above (best value)
Race 9 - Southern Legend
Best Bet: Race 5 - Omei Sword
Showed plenty of promise in his debut preparation with an impressive debut followed by a narrow runner up finish in the Gr2 Magic Night. On that occasion he was beaten by Calliope but today he gets a 2kg weight swing in his favour. Failed in the Sires' Produce behind Yankee Rose at his latest start but has spelled and has had three trials leading into this. Brenton Avdulla a strong jockey booking and looks set to produce a strong showing on his reappearance.
Best Value: Race 8 - Heaven's Above
Most talented horse in the race but has to give away 4.5kg to the rest of the field. Ran 2nd to Azkadellia in the Gr1 Queen Of The Turf last time we saw her. Bowman jumps off Pioneering (who has won 3 straight) in order to ride Heavens Above and she may be too good despite the weight.
2016 Warwick Stakes 1400m - Group 2
The Group 2 Warwick Stakes is the race everyone will have their eyes on this weekend as champion mare Winx lines up for her first start since winning the Doncaster Mile back in April.
She faces only six rivals (understandably) and comes up the $1.35 favourite, but it will be interesting to see if the surgery she had following her last win took any toll.
The track remains a Soft 5 but there is rain predicted in Sydney on Saturday and given the how poor the Randwick drainage is, we may see a downgrade if we get more than a bit of drizzle.
Let's go through the runners:
WHO SHOT THE BARMAN: Looking for much further and takes a few runs to hit his straps so he will just be going around for fitness here before he targets some of the Cups later in the Spring. Should run well without threatening.
HARTNELL: Just the one run last prep in the Chipping Norton Stakes where he was beaten 4.5L by Winx over 1600m. Hard to see him being effective over 1400m and his first up form suggests he will need the run.
GRAND MARSHAL: Back for another tilt at the Cups and really starts to show his best over 2400m+. They'll ride him stone cold and look for him to finish off but won't get anywhere near the winner.
REBEL DANE: Looks the biggest threat to Winx to me. Resumed with a good performance behid Tycoon Tara in the Group 2 Missile Stakes and the step up to 1400m looks suitable. Goes well 2nd up and has the benefit of race fitness on everything else. If Winx hasn't come back well from surgery then he may cause the boilover.
VANBRUGH: Has trialed twice leading into this and was close up at his latest. Has performed well fresh in the past and at this track as well, but hard to see him as a winning chance on the back of last prep.
WINX: Chasing her 10th straight win. Resumed over 1400m last prep and won quite comfortably so you'd expect her to dispose of this opposition quite easily. The obvious query is that she had surgery after her Doncaster win, which we only found out this week, but her trials don't suggest she is any worse off. Can't back her at $1.35 though.
LUCIA VALENTINA: Surprised everyone with a barnstorming win in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes last prep which is the race Winx didn't contest. Her best is clearly over 2000m though so the 1400m first up here may prove too sharp. Should run well, though.
Summary
Hard to go against Winx but at $1.35 I would prefer to just sit back and enjoy the show. The slight query is of course the surgery she has had, which is enough doubt for me to sit out, but if she comes back as she left off then she will be winning this.
I think Rebel Dane is the one who could cause a boilover if Winx isn't at her best. The 1400m may suit him better than Lucia Valentina, who I think is better over 2000m. Rebel Dane also has race fitness in his favour.
Behind those, it should be relatively close with each of Hartnell, Who Shot The Barman and Grand Marshall and Vanbrugh all going around for fitness
1st WINX
2nd REBEL DANE
3rd LUCIA VALENTINA
4th HARTNELL
Take note: Any of the tips in this article are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always gamble responsibly. Also be sure to check out the Before You Bet Twitter Page for all our thoughts in the lead up to bets! Happy punting!
