Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing at Randwick on Saturday, February 15th.
We've got two Group 2s and two Group 3s on today's program, with the Light Fingers Stakes and Apollo Stakes headlining proceedings.
Check out our preview, tips and best bets for a big day of racing below!
Randwick Racing Tips: Saturday, February 15th
Best Bet: Race 7 - (4) Libertini
Best Value: Race 8 - (1) Happy Clapper
Race 1
This is a dreadful Highway Handicap to bet in. (5) Rostam might be able to improve today with the soft conditions, which is seemingly what he needs to show his best. Only three runs ago he ran 2nd in a similar race behind Gunga Din, but both of his career wins have come on soft ground, so that should give him some chance. In form jockey Tom Marquand takes the ride and at $7.50 he's not the worst bet, but I can't say I'm confident.
Race 2
(4) She's Ideel looks a moral here. She's a very progressive staying mare who has been ultra impressive in her past two wins. The only slight query today is the step up from 2000m to 2400m, given she only tackled 2000m for the first time last start. Barrier 1 will also make it a little bit tricky for Jason Collett but it's only a small field so he shouldn't get too lost. She's undefeated on soft ground and she finished off last start like she'd handle 2400m, so I'll be sticking with her today.
Race 3
(1) God Of Thunder and (3) Baller look the two to focus on here. God Of Thunder resumes from a spell on the back of a 5.3L trial win. He's won on both soft and heavy groujnd and the 3kg claim for Brock Ryan brngs him down to a nice winnable weight. Tactics will be interesting from barrier 1 as he can get back a bit, but that's typically been when he's drawn wide, so we may see him further forward. Baller resumes as a gelding today. He's promised the world but failed to deliver on that hype to date even though he's won four races. Two of those have been first up and he's also won on soft ground. No surprise to see the gelding operation turn him around completely.
Race 4
(7) Dame Giselle resumes for the first time since winning the Golden Gift by 3.8L. She's had the one trial leading into this which was very good and the Snowdens bring her straight to the races without a second one. She's drawn a bit wide and she hasn't raced on soft ground yet, but she did win the trial on soft ground which is a good sign. She should prove too classy. (2) Mission River and (10) Ticket To Ride filled the placings behind the impressive Rulership. We've seen him go to Melbourne and measure right up with the best two-year-olds so that looks a good form line. If the favourite is below par, one of those two look your winner.
Race 5
(5) Desert Lord might be able to return to his best here. He was off the boil last preparation but prior to that, he was a pretty promising horse. He's trialled well, gets in light with 53kg, should get enough speed on up front and we'll see if he's good enough. (2) Cascadian might find 1200m a bit sharp but he's got class and he races well on soft ground. He's won two of his three starts when first up and last prep came from the back of the field to be beaten a length fresh. He should be hard to hold out late. (6) Special Reward will lead and take plenty of catching, but will he be pestered by (1) Jungle Edge?
Value: (5) Desert Lord $6.50
Race 6
We see the return of the promising (7) Attorney here, who is 2/2 since arriving in Australia. He's also 2/2 on soft ground and has won two from three when first up from a spell. This is a tough ask first up from a spell over the mile against race-fit horses but he's capable of handling that. He might just be the best horse in the race. (8) Night Of Power did good job to only be beaten 1.2L by Romani Girl last start after covering extra ground throughout. Tim Clark takes the ride today so it wouldn't surprise me to see him ridden aggressively once again. (3) Mongolian Wolf and (6) Matowi are both chances.
Value: (8) Night Of Power $7.00
Race 7
(4) Libertini should just prove too good for this field of fillies first up at 1200m. She'll be kept to sprinting trips this campaign and over this distance, she's one of the best fillies in the country. Her four wins have all come on good ground so that's the knock if there is one, but I suspect she'll be winning this. (3) Flit might find this a bit sharp but I'm not underestimating how good she is. She resumes with the blinkers on for the first time. (5) Missile Mantra is another highly talented filly but she might also be looking for a bit further. She gets the blinkers taken off for her first up run here but she did win her only start on soft ground. (6) Akari went to a new level last prep and is an each way chance at big odds.
Race 8
If this were on a good track I'd be all over (2) Dreamforce but it's on soft ground which changes the race in my opinion. Dreamforce is yet to win from seven starts on rain-affected ground and although he's run a number of placings on it, I think he's a much better horse on top of the ground. I didn't want to touch (8) Alizee but I somewhat just land on her. She's finished in the money in four of her five starts second up, she's won over track and distance and on soft ground, and she draws the inside gate. I think I'll just save on her and hope (1) Happy Clapper gets the win. I rarely tip the old boy but he's found himself in a really nice race today. He was beaten half-a-length first up here last prep by Samadoubt and his overall record at the track and distance is good. Draws well, handles soft ground and is as honest as the day is long.
(1) Happy Clapper E/W
$7.00
Race 9
I've settled on three horses here. (1) Reelem In Ruby has never finished out of the placings from 10 career starts. She's never missed the top two from four starts when first up. She's placed on both soft and heavy ground and there's just no reason she can't be in the finish once again today. The wide draw is the only slight knock. (7) Sweet Scandal is a big price for a horse that won first up last prep over this track and distance before going on to be competitive at Group 3 level in Melbourne. She's lightly weighted and has won on soft ground before so looks a big price at $23. (10) Dawn Dawn ran a great race first up and she tends to improve second up as well. She was beaten a similar margin first up last prep before going to Melbourne and winning second up, so if Jamie Spencer can give her a good trip from the awkward draw, she'll be right in the finish.
Value: (1) Reelem In Ruby $6.50 / (7) Sweet Scandal $23
Race 10
(7) Royal Celebration didn't get any luck first up and looked to have a bit in the locker. He's got a good second up record and did win on soft ground last prep, so if Reith can pilot him well from the draw he can bounce back today. (2) Vegadaze will find this much easier than what he ran against first up. He's got the talent but he's also had his issues, and he has to do it with a big weight and a wide draw today. He'll need to be at his best to be winning this. (10) Travancore has never won first up but he has placed in 50% of his fresh races. His recent trial was eye-catching, where he was jumping out of the ground late. (5) Roheryn was sound first up when winning and should be competitive again.
(7) Royal Celebration
$5.00
