Saturday racing in Sydney takes place at Randwick with group one racing returning. The Winx Stakes is the feature as we see the likes of Anamoe, Mounga and Fangirl all returning to the track.
The track is currently rated a soft 5 but there are some showers around on Friday. I think at worst we will be racing on an improving 6.
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 August 20th
Race 2
(6) Monfelicity was a tragedy beat last weekend and I like seeing that they’ve backed her up quickly. Out to 2400m now looks ideal and the Midway that she won has turned into a ridiculously good form race. Back to Randwick looks another big tick for a horse who likes plenty of running room to wind up.
(2) Strawberry Rock looks to be tracking along nicely this prep and the stable generally now how to improve a horse out in trip. Jmac booked.
(3) Impulsar looked good stepping up to 2200m at the midweeks, winning easily as a short priced fav. He’s still lightly raced and can improve again.
(8) Kitzuhebl can improve getting onto dry ground and probably has to go into exotics.
(6) Monfelicity
$3.70 (1.5 units)
Race 5
Pretty keen on the resuming (6) Showmanship who is a gun fresh horse and just knows how to win. Seven wins from nine career starts tells you all you need to know and a drying track is in his favour. Jmac takes the ride from the low draw and expect he can land in the box seat. From there he will just need the gaps and think he will be too good for them.
(5) Electric Girl races well fresh and a recent trial looked good. Beaten by some smart horses early last prep and I think she gives herself every chance up near the speed.
(2) King Of Sparta has been very good this prep and was a super win two back in Melbourne. Clearly in top form and should have a fitness edge on a few of these.
(8) Rocketing By looks a big price getting onto a better surface. He was always going to need the run first up but is a good 2nd up horse and his dry track record is strong.
(6) Showmanship
$3.00 (3 units)
Race 7
(10) Zapateo hasn’t done much wrong in her career so far and the form around her runs last prep looks good. She ran Mazu to within a length fresh last prep and a recent trial tells me she’s ready to fire again. Draws well, gets no weight and still think there’s a bit of untapped ability with her.
Dry tracks are the key for (5) Jamaea here. She struggled through wet conditions last prep but her runs on dry prove she is a top class 4yo on her day. Races well here.
Same goes for (3) Fituese who just didn’t handle the wet autumn tracks. She’s a gun fresh mare and if she’s wound up enough here will be right in the finish.
(13) Smirnova has plenty of upside and was pretty unlucky last prep. 3rd to Mazu in the Darby Munro is solid enough form.
(10) Zapateo
$3.80 (2 units)
Race 8
The first group one of the season sees a quality field go head to head over 1400m in the Winx Stakes. Many of these are resuming and probably will get better over further but can all tackle this sort of trip on the fresh side.
One of those horses is (10) Fangirl who’s runs on dry tracks have all been beauties. Take out her wet track fails and she has a super record. Knocked off Espiona fresh last prep before going on to win a group 1 and group 2. She’s ready to take the next step against the older horses now and Bowman jumps off Forbidden Love to ride.
(1 Mo’unga won this race last year and has been a proven group one performer across his career. Been given some quiet trials and back on top of the ground we can see that explosive turn of foot he had shown earlier in his career. Flies fresh and has three wins from six starts over 1400m.
(3) Anamoe is one of the best in the land and is a deserved favourite. With that being said I just think he has a few things against him here to be as short as he is in the market. Barrier 1 might prove a bit sticky and I think he clearly has bigger fish to fry later this prep over a longer trip. He’s been beaten first up his last couple preps over these sprint trips before going on to dominate middle distance races.
(4) Profondo promised plenty early on but has had some setbacks and was a bit plain last prep. He still does plenty wrong but if he can get it all together now he is a freak and could just be too good here.
(8) Forbidden Love was ordinary first up but did race on speed in a hotly contested race. Has race fitness on most of these but probably wants it a bit wetter.
Also Backing: (1) Mo'unga - $6.00 (1 unit)
(10) Fangirl
$8.00 (1 unit)
Race 9
Super hot race this years Silver Shadow with some lightly raced types who all look very exciting!
Looking forward to seeing (7) In Secret back at the races and she showed plenty at two runs in her debut prep. Won both in good fashion and think she will eat up 1200m now. Any rain probably helps but she will handle all conditions and looks a filly on the rise.
(14) Opal Ridge is my best value chance of the day and he should be unbeaten. Ran the days fastest L200m last start when only finding clear air when the race was all over. This is much tougher but I like him drawn out and think Randwick should suit him with plenty of room to let rip.
(5) Willinga Beast is another lightly raced horse with some X factor about him. His two runs to date have been belters, very nearly knocking of the smart Paris Dior last time we saw him.
(1) Revolutionary Miss very nearly won a Blue Diamond last prep and then was never a chance drawn wide in the slipper. Trialled well for return and is a serious horse in her own right.
Value: (14) Opal Ridge - $13 (0.5 units)
(7) In Secret
$3.50 (1.5 units)
