Welcome to our preview and horse racing betting tips for racing at Royal Randwick on Saturday, August 4th.
We have nine races on a Good 4 track with the rail in 4m position.
We’ve got betting tips and comments for every race below. Tune in to Episode 45 of the Before You Bet Podcast below as Tim previews all of today's racing at both Moonee Valley and Randwick!
ROYAL RANDWICK RACING TIPS
Best Bet: Race 6 #4 Smartedge
Best Value: Race 8 #8 Sanctioned
RACE 1
Pretty hot race to start the day! (6) Danawi is a colt that’s been thought of very highly ever since he was seen at the trials as a two-year-old. He’s just had the single career start to date, where he ran 2nd to eventual Group 1 winner The Autumn Sun. That form obviously looks very solid and he’s trialled well leading into his return to the track today. (5) Adana is a horse I have a decent opinion of too. He ran some very nice minor placings in his first campaign and he was scratched from Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting in order to run here with Hugh Bowman aboard. Well drawn and Waller obviously has a reason to run him here rather than Wednesday. (4) Lion’s Head won last start at the provincials and comes to town with the blinkers going on for the first time. James McDonald booked for the Snowden camp and that key gear change has me believing he’ll measure up at double figure odds. Could be the value play. (3) Nasaayim failed first up but has trialled well on two occasions since that run and is undefeated over 1200m so must be included.
Value: (4) Lion's Head $11 Sportsbet
RACE 2
The Highway Handicap over 1400m here. Competitive line up but two horses that interest me. (4) Magic Choir comes out of a Highway Handicap last start where he ran 4th, not beaten all that far (2.2L). Stays at 1400m but importantly comes into this third up from a spell. He followed a similar path last prep when he won a Highway third up over 1400m at Rosehill. Looks set for this so $6.00 looks reasonable. Jason Collett rode him last start but shifts onto (10) Isla Tristana today for Matthew Dunn. This horse brings a completely different form line having had his first two starts this prep at Ipswich and Doomben. Third up today and he won third up last preparation. Blinkers off today, Collett on. Always have to respect this stable in these races so worth having something on at $7.50.
Value: (10) Isla Tristana $7.50 Sportsbet
RACE 3
The Waller-a-thon for the stayers here. And as I say every week about these races, I wouldn’t bother outlaying anything big here because they seem to throw up a random result every time. I am, however, interested in (3) Exoteric with Bowman aboard. Brings a different form line as he’s had his first two starts this prep in Brisbane. Third up today, Bowman on from the good draw and looks set to be very competitive at decent odds. He’s also had the benefit of a 2200m run leading into this, while the short-priced favourite only won over 2000m last start and could find the step up to 2400m a bit sharp. With that said, Raqeeq is flying and does look fairly unexposed still, so could find the improvement necessary. (9) Follow Suit won well on Wednesday and backs up quickly here so could be one to watch at double figure odds.
RACE 4
Absolutely nothing jumps off the page here. Basically a no-bet race for me but the drop back from 2000m to 1800m will suit (5) Sweet Victory who failed to run the distance out last start after finding the front half-way down the straight. Bowman goes on today and draws a bit softer in barrier 3 so she is probably worth another go in a relatively uninspiring field. (9) Bella Amante has won three from five career starts. Granted, the two wins this prep have come at Kembla, which isn’t form for a Saturday metro race, but she knows how to win. (6) Dreams Of Paris was given a very strong push by her trainer during the week, with him saying he’d be very disappointed if she didn’t run top 3. She’s a $15 chance so that’s a decent push.
RACE 5
(7) Gresham comes up favourite again today after running 2nd to the very heavily backed Gaulois last start. Should slide across to find a spot up on the speed and gets his chance to win again today in a race that lacks depth. The second favourite is Godolphin import (2) Avilius who looks incredibly short in the market. This French horse has never won below 1900m and is having his first start in Australia today over 1600m. Looks unsuitable to my eye but watch the market. (10) Dalmatia Prince looks over the odds at $19. Won first up at Canterbury, was beaten 2L last start and has a third up record of four starts for two wins and two 2nds. Light weight and good draw today so I think he’s well over the odds at that price. (4) Dagny is suited.
Value: (10) Dalmatia Prince $18 Crownbet
RACE 6
Really only interested in backing two horses here. The Snowden camp seem to have (4) Smartedge worked out and in good form and he finds another winnable race today with plenty of horses that just don’t look legitimate winning chances. He came out of a strong race two starts ago before dropping back to midweek company where he got the job done last start. Back to Saturday company now and looks suited once more. (3) Reach For Heaven ran 4th last start in the same race Smartedge ran 2nd in behind Star Of Monsoon. The query is whether he needs one more run (his third up record is excellent) but he has won second up before and gets Kerrin McEvoy on from barrier 1 today. (10) Bella Vella was beaten less than a length by Smartedge last start and gets blinkers back on today which could spark improvement, while (12) Masterati gets blinkers for the first time and should be kept safe.
RACE 7
Terrific line up for the G2 Missile Stakes. It’s hard to tip against (2) Kementari who really could be anything this prep. He was absolutely sizzling in his first three starts last preparation before bumping into Winx and finishing a luckless 10th in the Doncaster. Fresh up and back to 1200m today and possibly on trial for The Everest. If he returns in the same order he did last prep he will probably be winning this but he does look short enough given the talent in the field and the queries over his fitness and grand final. (4) Pierata saw plenty of Kementari’s backside last prep and looks to have returned in fine order too. Slightly tricky draw for him but he’s a serious horse. (1) Music Magnate might be the forgotten horse in the field. He is first up today after returning from a failed attempt in Dubai. He’s undefeated at the track and distance and has synthetic hoof filler off for the first time which is a good sign. Expect a big run from (3) Showtime at double figure odds. Team Hawkes will have him ready to go. (7) Takedown isn’t hopeless at $41 but I’ll be happy to take on (9) She Will Reign despite her undefeated first up record.
RACE 8
Big field. Interested in following my money on (8) Sanctioned here. He was very well supported first up but was caught wide without cover back in the field on a day when you couldn’t make ground. His was fairly good under the circumstances. Second up here and barrier 11 isn’t much of a negative in the big field. Could be worth giving another chance to at $14. (10) Island Missile saluted as our best bet in midweek grade last start. Straight back up to Saturday grade here and down in weight. Draws well for James McDonald and is a definite winning chance. (9) Sparky Lad found his right race last start and got the job done narrowly. Up 4kg in weight today and his record at Randwick isn’t as good as his Rosehill record. Also drops from 1500m to 1400m. (5) Samadoubt is a chance of improving third up here and should be thrown in your numbers. (16) Dancers another one that can be included.
RACE 9
Looks a nice race for the favourite (6) Soothing, who gets James McDonald on board, having his first ride for Godolphin since his suspension. She’s won two of her three previous first up races and bolted in last prep over 1100m at Warwick Farm. Just one trial leading into this which she won, should get a nice run from barrier 4 and looks a great chance. (5) Pendeloque is undefeated first up and no doubt Gerald Ryan will have him ready to win here. Draws the inside barrier so will either lead of box seat and looks right up to this. (14) Aimalac Millie has some sort of place chance third up from a spell.
