Welcome to our preview and horse racing betting tips for racing at Randwick on Saturday, January 20th.
We have a nine-race card on a Good 4 track with the rail in the 8m position. There’s hot weather predicted so we should get a track upgrade and early races will be important to take note of to see if the rail is on or off.
We have betting tips and comments for every race below. Tune in to Episode 18 of the Before You Bet Podcast below, where Tim takes a look at the best betting races at Randwick and Flemington, and check out our Flemington Racing Tips here!
RANDWICK RACING TIPS
Best Bet: Race 5 Memes
Best Value: Race 6 Chaterlard EW
Race 1
Rare that I want to bet into these two-year-old races with so many on debut but I’m keen to get involved with ESTIJAAB for Team Hawkes with Avdulla on board. Had two trials leading into this – the first trial was good when finishing 2nd behind Meryl, who then won first up in Brisbane, and his second trial was a 2L win when leading all the way. Should roll forward from barrier 11 and give a bold sight. The $4.80 that was available when the podcast was done is long gone and we’re only getting $3.60 now. RULING SYMBOL gets the blinkers on after some nice trials and draws well in barrier 2. Speed looks good and should get a good sit with Tye Angland on board. Hugh Bowman takes the ride for the Snowden camp here which is always eye-catching so I’d be including SAINT ANTONIO LAD at $21. RIVER BIRD finished off its only trial well after jumping slowly and looks a decent chance at double figures. The chances don’t end there.
TIP: Estijaab
Race 2
Small field of five here and every runner could win. I’m really not that interested in getting involved. D’ARGENTO goes on top as he looks to keep his undefeated record intact. He’s first up from a spell here and the form from his debut campaign has turned out to be good. He beat a couple of handy ones on debut, and the same can be said about his second win over 1500m. Two trials under the belt here and Bowman sticks with him – he’ll likely be out the back from the barrier but the speed looks genuine enough and he may just be too good, despite possibly looking for longer. INTUITION has won all three starts this prep and the form out of his latest win has stacked up through the likes of Calculated. WOOSHKA has won its past two at Canterbury after settling on the pace and was impressive in putting up a 3L margin last start. I have huge respect for the stable but often horses coming from Canterbury wins can struggle to transfer that to Randwick. I think PARET is a seriously talented horse. They made a mistake by racing him over 1000m at the end of last prep as he looks to be a miler, and I’d expect a good showing from him first up here. He has the ability to run over the top of them but he’s had just the one trial leading into today. SHUMOOKH looks the obvious leader after leading all the way to win at Canterbury on debut. Much harder race here.
TIP: D’Argento
Race 3
It’s also rare that I’m keen to get involved in Highway Handicaps but KOPI LUWAK looks more than capable of going on with the job following his first up win which was his first race in two years. There’s some little concern as to how he backs up off that win given he had such a long time off, but he is still very unexposed and looks good enough to take care of this field. I can entertain $3.25. BEL DIABLO has been racing consistently all prep and comes off a dominant win at Gilgandra. Draws gate 1 and should be thereabouts. ACQUITTAL ran 3rd to All Stand in a Highway last start and All Stand has since run well again in a decent sort of race so he’s another that deserves consideration. The value could be NUNYA BIZZ who was very heavily backed last start but was given no chance with the ride or the run he had. Gets in with just 51kg here for in-form apprentice Blaike McDougall and third up from a spell looks ready to go. Include at $31.
TIP: Kopi Luwak
Race 4
Hugh Bowman jumps off MEDAILLE to ride CELLARMAN here but I’ll give the Godolphin mare one more chance here. She went down last start in a bob of the heads to Positive Problems, and she’s having her third run back from a short let-up. She stays at the 1600m and has that run under her belt so really should be every chance of winning here despite Bowman jumping ship. CELLARMAN wasn’t really given the greatest of rides by Shinn last start and may find itself in a difficult spot once again from an inside barrier in the small field. No surprise to see it bounce back with Hugh on, though. NEW UNIVERSE is back up to 1600m after dropping in distance last start. Carries the big weight here but Avdulla takes over from Lee Magorrian and it’s a winnable race.
TIP: Medaille
Race 5
Looks a two-horse race. MEMES is first up from a spell after winning five of her eight starts last campaign. She’ll likely go straight to the front here with just 51.5kg on her back and the fact she’s had four starts at the track for three wins is essentially what gives her the advantage in my book. HIDDEN PEARL has form over the likes of Viddora from past seasons and is first up for a new stable today. Her form tapered off last preparation but her recent trial suggests she may be back. She’s a 1000m specialist with seven wins from 13 starts at the distance, and she’s won four of her six starts when first up Those all read well but the concern has to be the fact she’s a 7YO mare now, while Memes is still only 4 and possibly yet to produce her best form. I could make a case for BOSS LANE who has a terrific record at the track and distance and is well suited second up here with 59.5kg after the claim. GREAT CHOICE the blowout with his good second up record.
TIP: Memes
Race 6
These races are nightmares with multiple Waller runner engaged over the 2000m I was keen on VAUCLUSE BAY last start and I’m sticking with him today in the hope he ends up further forward in the run. He’s on the quick back-up from last week and Schofield takes over from M Cahill. His run two starts ago suggested he’s ready to win and today might be the day at $6.50. Stablemate CHATERLARD looks the likely pace-setter and he’s just not had a lot go his way this preparation. First up he was luckless, second up he was ridden dead cold and last start he struck a soft track. Up to 2000m today, likely to lead and back on a firm track should see him improve sharply. $12 is appealing. XEBEC is ready to win and Bowman goes on. He didn’t really get his chance last start and his third up record is good. Slight concern as to where he ends up in the run but the stable seemed particularly confident in his chances during the week. MORE THAN FABULOUS is third up here and is a value chance at big odds, as is OLYMPIC ACADEMY. CARZOFF not hopless.
TIP: Vaucluse Bay / Chaterlard EW
Race 7
Very ordinary race. Surely today is the day for FLOW. He’s having his fourth run back from a spell here and gets back up to the 1400m after dropping back to 1200m last start. I think the horse that he ran 3rd to last start (Brave Song) is a serious talent and so the form could prove very good. Bowman goes on and if he can’t win this then he’s going to struggle to win another race any time soon. Bowman jumps off LEVEL EIGHT, who they backed heavily last start when just beaten a nose by Malaise. Josh Parr takes over. Drawn slightly awkwardly but does have a good record at the track and distance and should be right in the finish. I’d be surprised if your winner came from outside of those.
TIP: Flow
Race 8
FORTENSKY was a good winner first up from a spell when saluting as our best value bet of the day, and I see no reason to jump off him here even though Bowman jumps off him to ride BURRADOO. Fortensky draws barrier 1 once again today and hopefully can sit as prominently in the run as he did first up, and his win last start was at this track and distance. Avdulla takes over today and I’m pretty confident he’ll be somewhere in the finish once again at $5.50. VICEROY ran 2nd to Fortensky last start, and I think he’s come back a better horse this prep because he’s previously struggled when second up from a spell. To get so close indicates to me he’s going very well, and he’s got a good third up record so I’d expect him to run a big race here at $9.50. FARAWAY TOWN has been backed off the map first up here. Having opened $26, it’s now a $6 chance. Has never won from four starts first up but you must respect that weight of money. Bowman rides BURRADOO today which I find very strange. The horse won nicely last start but he always goes best second up. Might struggle to reproduce that third up. INSENSATA is a good horse on its day and shouldn’t be discounted.
TIP: Fortensky / Viceroy EW
Race 9
Three main chances here for mine. BAYSA goes on top after a luckless run last start with B Shinn on board. Draws wide here and will likely get a long way back but Avdulla takes over and it will at least get the chance to wind up. Form prior to that was good and has a good record at the distance. $6 available and we may get better JAUNTY looks the clear value for mine at $9.50. The horse is flying and actually beat Baysa two starts ago. Has a great record at the distance and draws for a beautiful run from barrier 5. BYE SEE won nicely last start and is only third up here so can certainly go on with the job. Should roll forward and has been very well backed early. Definitely saving on it. QUEEN MISTY gets blinkers on first time and will run honest as always.
TIP: Baysa / Jaunty EW
QUADDIE
1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12
4, 5
5, 8, 9, 11
5, 6, 7, 8, 9
$100 = 41.66%
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