2017 Sydney Cup form, odds and free tips, Saturday April 22
TAKE two of the 2017 Sydney Cup as a full field of 16 runners will hopefully make it around the two mile circuit at Randwick.
The Sydney Cup was abandoned mid-race after the fall of Almoonqith, but all 11 runners from that edition are back plus another five runners which could take advantage of the unfortunate situation.
It’s the feature race on a solid metropolitan card at Randwick this Saturday and we have all the form, odds and tips for every race which starts with the Stratum Star Retires To Widden Handicap at 11.25pm.
Ladbrokes.com.au is offering an odds boost for race four at Randwick which is the Schweppes Randwick Royale where punters will get better odds for every runner in the race.
Race 1 – Stratum Star Retires To Widden Handicap (1100m)
Silence was a solid winner on debut at Newcastle and it has the right connections behind it. The Snowden-trained colt will likely need to improve from that first up effort, but it has each way support in the market at $7.50 and it should be considered a winning chance.
The best-backed runner in the field is Debonairly which has won two from three starts. The Waterhouse/Bott-trained filly scored an impressive 3.7-length win at Newcastle last start and its only poor run to date came when seventh in the B.J. McLachlan Stakes at Eagle Farm. $1.70 suggests it should be winning this.
The Mighty Fed scored at double-figure odds last start at Warwick Farm and it looked talented in doing so. The son of All Too Hard won by two lengths on a heavy track and it’s not paying double figure odds for this. It’s currently $5.50 with bookmakers.
Race 1 tip: Debonairly to win ($1.70) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 2 – Schweppervescence R78 Handicap (1200m)
Calabasas is becoming an expensive runner for punters, but it made good ground in the Provincial Championships and it deserves a winning turn. The Kim Waugh-trained gelding has finished second in three of its last five starts and having Blake Shinn sticking with it should help. $5 with bookmakers is a fair price.
The current favourite is I Thought So, which has looked the goods this campaign. The son of So You Think won back-to-back races including one at Randwick before running second in the Gosford Guineas. It will need to carry 59.5kg to victory here, but it should be respected at $2.50.
Tessera is a two-time winner which is looking to rebound after a poor showing in the Hilton Stakes. The John O’Shea-trained gelding has ability as it showed when running second in the Exford Plate, but it hasn’t won in awhile and that’s the big concern. The inside draw helps and it could run well at $7.
Race 2 tip: Calabasas to win (+400) at Bet365.com
Race 3 – ATC Heritage Centre R78 (1600m)
Egg Tart has rattled off three straight wins for Chris Waller and it looks to have above average ability. The three-year-old by Sebring scored an impressive three-length win on a heavy track at Warwick Farm last start and it drops in weight to 58.5kg here. It looks well placed and the $3 is a decent price on offer.
Black On Gold is a stablemate of Egg Tart which has won three from 11 starts. The son of Sebring has beaten some nice types including Harper’s Choice over its last two starts and it has yet to finish out of the money at Randwick. The inside draw is ideal and it won’t be far away at $5.50.
Waller also lines up Oklahoma Girl which produced a tidy finish to score at Warwick Farm last start. The filly by Fastnet Rock has always been around the mark in all seven career starts and being one of the lesser-fancied of the four Waller runners in the field, it should find the line well.
Race 3 tip: Egg Tart to win ($3) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 4 – Schweppes Randwick Royale R78 (2400m)
Richard Of Yorke scored a six-length win at Sandown two starts back before running into Hans Holbein at Bendigo. The Waller-trained gelding has a good record over this distance which should prove vital over 2400m and it stays at a nice weight of 54.5kg. This isn’t an overly talented staying field and it could capitalise at odds of $2.70.
Survived is a former New Zealand runner which has the experience, but it needs to start lifting its game. The Archie Alexander-trained gelding is bred to stay the distance and it handles all track conditions. It wasn’t too far away last start and it could be an each way threat at $9.
Paragon wasn’t beaten far last week when running second at Hawkesbury and having that race fitness under its belt will take it a long way. It doesn’t have much experience running against top class stayers, but punters are confident that it can run well at $6.
Race 4 tip: Richard Of Yorke to win (+170) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 5 – Tab We Love A Bet Highway Handicap (1400m)
Spiral is a last start winner at Doomben which has finished out of the money in only four of its 15 starts to date. The Stephen Lee-trained gelding fought nicely to win last start and it should handle the rise in weight with the 3kg claim from Lee Magorrian. It’s a current $10 chance with bookmakers.
Schedule looks to have some talent and its trainer Mack Griffith is confident about its chances. The son of High Chaparral took advantage of the wet track conditions at Scone and it defeated a handy midweek type in Niccobelle. Needs luck from the draw, but it should figure in the finish at $4.20.
Like A Shot won’t need much luck from the inside draw and it hasn’t been far away this campaign. The three-year-old has won both career starts on a slow track and it should get conditions to suit. It ran on well behind Pianissimo last start and that metropolitan form looks good for this.
Race 5 tip: Like A Shot to win ($5.50) at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 6 – ATC Membership R85 (1600m)
Grand Dreamer comes over from Melbourne having finished fifth at Ballarat. The Robert Smerdon-trained gelding has yet to run at Randwick, but it’s a four-time winner at this distance with seven placings. It loves running in the wet and conditions should suit. $3.80 favourite after opening at $4.
Montauk is in career best form having won twice from its last five starts. The Waller-trained gelding is a three-time winner at Randwick which is a big bonus for punters and despite all five wins coming on a good track, it does handle the wet. The big weight hurts, but it will be in the thick of the finish at odds of $4.20.
Broadside is a talented former Kiwi which only battled when fresh up, but it’s much better than that. The Waterhouse/Bott-trained gelding has won four from seven starts which included a strong win on this track. The inside draw will allow it to roll along nicely and produce in the straight.
Race 6 tip: Broadside to win ($3.90) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 7 – Ranvet R90 (1000m)
Sir Bacchus is a quality thoroughbred which runs well fresh up. The Waller-trained sprinter has won two from four starts when making its first start for the preparation and it took on some nice types last campaign. It managed to defeat subsequent group one winner Redkirk Warrior at Moonee Valley and that form is strong for a race like this. $6 is a value price.
Nieta was a strong performer last preparation and it’s unbeaten fresh up. The John Thompson-trained mare has won two from two when fresh and it won its only start on this track. Its 2.8-length win at Rosehill was full of class and any easing of the track brings it right into contention. It has yet to suffer defeat in three starts on the slow going and the $2.10 suggests it’s ready to fire.
Super Maxi is a classy runner which comes into this having won well at Warwick Farm. The Hawkes-trained gelding will likely head forward and give them all something to catch. It has won twice at this distance and it has yet to finish out of the money in five starts on rain-affected ground.
Race 7 tip: Nieta to win (+110) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 8 – Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m)
Polarisation has to be considered after it crossed the line first in the abandoned Sydney Cup. The Charlie Appleby-trained European did have to endure a hard run where it was pushed hard to the line, but the fitness might have done it some good and at least punters got a look of what it had to offer. It defeated half the field and the $6.50 is a good enough price to accept the risk.
Big Duke was one of the runners which was managed to be pulled out of the race and after a busy campaign to date, that’s a big plus factor. The Darren Weir-trained runner has been the form horse of the season and it’s an import which has relished the wet Sydney autumn. Having Glen Boss take over from Craig Williams is a concern, but he knows how to win over two miles and the weight of 52kg helps.
There has been plenty of money for Penglai Pavilion which is currently the second favourite at $5.50. The Appleby-trained stayer has won eight from 22 starts which includes two on a heavy track. It has also won four from nine starts fresh up, but it has yet to win on a slow track from five starts. Punters are confident so watch the market for any more moves.
Race 8 tip: Big Duke to win ($3.20) at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 9 – Benchmark R78 Handicap (1400m)
Moss ‘n’ Dale fought on nicely when fresh up at Mornington and it boasts an unbeaten second up record. The Peter Gelagotis-trained four-year-old doesn’t have much experience running right handed, but it gets conditions to suit and the 3kg claimer helps its chances.
Supply And Demand is a last start winner which turned around some consistent form. The four-year-old possesses a good turn-of-foot and it has the ability to lead and to chase. It has won twice from two starts on a slow track and it won its only start at Randwick. Rising in weight doesn’t help, but there’s confidence with punters at $3.
Dreamforce is a capable type which has won three from six starts and has placed in the other three. The Thompson-trained horse has won three from four starts at this distance and it was finishing strongly behind them at Newcastle. This is another rise in class, but it has the ability.
Race 9 tip: Moss ‘n’ Dale to win (+400) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 10 – Theraces R76 (1400m)
Siren’s Fury was a recent winner in the Albury Guineas before storming home in the South Pacific Classic when finishing third. The three-year-old has plenty of ability and although 58kg is a big weight for a three-year-old filly, it has enough power to finish over the top of them.
Gretna scored a long overdue win at Warwick Farm last start and a repeat performance could be on the cards. The Waller-trained filly led from the outset and was too tough in the run to the line. It faces a similar field for this and it has been backed into $4.40.
Cottage must be respected despite running poorly last start. The O’Shea-trained mare plugged behind Anisha at Warwick Farm, but its form last campaign featured three wins from its last five starts. It is unbeaten in three starts at this distance and it will get a soft run from an inside barrier. Chance at $7.50.
Race 10 tip: Grenta to win ($4.40) at Bet365.com