Apollo Stakes betting, form and free tips, Saturday February 11

Apollo Stakes

WINX returns this Saturday in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes having won its second consecutive Cox Plate at its last start.

The Chris Waller-trained champion mare will meet a field of 12 and the bookmakers believe there’s little chance it can be beaten.

The fields at Randwick this Saturday are top quality, which includes the Light Fingers Plate where the likes of Spright and Global Glamour will do battle, but all the focus is on Winx and rightfully so.

Ladbrokes.com.au is doing punters a solid by offering $1.80 for Winx to win (maximum bet of $25) which is much better odds than the $1.12 offered elsewhere.

Ladbrokes.com.au

Race 1 – Ranvet R90 Handicap (1600m)

Liapari produced a big finish to score last start and it could have easily made it consecutive wins. The Waller-trained gelding has won and placed at Randwick and the drop in weight to 53kg with Brenton Avdulla in the saddle is ideal. Current $3.80 favourite.

Hogmanay is a consistent type which continues to run well. It gets down in the weights which will be a big relief and James Innes Jnr takes another 2kg off its back. It has been nicely-supported into $5 and it should run another solid race.

Sabino Speed ran well for second last time out and it will likely set the speed up front. The Turner/Poletti-trained gelding has a good record on this track and the small field will suit. $5 to win with bookmakers.

Race 1 tip: Liapari to win ($3.80) at WilliamHill.com.au

Race 2 – Tab Highway Handicap C3 (1800m)

Maestro Tom has won only three from 26 starts, but it was only narrowly beaten by a nice type last start. The Terry Evans-trained gelding is a former New Zealand runner which had form against some nice types and it should adapt to Randwick well. Consider here at $6.50.

Circle Game won well fresh up at Canberra and it was putting in the big bounds last start at Rosehill. The four-year-old mare for Matthew Dale rises up in distance which is ideal as it won over 2000m at Canberra in June last year. Looks a winning chance at $5.

Medieval is the current $4.60 favourite following its win at Doomben. The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding is from the right stable for this race and Corey Brown takes the ride. We’re thinking its current price will drift, so wait for the best possible odds available.

Race 2 tip: Circle Game to win ($5) at Sportsbet.com.au

Race 3 – Open Markets R84 Handicap (2400m)

Embley scored a good win last time out at Rosehill and a repeat performance could be on the cards. The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding has placed only once in four starts at this track, but leading did the trick last start and it will likely adopt similar tactics.

Admiral Jello has been backed in from $4.60 to $4.40 after scored an easy 2.8-length win at Randwick last start. The Kris Lees-trained gelding will be vying for consecutive wins on this track and James Doyle sticks in the saddle. It looks a good chance again in an even betting field.

Gold Ambition is a consistent runner which finished under a length behind Montauk last start. The Baker-trained gelding has placed in three from seven starts at Randwick and although it carries 61kg for this, it could figure in the placings.

Race 3 tip: Admiral Jello to win ($4.40) at Palmerbet.com.au

Race 4 – Inglis Classic 2YO Plate (1200m)

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Peter and Paul Snowden line up Ultramarine which didn’t fire on debut at Randwick. The son of Choisir has been well-backed at $5 for this after winning a trial last month and it would pay to follow any market movement for this two-year-old.

Sweet Deal has to deal with a wide draw, but it coped with it well on debut. The John Thompson-trained filly was caught three wide, but pushed Teaspoon to within a length and it won a trial leading into this. Expect a good run at $3.80 for the win.

She’s On Cue is on debut for Peter Robl after three solid trials. The daughter of Uncle Mo won its most recent trial on a soft track so conditions should suit and it has been well backed down in the weights. $5.50 for the win with bookmakers.

Race 4 tip: Sweet Deal to win ($3.80) at Ladbrokes.com.au

Race 5 – The Chi-X Southern Cross Stakes (1200m)

Defcon is a winner of two from six, which includes a win in the Black Opal Stakes at Canberra. The Snowden-trained colt also won the McNeil Stakes at Caulfield when beating Highland Reel and that form should stack up nicely. Good chance down in the weights at $6.50.

Impending is the $2.30 favourite following a top quality campaign in the spring. The John O’Shea-trained colt won the Stan Fox Stakes over Divine Prophet in September and it finished off well in the Caulfield Guineas. It goes well fresh up and the inside draw coupled with the light weight is ideal.

Dothraki is a quality type which has yet to find its best form this campaign. The Snowden sprinter is capable of carrying 58kg to victory here and the six-year-old has the ability to beat the younger horses. Consider as an each way chance at $6.50.

Race 5 tip: Impending to win ($2.30) at Bet365.com

Race 6 – The Star Apollo Stakes (1400m)

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Winx is a global superstar making a fresh start since winning the Cox Plate. The Chris Waller-trained champion has drawn ideally in barrier three and seven of its 17 career wins have come at Randwick. It’s paying short odds to win and there doesn’t appear to be any challengers in the same grade.

Hartnell is a worthy contender to beat Winx at $10 after a great campaign last spring, but it will likely need more time to get warm this time in. The O’Shea-trained gelding finished second behind Winx in the Cox Plate before battling on well for third in the Melbourne Cup. Those were both credible performances and its place odds of $1.35 seem to best betting option.

Dibayani has been a frustrating horse to follow for punters and that will likely continue here. It’s not expected to win, but its place chances appear high and punters could get rewarded on that front. It has placed in four from six starts at Randwick and another good showing is likely.

Race 6 tip: Winx to win ($1.85) at Ladbrokes.com.au

Race 7 – Trainer Connections Spring Stakes (1600m)

Henry The Createth is more suited to midweek racing, but its form is good and it should be considered at stakes level. The Michael Freedman-trained gelding has won three from four starts and it gets a good barrier with James Doyle in the saddle. $16 is good each way value.

First Approval has yet to win this campaign, but its form is steady and it won back-to-back races last campaign. The Snowden-trained son of Northern Meteor placed in its only start at this track and the inside draw is ideal. Punters are confidence at $5.50.

Royal Navy is an improving type which has won consecutive races leading into this. The three-year-old is a nicely-bred type by Fastnet Rock which scored a strong win last start and it will likely get back during the run and flash home nicely. $6.50 on offer from bookmakers.

Race 7 tip: First Approval to place ($2.10) at CrownBet.com.au

Race 8 – Light Fingers Stakes (1200m)

Global Glamour is a quality filly which went close in the Magic Millions Guineas last month. The Waterhouse/Bott-trained three-year-old was a classy winner of the Thousand Guineas and the Flight Stakes and that form is hard to knock. The draw of 12 didn’t help its chances, but consider at $3.30.

Spright won all three starts last preparation and it did it in style. The Garry Frazer-trained filly won the Brian Crowley Stakes by 2.8 lengths which was followed by an easy win in the Red Roses. Its trial form has been good and the $4.80 on offer suggests it can resume nicely here.

French Fern didn’t fire in the Golden Slipper as a $151 chance, but its form prior was good which included a win in the Reisling Stakes at Randwick. It would appreciate any easing of the track and its current odds of $67 isn’t representative of its true ability.

Race 8 tip: French Fern to place ($16.00) at Sportsbet.com.au

Race 9 – Robrick Lodge Triscay Stakes (1200m)

Dixie Blossoms is a three-win mare from 10 starts which was finishing off nicely last start. The Ron Quinton-trained four-year-old has won and placed in two starts at this track and it only needs luck from the wide draw to feature here at $4.20.

Pearls has always had plenty of class and its odds have dropped from $6.50 to $5.50. The O’Shea-trained mare won the Toy Show Quality over Dixie Blossoms before running third in the Golden Pendant and Tristarc Stakes. It finds its form quickly and its odds are appealing.

Shillelagh has plenty of ability and it didn’t get the best of luck last campaign. The Waller-trained mare will appreciate carrying only 53kg and the punters have backed it into $7 after opening at $8.50. Consider on an each way basis.

Race 9 tip: Pearls to win ($5.50) at Palmerbet.com.au

Race 10 – Schweppes R85 Handicap (1200m)

Bullrush has the ability to sprint well fresh up and it will need to show some pace when jumping from barrier 16. The Hawkes-trained gelding is a winner of three from four fresh up and Tommy Berry is a good jockey to have in the saddle.

Hanwritten was a stylish 1.3-length winner at Randwick last start and it’s unbeaten in two starts on this track. The Dunn-trained gelding has progressed from the Highway Handicap series to competing at higher levels and Hugh Bowman continues his association with the six-year-old. Well-backed at $3.20.

Your Way won three straight races before finishing fifth last start and the weight helps here. It drops to 54kg with Tim Clark in the saddle and it shouldn’t be discounted.

Race 10 tip: Hanwritten to win ($3.20) at Ladbrokes.com.au

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