Randwick form, odds and free selections, Saturday January 21
THE major racing might be taking a break this week, but Randwick is still hosting a quality nine-race card which features the $150,000 Listed Carrington Stakes.
The race has attracted only seven entrants, but the likes of Ecuador, Shiraz and last start winner Gold Symphony will all line up.
Saturday at Randwick kicks off with the Australian Fire Hose Plate where the smart juveniles look to open their accounts.
Race 1 – Australian Fire Hose 2YO Plate (1000m)
Eden Roc is on debut for Team Hawkes after winning two of its three trials. The son of Star Witness has drawn well for its debut in barrier two and the support has come in the betting. The two-year-old is currently the favourite at $2.90 and looks a good betting prospect.
The Godolphin stables are having a good run with their juveniles and Watchdog looks a solid chance. The son of Helmut finished fourth in a recent trial, but they’re rarely pushed hard in trials and it looked to have plenty in hand. It’s a chance at $4.80.
Ultramarine has been specked in the betting at $7 after winning a trial on January 10. The Snowden-trained colt is bred for speed and Blahe Shinn takes the ride from a good barrier. Should be considered at each way odds.
Race 1 tip: Watchdog to place ($1.75) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 2 – Wilkes Quality (1000m)
Guard Of Honour couldn’t keep up with them in the Brian Crowley Stakes last start, but its form prior suggests it has a winning hope in this. The Kris Lees-trained colt won the Heritage Stakes at Randwick and the form out of that race has stacked up nicely. Big weight, but is the current $2.90 favourite.
Spending To Win broke maiden grades in style last start when winning in a rating 72 affair. The Snowden-trained runner had taken on some tough company prior to that win, which included a third behind Guard Of Honour on debut. It gets a 5kg drop on the favourite which makes it a winning chance at $3.30.
Tactical Advantage has won both starts this campaign and it has more wins in store. The James Cummings-trained gelding prepared with a soft trial this month and it has been solidly backed into $4. Tough field here, but consider on talent.
Race 2 tip: Spending To Win ($3.30) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 3 – DX Solutions R78 Handicap (1600m)
Harlem Lady has promised plenty this campaign without delivering. The Chris Waller-trained mare has been well-backed in every run to date, with its best effort coming two back when second at Rosehill. Yet to win on this track, but having Bowman back in the saddle helps.
John O’Shea lines up last start winner Lycia which produced a big finish to score. The four-year-old powered over the top of its rivals and it stays in the same grade, but drops in weight. That suits for this and the $4.80 shot won’t have to expend much energy from the inside draw.
Shutter Bug continues to battle away in its races, but it could provide some cheek at the weights. The Danny Williams-trained mare drops to 51kg after the claim of Andrew Adkins and that brings it into contention. $7 on offer.
Race 3 tip: Lycia to win ($4.80) at Bet365.com
Race 4 – Tab Highway Handicap (1200m)
Nic’s Vendetta has been running well in this grade after finishing second at Rosehill last start. The four-year-old finished two lengths behind the winner, but it puts itself in the race and its form prior included a third placing behind Eckstein – which subsequently finished third in the Magic Millions.
Clipper has looked impressive in winning both career starts, but this is a steep rise in class. The Matthew Dale-trained filly won by four lengths on debut before backing that up with a 1.5-length win last start. It carries only 54.5kg for this and that makes it a chance at $4.80.
Matthew Dunn lines up Care To Think which won narrowly on debut. The well-bred son of So You Think looked to have plenty of ability and it has been specked in the market at $8. Consider if there’s any push in the market.
Race 4 tip: Nic’s Vendetta to win ($5.50) at WilliamHill.com.au
Race 5 – Optus Systems Handicap (2000m)
Burning Energy lines up for Bjorn Baker after running well for third last start. The son of Bernardini was a winner at Canterbury prior to that and the slight drop in distance from its last start will help its cause. It gets 3kg off its back so consider at $4.
Unbiased doesn’t boast a great form line, but it has ability. The O’Shea-trained gelding finished off well for fourth behind Burning Energy last start, but it’s worse off at the weights and punters aren’t getting a great price. We would want better than $4 to take this runner on trust.
Baker also lines up Embley which ran into a nice type last start. The son of High Chaparral ran second behind Cabeza de Vaca at Canterbury and it should get a nice run from barrier two in this. It has yet to perform on this track, but consider.
Race 5 tip: Burning Energy to win ($4) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 6 – Rebecca Louise R82 Handicap (1600m)
Chris Waller lines up Cauthen’s Power which was a tidy last start winner. The son of Road To Rock rarely goes a bad race at this distance with six starts for one win and three placings. It shouldn’t find this any harder so it goes into the mix at $3.20.
Stablemate Liapari has been knocking on the door of another win after scoring at Canterbury in November. The four-year-old produced a good finish along the inside last start and the drop in weight to 53kg with Brenton Avdulla is ideal. Good win hope at $4.
Rock Mylady was heavily supported when finishing fifth last start, and while that performance was only average, punters are getting much better odds now. It’s currently paying $11 to win, which could be worth taking.
Race 6 tip: Cauthen’s Power to win ($3.20) at Palmerbet.com.au
Race 7 – Tattersalls Club Carrington Stakes (1400m)
Oxford Poet is a quality gelding which has placed in all four second up starts. The Kim Waugh-trained six-year-old has a good record on this track and the drop in weight from 61kg to 55kg is ideal. It has been well-supported at $3.70 and expect that price to drop.
Ecuador brings the quality to the race having won nine from 29 starts. The Waterhouse/Bott-trained gelding has plenty of experience carrying big weights and it will again have to lump around 61kg. It won well when beating Snoopy last start and the inside draw will allow it to find the lead easily. $3.80 on offer.
Gold Symphony took advantage of the small field last start and it faces another here. The Snowden-trained gelding defeated the highly-touted Imposing Lass by almost two lengths and a repeat effort of that performance takes it close.
Race 7 tip: Oxford Poet to place ($1.80 – two places only) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 8 – Huawei Handicap (1400m)
King Darci has a fair amount of class in this grade after winning two of its last four starts. The Tim Martin-trained gelding is a winner of two from three at this distance and it showed its true class when winning with ease last start. $3 is a respectable price.
Louie Sea Kay is an enigmatic type which mixes its form. The son of Choisir won well at Rosehill two starts back and it ran on stoutly for sixth last start. It needs some luck in running and the pace to be on up front, but consider here at odds of $7.
Hogmanay looked good winning two consecutive races at Rosehill before battling behind King Darci last start. It gets some weight relief here which helps and it’s not without a chance at $5.
Race 8 tip: Louie Sea Kay to win ($7) at Palmerbet.com.au
Race 9 – Liberty International Underwriters Handicap (1200m)
Suspense is a five-time winner from 12 starts which flashed home late to win last start. The quality Snowden-trained gelding is a three-time winner at this distance and it won’t have to improve much to figure in the finish again at $5.50.
Deploy is a professional type which scored an impressive win at Canterbury last start. The Gerald Ryan-trained gelding has placed in its only start on this track and it should get a good run from barrier four. The 2kg claim brings it right into contention and punters have launched into the $3.30 on offer.
Alart has plenty of ability, but it is becoming expensive to follow. The Pat Farrell-trained mare hasn’t won for awhile now, but its run for second last start was encouraging and it should be considered at the each way odds.
Race 9 tip: Deploy to win ($3.30) at CrownBet.com.au