Randwick free racing tips & quaddie | Saturday, February 17

February 16, 2024 12:40 pm.

Randwick tips

What	Apollo Stakes Day
Where	Royal Randwick Racecourse – Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031
When	Saturday, February 17, 2024
First Race	12:30pm AEDT
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NSW racing returns to Randwick on Saturday afternoon for a blockbuster 10-race program. There is black-type racing scattered all over the card, with the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) luring a quality field of nine returning stars. The rail is out +4m for the entire circuit, and with some minor showers predicted in the lead-up, the surface should be no worse than a Soft 5 or 6 prior to the opening event at 12:30pm AEDT.

Group 2 Expressway Stakes: Buenos Noches

Buenos Noches returns after a 98-day spell in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) and brings some elite form in from his last campaign. The son of Supido was far from disgraced in The Everest (1200m) on October 14 before heading down south to contest the Group 1 VRC Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on November 11, only being held out by a superstar in Imperatriz. He took out the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) at this track and trip on resumption last season, and with two tick-over trials winding him up for this event, watch for Buenos Noches to be launching late.

Expressway Stakes

Race 5 – #4 Buenos Noches (6)

4yo Horse | T: Matthew Smith | J: Nash Rawiller (56.5kg)

+100 with Bet365

Group 3 Triscay Stakes: Semana

Semana will be looking to continue her impressive rise through the grades as she tackles the Group 3 Triscay Stakes (1200m) for the fillies and mares. The four-year-old flashed home to score an eye-catching win in the Listed Magic Millions Cup at the Gold Coast on January 13, taking home the $1 million prize despite a torrid run in transit. She heads into this contest third-up with a fitness edge on some key rivals, and with this seemingly a perfect opportunity to add some black type to the resume, Semana appears well placed by the Ciaron Maher stable.

Triscay Stakes

Race 6 – #2 Semana (5)

4yo Mare | T: Ciaron Maher | J: Jason Collett (57.5kg)

+280 with Neds

Group 2 Apollo Stakes: Buckaroo

All nine of the runners in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) are first-up, and it’s worth giving Buckaroo a chance heading into his second Australian campaign. He was only even in his two starts last preparation, unable to bother the judge in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick before showing improvement at Flemington in the Group 1 Champion Stakes (2000m) on November 11. His trials give the impression the European import has settled much better ahead of this prep, and with Tommy Berry electing to stick on the back of those jump-outs, Buckaroo can produce a bold showing in the Apollo Stakes.

Apollo Stakes

Race 7 – #4 Buckaroo (6)

5yo Horse | T: Chris Waller | J: Tommy Berry (59kg)

+550 with Unibet

Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes: Learning To Fly

Learning To Fly returns after almost a full calendar year off the scene and takes on the girls in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m). The Coolmore filly was the long-standing favourite for the 2023 Golden Slipper, but jockey Chad Schofield was dislodged in the middle stages, leaving the now three-year-old on the mend. It’s clearly been a challenge for the Annabel Neasham barn to get the daughter of Justify back to the races sound, but with two impressive barrier trials giving the impression she’s ready to go, Learning To Fly’s best is good enough to win this first-up.

Light Fingers Stakes

Race 8 – #3 Learning To Fly (12)

3yo Filly | T: Annabel Neasham | J: Chad Schofield (56kg)

+300 with PlayUp

Best Bet at Randwick: Redstone Well

Redstone Well is third-up since arriving at the Annabel Nesham barn and doesn’t look far off a peak performance. The son of Cotai Glory savaged the line on his debut at Randwick on January 6, where the 1400m proved too sharp for this European import, before getting to the mile as Glory Daze bolted away by 2.3 lengths. This lightly raced five-year-old was clearly the best of the rest on that occasion, working through the line with some impressive closing sectionals. He should be able to sit much closer this time from barrier seven, and with the help of star hoop James McDonald in the saddle, Redstone Well can go one better.

Best Bet

Race 9 – #7 Redstone Well (7)

5yo Gelding | T: Annabel Neasham | J: James McDonald (57kg)

+320 with Picklebet

Best Value at Randwick: Fly Fly

Fly Fly makes her debut in the Listed Pierro Plate (1100m) to kick off proceedings at Randwick and looks a lively each-way chance with online bookmakers. The Hawkes-trained filly has won both her barrier trials stylishly, with the latest catching the eye as the daughter of Trapeze Artist was urged to score under Zac Lloyd at Rosehill on February 5. The stable has great confidence sending her to such a quality race to take on the likes of Switzerland and Shangri La Express, and with gate one to help her, Fly Fly is worth a pop at good odds.