Randwick race-by-race preview & best bets | Saturday, October 23
| What | Randwick Races |
| Where | Royal Randwick Racecourse – Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031 |
| When | Saturday, October 23, 2021 |
| Feature Race | The Invitation – Race 9 |
| First Race | 12:30pm AEDT |
| Watch Live | |
HorseBetting’s New South Wales form analyst brings you an in-depth look at all 10 races for Saturday’s meeting at Royal Randwick, headlined by the inaugural running of The Invitation. The track is rated a Good 4, while the rail is out 8m from the 1000m to the winning post and then out 5m for the remainder. The opening race of the day is set to jump at 12:30pm AEDT, while the 12 fillies and mares in The Invitation are due to face the starter at 5:35pm. Keep reading to find out who we are backing on Saturday at Royal Randwick.
Race 1: Kirkham Plate (1000m)
The first race of the day will see a field of 14 two-year-olds do battle in the Kirkham Plate. Only two runners in this field have had race-day experience, and that is the way we are siding in the opener. Contemporary ran second on debut over 900m at Flemington in the Spring Preview, but he really hit the line strongly to indicate that he should relish the rise in distance to 1000m. Trained by James Cummings, this son of Exceed And Excel has been to the trials to have a hit-out going the Sydney way (clockwise), which he won, and given he has drawn perfectly in gate three, the colt should get a lovely run under Kerrin McEvoy.
Selections: 1-12-5-8
Race 2: Class 3 Highway Handicap (1800m)
The country-trained gallopers get their chance over 1800m in this Class 3 Highway Handicap. We harp on it a bit that these races are often lotteries, and this week is rock-solid proof of that. It is probably easier to hit a dartboard with a blindfold on than it is to find the winner here, but that’s our job to save you the trouble! Lord Desanimaux beat most of these runners home when winning a similar race over 1600m on October 9, so that is the way we are going. Tommy Berry and trainer Terry Robinson combined in The Kosciuszko to win on Art Cadeau last Saturday, so the team are flying.
Selections: 8-9-3-7
Race 3: Listed Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m)
A handy field of three-year-olds will contest the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes in race three, and there are a couple of smart horses stepping out. Able Willie has been very well supported since markets opened after an impressive debut win, but the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Mazu has much more exposed form in Group and Listed racing – and we are getting on at three times the price. After winning on debut at Canterbury, Mazu went on to run third in the Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes behind Shaquero and Tiger Of Malay, before finishing just behind the placegetters in his three subsequent starts, with those races won by Paulele, In The Congo and Count De Rupee. The Maurice colt should lead from barrier four and can be too good for his rivals here.
Selections: 2-5-1-6
Race 4: Benchmark 72 Midway Handicap (1200m)
Another wide-open affair will be run and won in the fourth, this time in the Midway over 1200m. Matthew Smith and apprentice Jenny Duggan combine with Undeniable, a four-year-old mare who is shooting for three-straight wins. The daughter of Not A Single Doubt was a winner at Wyong two starts ago before heading to Rosehill, where she won by a length over Jerle, who has since won to frank the form. Duggan will claim 2kg, which is a big advantage yet again, and although barrier nine is a touch awkward, Undeniable is a good racer, in the sense that she can go forward or back, so she should be able to overcome the sticky gate. We are surprised to see her around $9 here. Air To Air is the main danger, as this is the easiest race Jason Coyle’s mare has been in for a while, but her racing pattern doesn’t help her.
Selections: 2-3-12-8
Race 5: Filante Handicap (1400m)
A good field has been assembled for this year’s running of the Filante Handicap, headlined by Queensland galloper Emerald Kingdom. Trained by Rob Heathcote, this seven-year-old gelding brings some quality Brisbane form to Sydney which will see him give this race a huge shake from in front. The son of Bryannbo’s Gift has won three of his last six starts, including the Group 3 BRC Sprint, where he defeated subsequent Stradbroke Handicap and Tatts Tiara winner Tofane. Emerald Kingdom has since finished second to Apache Chase, who is headed to the $7.5 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill next Saturday. Tim Clark should take the Queenslander to the front from barrier seven, which will make him very hard to run down, especially given that his main market danger, Criaderas, will be dead-last on the turn.
Selections: 1-8-4-6
Race 6: Geyer Handicap (1600m)
The Geyer Handicap is only a Benchmark 78, but it is actually a pretty decent field with plenty of in-form horses set to go around. Both Shibli and Ma And Pa are looking to continue on their winning streaks, but given the speed in the race, we are with the former, as the Chris Waller-trained grey should get the last shot at tiring leaders. Shibli trialled really well prior to his first-up run this campaign, and while he took a couple of goes to warm up, placing third and second in his first two runs, he has really found the knack for winning now, going back-to-back in his last two. Tommy Berry replaces Hugh Bowman, who is in Melbourne for the Cox Plate, so nothing is lost there, and the pair have drawn ideally in gate five. He can make it three straight in this.
Selections: 6-9-11-13
Race 7: Listed Tattersalls Club Cup (2400m)
The first leg of the quaddie gives stayers their chance in the Tattersalls Club Cup over 2400m. One runner who was scratched from last Saturday’s Group 3 Craven Plate to be saved for this was Matt Dunn’s Cepheus. The former European ran a slashing fourth in his Australian debut four starts ago before running poorly in his two subsequent starts, but he bounced back when third in the Group 2 Hill Stakes. Winning that race was Think It Over, who is a Group 1 winner and also went on to win the Craven Plate at his next start, so the form out of the Hill has been good so far. Drawn out in barrier 12, this son of Sea The Stars will get back under Jason Collett and be running home strongly over the mile-and-a-half. Fifth-up and out to a suitable trip can be the recipe for Cepheus’ first win on our shores.
Selections: 2-3-8-5
Race 8: Bondi Stakes (1600m)
The $1 million Bondi Stakes is into its third year now, and while it has not attracted the fields we are sure Peter V’landys had hoped for when he introduced the race in 2019, it still features a decent enough crop of three-year-olds. Run over 1600m, the race was won by Kubrick and Peltzer in its first two editions. While we have to be game tipping Hilal given his racing pattern, the Hawkes-trained colt looks ready to win again after a fast-finishing victory in the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes a fortnight ago over 1500m. The son of Fastnet Rock does his best racing at Randwick, and given that his only other run at 1600m was a narrow second to Captivant in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes in the autumn, he should be good enough to win this. Tommy Berry knows the horse well, and gate six gives him every chance.
Selections: 1-4-2-7
Race 9: The Invitation (1400m)
While the Bondi Stakes is into its third year, The Invitation – boasting a $2 million prizepool – will be run and won for the first time on Saturday. We are with the New Zealand-trained mare Entriviere as she just has a will to win, unlike a few of her rivals here. Trained by Jamie Richards, the daughter of Tavistock has won six of nine and has been in the minor money in her other three starts. Drawn wide in barrier 11, Tommy Berry is going to get back on the five-year-old and allow her to stretch out and attack the line like we know she can. Nudge found form over the Brisbane Winter Carnival, winning two races and placing at Group 1 level, so she goes in the mix, while Icebath and Startantes both come out of Group 1 races, so they have the class to be winning.
Selections: 6-2-10-12
Race 10: Benchmark 88 (1200m)
We are rounding out the day with a Benchmark 88 over 1200m, and one of the better bets of the afternoon pops up here. Gravina should have probably won first-up behind Triple Ace, and he definitely should have won last start as well, but he was ultimately beaten by a sub-par ride and also a good horse in Big Parade, who came out and won the Group 3 Sydney Stakes last Saturday. The James Cummings-trained entire should be peaking third-up now in what is a much easier race than last time as well. He does rise 4.5kg to 57kg, but Kerrin McEvoy’s class can compensate for that, as should barrier one. Hopefully, Gravina can settle close in the run and be within striking distance in the last.
Selections: 9-6-11-13
Saturday quaddie picks for Royal Randwick
| Randwick quadrella selections | |
|---|---|
| Leg 1: | 2-3 |
| Leg 2: | 1-2-4-6-7 |
| Leg 3: | 2-6-10 |
| Leg 4: | 6-9 |
| Investment: | $60 for 100% |