Randwick racing tips & value bets | Inglis Millennium Day 2022

Race 1: Listed Lonhro Plate (1000m)

The two-year-olds kick start the day with the Lonhro Plate over 1000m, where three high-priced yearlings make their debut. We found this race pretty tricky to dissect, as there are quite a few differing form lines as well as a few handy triallists stepping out for the first time. We are going to side with a debutant, however, as Peter & Paul Snowden unveil Cythera, a filly by I Am Invincible. The $420,000 yearling purchase was a stylish trial winner in her only public outing at Rosehill on January 4, and Tommy Berry has opted to stick with her despite guiding Lady Laguna, the favourite in this race, to an impressive four-length victory in November. Bessmati also lines up for the Annabel Neasham yard, with that runner highlighted in Week 1 of The Follow Files after her debut at Doomben. It’s a tricky way to start the day.

Selections: 7-6-5-9

Race 2: Class 3 Highway Handicap (1200m)

From one tricky race to an even bigger puzzle, a big field of country-trained gallopers step out in this Saturday’s Highway over 1200m. With a capacity field of 18 set to take their place, we can rest assured that there is likely to be some value sneak into the money. Boncassie has been good in her seven career starts, winning twice and placing four times, with her only real failure coming at her third start when sixth. The Brett Bellamy-trained three-year-old filly gets the services of Tim Clark on Saturday, which is a great booking considering she led in both of her wins. Clark will take her to the front from barrier 13 (likely to be nine after scratchings) and she should take some catching with only 54kg.

Selections: 18-1-2-7

Race 3: Benchmark 72 Midway Handicap (1600m)

This isn’t too much different from the Highway, to be honest – find a dart and a dartboard and have a throw! Having disappointed at his most recent starts in Listed company, Pecuniary Interest makes his way back to Benchmark 72 grade. The John Sargent-trained five-year-old won back-to-back races in this grade earlier in the summer, including a brilliant 0.8-length win at this track and distance on December 11. Ellen Hennessy takes over from James Innes Jr, with the young hoop’s 3kg claim bringing the gelding’s weight down to 58.5kg, the same weight he won with two starts ago. He will get back and be charging home late.

Selections: 1-9-8-13

Race 4:Benchmark 94 (1000m)

Some speedy types contest this 1000m dash, but none more so than Bjorn Baker’s Malkovich. The four-year-old has found it tough to win of late, placing second in his past four starts, but they have come in Group 3, Group 2 and Listed company, so he should relish getting back to Benchmark 94 grade. The son of Choisir does have a rating of 99, so he has to lug Tim Clark and the kitchen sink with 62.5kg, but there’s a fair chance he will be turning a length or two in front, and he should have enough gas in the tank to keep on running.

Selections: 1-3-8-2

Race 5: 3 & 4YO’s Benchmark 78 Handicap (1600m)

After a strip-out last Saturday at Rosehill, the racing gods haven’t made it easy for us to get our hard-earned cash back at Randwick, but we think there is a nice horse in this race. Annabel Neasham saddles up former New Zealand galloper Fleetwood Maca, who is looking to win her second race here in Australia. The four-year-old daughter of Rock ‘n’ Pop won well as an odds-on favourite at Canberra on December 29, before running third in a Fillies & Mares Benchmark 78 at this track and distance on January 22. She carried 58kg that day, so the 4kg drop will be a huge advantage for her, while the form around Room Number looks handy after she won the Bega Cup at the Sapphire Coast on Sunday. The $6 looks a fair price for a mare who is going well.

Selections: 6-4-3-5

Race 6: Inglis Millennium (1100m)

Read our full runner-by-runner preview of the $2 million Inglis Millennium here

Race 7: Mares Benchmark 78 (1300m)

A field of 10 mares will do battle in this Benchmark 78 over 1300m. For those that backed Joviality on Melbourne Cup Day in 2020, you probably never want to hear her name again, but gee, she looks well-placed on Saturday. Chris Waller and James McDonald combine with the four-year-old, so that adds a length or two in itself, and then you throw in form around Rule Of Law and we are looking at a near-good thing. Joviality was first-up off a decent spell at Rosehill on January 8 and got within three-tenths of a length of Rule Of Law, who has since won again, while she is unbeaten in two previous attempts at 1300m. She looks a standout on this card.

Selections: 7-2-4-11

Race 8: Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m)

Outside of the Inglis Millennium, this is the main race on the program on Saturday, with a number of high-quality three-year-olds stepping out to begin their autumn campaigns. We have a big opinion of the likes of Converge and Ranch Hand, but over 1200m at Randwick, it is very hard to go past the race favourite, Paulele. The James Cummings-trained colt boasts an unbeaten record at this track in four starts and was in talks for The Everest last October, where he no doubt would have been competitive. He trialled quite well at this track over 900m last week and looks ready to go first-up under Kerrin McEvoy from barrier five. He beat the 2021 Golden Rose Stakes winner, In The Congo, by 2.5 lengths first-up in the spring, so that looks good enough for this.

Selections: 4-2-11-1

Race 9: Benchmark 78 (1200m)

The quality racing didn’t last too long, as we are back to an average Benchmark 78 for the penultimate. While this field may not be very good, there looks to be a diamond in the rough right at the bottom of the page. Silent Impact won the opening race of the day two Saturdays ago, slicing through the pack to win by half a length over the tearaway leader Capital Reign and the luckless Spellcatcher over 1100m. The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained colt now rises to 1200m, where he has won before, while staying at Randwick will suit. He got a fair way back in the run first-up, but from barrier two under Tim Clark, we expect him to settle two or three pairs closer and be right on their hammers as they straighten. He can go on with it now.

Selections: 13-11-10-1

Race 10: Open Handicap (1600m)

A number of resuming stayers will face the starter in the final race of the day, including a one-time Melbourne Cup favourite in Skyward. Coming out of the Carrington Stakes is the race favourite, Through The Cracks, and a recent addition to The Follow Files, No Compromise. While we were impressed with No Compromise’s first-up run, we made mention that we wanted to see him over a bit further before we go charging, so we will be keeping a close eye on him on Saturday over the mile before he likely goes to 2000m next time. Steely finished seventh in the Carrington and just looked to be left a little bit flat-footed over 1400m, so he should relish getting back to 1600m. Two runs ago he started as a $4.60 favourite in the Group 2 Villiers Stakes at this track and distance, so he should enjoy being back to Open company, where he is in with only 55.5kg. It’s a tough way to end the day, though.

Selections: 7-9-8-12