Randwick racing tips & value bets – Saturday, 22 August 2020
Royal Randwick plays host to nine quality races this Saturday, headlined by the Group 1 Winx Stakes and the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes. The track was rated a Soft 7 on Thursday morning, with no rain forecast between then and race morning. The track is in the true position for the entire circumference of the course.
It looks to be a day with plenty of value, with Adelong (Race 6) the shortest-priced runner of the afternoon at even money. Race 1 kicks off at 12:00pm AEST, with the Group 1 scheduled for 3:45pm.
Saturday racing tips for Royal Randwick
Race 8 – Minted @ $5.50 Sportsbet
Joseph Pride and Robbie Dolan team up in the 1400m Benchmark 88 with Minted. The lightly raced four-year-old gelding finds himself in a much tougher race considering he’s only won a Warwick Farm maiden and a Class 1 at Newcastle, but his first two runs this time in have been very promising. He finished third to Varda first up before running home into second behind the very talented Tailleur, who goes around as the shortest-priced runner of the afternoon at Moonee Valley on Saturday. He only has to replicate either of those runs to win this against resuming stayers such as Kinane and Just Thinkin’. He’s placed twice on rain-affected surfaces and looks perfectly positioned with just 52kg. In a race with a fair bit of speed, Dolan will guide the gelding down the middle of the track and he’ll prove too strong in his first attempt at 1400m.
Race 5 – Funstar @ $2.50 Sportsbet
Chris Waller made the decision to scratch Funstar from the Group 1 Winx Stakes, where she was favourite, in preference for the Show County Quality over 1200m at Group 3 level. Her record speaks for itself, with five wins and three seconds coming from just nine starts. She’s undefeated at 1200m and absolutely loves Randwick (6:3-3-0), so she should be in her element here first up. The daughter of Adelaide was given just the one trial in preparation for this, where she finished midfield under a stranglehold. Drawn in barrier seven, James McDonald will settle a touch worse than midfield and steam home over the top of them. Funstar has won four from six as favourite and placed seven times on wet ground. She’s clearly the one they have to beat here.
Race 9 – McCormack @ $27 Sportsbet
Louise Day can do no wrong at the moment, especially when riding on wet going. She combines with five-year-old McCormack for just the second time in the final event on the program. Day has ridden 10 winners from her last 50 rides in what is a real purple patch of form. The 3kg claim will be hugely beneficial here, getting the gelding’s weight down to 56.5kg. From barrier 15, Day should look to take up the running and make every post a winner. Second up and on a wet track will suit the son of Eurozone after a great third when fresh behind Tailleur and Minted, our best bet of the day. We believe the Tailleur form stands out in a race with no clear star. The $27 appeals as a fantastic each-way bet to end the afternoon.
R6. 1-6-7
R7. 2-3-7-11-12-15
R8. 7-11-16
R9. 2-9-11-14-15
$270 for 100% Sportsbet