The Championships Day 2 race-by-race preview & tips | Randwick
| What | The Championships Day 2 |
| Where | Royal Randwick Racecourse, Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031 |
| When | Saturday, April 17, 2021 |
| First Race | 11:30am AEST |
| Watch Live | |
Day 2 of ‘The Championships’ at Royal Randwick came around quickly, and we are graced with another four Group 1 races; the Australian Oaks, Sydney Cup, Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Queen of the Turf. A 10 race program has been assembled which will see the field for the first race face the starter at 11:30am AEST. The track is currently rated a Soft 5 and the rail is out 3m for the entire circumference of the course. Horsebetting.com.au’s racing analyst has done the form for the card at Randwick on Saturday and has given you his top four in each race, as well as best bets, value picks, quaddie numbers and previews for all four Group 1 races and two of the Group 2 events.
Race 1 – Listed Fernhill Handicap (1600m)
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1366935_01]
Eight two-year-olds are going to open Day 2 of The Championships and we are with the second favourite Maurice’s Medad. The Bjorn Baker-trained colt showed a bit of ability in the early 2YO trials and broke through with his maiden win at Hawkesbury on April 5 against the older horses. That win came over 1400m and he showed plenty of fight to rally back and be strong through the line. Up in trip should suit too. Converge is a deserving favourite and the likely leader in the race so he will be hard to beat.
Selections: 4-1-2-3
Race 2 – Listed South Pacific Classic (1400m)
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1366935_02]
Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou have a terrific record with their horses when first-up, so we expect to see Ellsberg fire fresh on Saturday. The son of Spill The Beans is yet to miss a place in five starts and has placed at Group 3 level during the Spring. From barrier three, Tim Clark will take this colt to the front and he should be very hard to reel in. We aren’t too keen on much else here.
Selections: 8-11-2-1
Race 3 – Provincial Championship Final (1400m)
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1366935_03]
We are with the favourite Great News here in the Provincial Championship Final. The Kim Waugh-trained mare bolted in to win her qualifier race at Gosford on March 13 and then was narrowly beaten in a Benchmark 88 by the in-form Starspangled Rodeo on April 3. Two weeks into this should be the perfect set up for this daughter of Uncle Mo. She has drawn poorly in barrier 16 though. Animate is the value.
Selections: 7-2-1-6
Race 4 – Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m)
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1366935_04]
James Cummings has a strong hand in the Percy Sykes and we are keen to back his maiden filly, Trifaccia. The filly has shown a bit of ability without winning due to poor racing manners, but with the earmuffs on first time we expect her to be more relaxed. She will drop out the back under Rachel King from the wide alley but can be making her presence felt in the concluding stages. Stablemate Arcaded hasn’t put a foot wrong in her four-start career and will be within striking distance from barrier seven.
See our full Percy Sykes Stakes betting preview here
Selections: 7-1-2-5
Race 5 – Group 1 ATC Australian Oaks (2400m)
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1366935_05]
The first of four Group 1 races on Saturday will see the staying fillies do battle in the ATC Australian Oaks for $1M. Star New Zealand filly Amarelinha brings over some top quality form, including a last start victory in the New Zealand Oaks (2400m). The daughter of Savabeel is the only runner in the race to have won at this distance, which is almost crucial for the three-year-olds who are dipping their hooves into unchartered waters. Opie Bosson has come over the Tasman to ride which is a big push in itself. Of the others, Duais and Harmony Rose should be right there in the finish, while Montefilia and Hungry Heart also have to be in contention. This is one for the ages, and we don’t think we could talk you out of any of the ten.
See our full ATC Australian Oaks betting preview here
Selections: 2-6-4-1
Race 6 – Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200M)
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1366935_06]
Queensland filly Isotope has been set for this race all along with master trainer Tony Gollan indicating that for quite some time now. Gollan is a terrific grand final trainer and he has a superior sprinter doing the racing for him. She won the Darby Munro Stakes along the way in good fashion, given it was her first run since January 16. She is undefeated second up and has only lost once at this trip, to Rothfire at Group 2 level. Ryan Maloney will box seat from gate three and it should be as simple as finding a run in the straight. Punters should be lining up in the bookies’ queue to collect.
See our full Arrowfield 3YO Sprint betting preview here
Selections: 9-8-1-5
Race 7 – Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m)
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1366935_07]
Well we are still having nightmares about Realm of Flowers’ last run in the Manion Cup when we made her our best bet of the day at $10 and she got beaten by less than half a length after being wide for the entire race. The So You Think mare had every right to knock up in the straight, but she instead knuckled down to the task over the 2600m. Up to two mile and down 3kg in weight brings her right into this. Spirit Ridge was good in the Tancred Stakes when up on the speed and he drops 7.5kg into this so he will take some catching from the good barrier.
See our full Sydney Cup betting preview here
Selections: 13-8-2-10
Race 8 – Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m)
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1366935_08]
Some of the world’s best middle distance horses have made up this field of seven to contest the $4M Queen Elizabeth. Addeybb and Verry Elleegant have established a rivalry that can be likened to Bonecrusher and Our Waverly Star or Sunline and Northerly. They have raced each other three times now with the scores 2-1 in the UK gelding’s favour, but we are confident our locally trained superstar Verry Elleegant can even the score in Saturday’s feature. James McDonald will play the stalking role from barrier four and she comes into this in career best form, while Addeybb gets blinkers on for the first time in what could be a bid to fire him up and the track might not be wet enough for him, so we are going to risk him.
See our full Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting preview here
Selections: 7-3-1-2
Race 9 – Group 1 Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m)
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1366935_09]
If we’re honest, this is a put in, take out job. Probabeel is by far the best bet of the day as she comes up against her own sex at Group 1 level for the first time since last year’s Australian Oaks 365 days ago. The Kiwi mare has since won the Epsom Handicap and the Futurity Stakes at Group 1 level against the boys and she now gets her chance to make it another feature race win. She failed as favourite in the All Star Mile last start but she was out of it from the get go and the bottomless track did not suit. On to a Soft 5 is perfect for this Savabeel mare who will get plenty of favours from barrier six.
See our full Queen Of The Turf Stakes betting preview here
Race 10 – Group 1 Sapphire Stakes (1200m)
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1366935_10]
The New Zealanders are in for a good afternoon if you ask us, and we can’t see the luck ending before the last. Jamie Richards’ mare Entriviere has won five of her six career starts with her only defeat being by a 10th of a length. The Tavistock mare is undefeated at 1200m with four wins from four attempts and comes off back-to-back group 3 wins at Ellerslie. James McDonald will need to find a spot early from barrier 16 though which nullifies a bit of confidence. California Zimbol has to be a chance again, while we cannot understand how Adelong is $41 at some places. It is a tough way to end Day 2 of The Championships.
Selections: 3-5-12-1
Randwick quaddie tips – Day 2 Championships
| Randwick quadrella picks | |
|---|---|
| R7: | 2-8-10-13 |
| R8: | 1-3-7 |
| R9: | 1-2-4 |
| R10: | 1-2-3-5-6-12 |
| Investment | $216 for 100% |