The Championships day two form, odds and free tips, April 8
A thrilling win by Chautauqua saved day one of The Championships and punters are expecting day two to be more enticing this Saturday.
Whenever Winx is in action the punters are always happy, but with even betting fields across the board at Randwick, there’s some great value on offer.
The Australian Oaks is one of the better betting fields on day two and the Sydney Cup looks a solid form race for the older stayers.
The track will again be in the heavy range, but the fields are holding up nicely and punters can get up to $50 back if your runner finishes second or third in the opening four races with Sportsbet.com.au.
That’s a good deal considering how even the fields are so sign up for the best value on day two of The Championships.
Race 1 – Adina Apartment Hotels Fernhill Handicap (1600m)
Whispered Secret is a last start winner at Newcastle and a High Chaparral filly stepping up over more ground is a good thing for punters. The James Cummings-trained two-year-old has performed better over more ground and it will get every chance with the light weight. $5.50 is a solid price.
Muraahib scored wins at its first two starts before running sixth in the Blue Diamond Stakes. The Lindsay Park-trained colt ran on late behind The Mission in the Baillieu last start on a heavy surface and punters should be confident again. Each way chance at $4.20.
Toga Picta was a winner on debut before running consecutive fourth placings. The John O’Shea-trained colt ran as the short favourite at Mornington last start, but faded late behind Eshtiraak. Unknown in these conditions so keep an eye on the markets.
Race 1 tip: Whispered Secret to win ($5.50) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 2 – TCL South Pacific Classic (1400m)
Hussterical won its first two starts this preparation before running seventh in the Kembla Grange Classic last start. The Waterhouse/Bott-trained filly drops back in distance which is ideal and it should get every chance from the inside draw with the light weight. Punters are getting a solid price.
Red Hearts looks a top each way chance after breaking maiden status last start. The Snowden-trained filly is nicely bred and it might kick on with the job now. It drops in weight down to 53kg which is ideal and punters are getting double-figure odds.
Bryneich is a winner of two from six starts, both coming on rain-affected tracks. The O’Shea-trained colt wasn’t disgraced when third in the Canberra Guineas behind Eusebio and there’s a fair amount of confidence in the market place.
Race 2 tip: Red Hearts to win ($12) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 3 – IG Share Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m)
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Formality didn’t fire in the Golden Slipper, but it will find this much easier. The Lindsay Park-trained filly didn’t handle the conditions at Rosehill and although the track will be similar here, it faces an easier target. Getting off the inside could prove vital so Craig Williams will need to be on form.
Shoals has looked impressive in winning both career starts and the latest had some merit. The Freedman-trained filly won the Thoroughbred Breeders’ at Flemington by beating Garrard and that form should go a long way. The wet track might trip it up, but they’re all in the same boat so consider at $3.70.
Almanzora cruised home on debut at Warwick Farm and it will handle the conditions. The O’Shea-trained filly relished the wet conditions in winning by 1.5 lengths and bookmakers opened it as the $3 favourite. It should be well-backed and run accordingly.
Race 3 tip: Shoals to win ($3.80) at Bet365.com
Race 4 – The Provincial Championships (1400m)
Pomelo has looked well above average in winning its last three starts. The Gwenda Markwell-trained mare scored by 2.5 lengths to qualify for this race and it will likely adopt similar tactics again. The four-year-old is bred to handle the conditions and we’re predicting that it will lead them a merry chase again with only 54kg to carry.
Better Not Blue wasn’t far behind the winner last time out at Wyong and it’s a wet track specialist. The Michelle Ritchie-trained gelding has won four from 10 starts on rain-affected ground and despite having never won at this track or distance, it has attracted support in the betting at $9.50.
Calabasas has been knocking on the door of notching its second career win for awhile now. The Kim Waugh-trained gelding has five placings from nine starts and it ran on stylishly last start. Drawing barrier 13 is unlikely to suit, but it could be putting in the big bounds late.
Race 4 tip: Pomelo to win ($2.60) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 5 – Arrowfield Sprint (1200m)
Global Glamour is the class runner of the field, but it will need to recover after a poor effort in the Coolmore. The three-year-old is twice a winner on this track and its win here in the Light Finger was quality, but the $3.20 on offer is a short price against a talented field.
Glenall could be the smokey of the field after running on well last time out. The Les Bridge-trained colt finished fourth behind Russian Revolution, which should be considered good form and it has placed in two runs on this track. It handles the wet and it could be the fresh horse on the scene.
Spright didn’t handle the conditions last start, but it should be given another chance. The Garry Frazer-trained filly ran 13 lengths behind Le Bella Diosa in the Surround Stakes, but that form hasn’t stood up and it drops in weight for this. Not the worst at $7.50.
Race 5 tip: Glenall to win ($6) at Bet365.com
Race 6 – James Boag’s Australian Oaks (2400m)
Lasqueti Spirit has the class being a Crown Oaks winner and it will enjoy dropping back to its own age and sex. The Lee Curtis-trained filly finished second behind Winx in the Chipping Norton Stakes which is great form and it should get every chance if it leads the field.
Bonneval is a classy Kiwi which won the New Zealand Oaks at its last start. The three-year-old filly showed some fight when winning at Trentham and Hugh Bowman taking the ride is a big positive for punters. It opened at around $4.40 and has tumbled into $3.60. We suggest following the money on the Kiwi age-group runners during this carnival.
Nurse Kitchen put the writing on the wall last start when second in the Vinery Stud and it could have easily won. The David Brideoake-trained filly mixes its form with the best of them, but it’s inconsistent and tough for punters to follow. $5.50 on offer is a decent price so consider at the each way odds.
Race 6 tip: Bonneval to win ($3.60) at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 7 – Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m)
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Winx looks to have another race wrapped up before its even started. The champion mare is paying $1.10 to win and we can’t see any of these rivals getting close to it. It hasn’t been beaten in what feels like an eternity and they’ll be running for second once again.
Happy Clapper ran well for second in the Doncaster Mile and it always finds its best form this time of the year. The Patrick Webster-trained gelding is a three-time winner at Randwick and it handles wet tracks. It has a better turn-of-foot than some of the staying types in this field so consider at place odds.
Hartnell hasn’t been at its best this campaign, but punters should respect its class. The O’Shea-trained runner is classy at its best and it returned to form when second behind Our Ivanhowe last start, but it’s not running well enough to beat Winx. Its place odds are skinny so we’d look towards backing other runners.
Race 7 tip: Happy Clapper to place ($1.90) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 8 – Schweppes Sydney Cup (3200m)
Assign was gallant when winning last start, but jockey Ben Melham was suspended due to excessive whip use. That likely helped it during the run, but take nothing away from it and it has class on its side. The Robert Hickmott-trained stayer drops in weight to 53.5kg which is ideal and having Melbourne Cup experience should go a long way in this.
Libran looms as an each way chance having run second in this race last year. The Waller-trained import hasn’t been at its best this preparation, but it ran on nicely two back and it loved the wet conditions this time last year. It’s a double-figure odds chance and it should give punters a sight at $14.
Punters will find it hard to go past Big Duke and we don’t blame them. The Darren Weir-trained import has won four of its last five starts and it dug deep to win its last two starts in Sydney. Dropping down to 52kg will be a big relief and it looms as a big chance if it can see out the distance. That’s our query as it can race keenly, so we’re prepared to risk it at the short odds.
Race 8 tip: Libran to win ($14) at WilliamHill.com.au
Race 9 – Coolmore Legacy (1600m)
Silent Sedition is a class act and it looked good when winning the Group 1 William Reid Stakes last start. The Andrew Noblet-trained mare was tenacious in winning at Moonee Valley which followed a run for second in the Coolmore Stakes at Rosehill. That’s strong form for this and Craig Williams should give it a good run in transit.
Heavens Above looks a good value chance having beaten Silent Sedition last start. The Tim Martin-trained mare has won only five from 21 starts, but two wins have come at this track and two have come on a slow track. It showed a good turn-of-foot when winning the Coolmore and the form out of that race looks the form to follow for this. $8.50 available.
Oregon’s Day had the blinking light after running eighth two starts back and it did the job easily last start. The Mick Price-trained runner blew the start in the Kewney Stakes, but made amends at Moonee Valley last start and it could kick on with it now. Consider at double figure odds.
Race 9 tip: Silent Sedition to win ($4.60) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 10 – Sapphire Stakes (1200m)
Tycoon Tara looked good last campaign when winning the Golden Pendant and the form out of that race has been strong. It defeated Dixie Blossoms by two lengths before running second in the Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield. It has looked strong at the trials so consider.
Ravi is fresh up after winning the Just Now Stakes at Eagle Farm last start. The Snowden-trained mare had been costly for punters prior to that, but it won its only start on this track and it’s unbeaten in two starts in the wet. Take on trust, but it has been heavily supported.
Artistry was a solid winner fresh up which continued its good form from its previous campaign. The five-year-old runs best at this distance and having Hugh Bowman in the saddle will do it plenty of good.
Race 10 tip: Ravi to win ($4.20) at Bet365.com