Warwick Farm racing selections, form and odds, Saturday January 7
NINE races have been scheduled for Warwick Farm this Saturday and we have free selections, form and odds for every race.
The fields have come out on the smaller side, but there are some high-profile thoroughbreds in action and punters have already placed some big bets with the bookies.
You too can take it to the bookies by getting 100% up to $501 in bonus bets when you sign up to CrownBet.com.au.
The action at Warwick Farm starts with the Happy 2017 Handicap where one runner has been heavily backed in the market.
Race 1 – Happy 2017 Handicap (1200m)
The Gary Portelli-trained Single Bullet ran very well on debut when second behind Madeenaty. That form is strong and the son of Not A Single Doubt should have improved with the run. It has subsequently been well-backed into $1.50 which is where it will likely start come race time.
Te Amo also finished second on debut when the two-year-old filly finished 4.3 lengths behind smart winner Debonairly. The Peter Robl-trained filly has experience on this track which can be vital and it will enjoy running from the inside barrier. Consider here at $5.50 with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle.
Radiant Choice ran fourth behind Madeenaty and Single Bullet on debut, but it would need to improve a few lengths to test these. The Hawkes-trained colt ran as a $21 chance on debut and after sitting on the pace it wasn’t able to continue on with it. It will get better with time, but only a place chance here.
Race 1 tip: Single Bullet to win ($1.50) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 2 – Tab Rewards Handicap (1400m)
First Approval has been specked in from $4.60 to $4.40 following a pleasing effort fresh up. The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained colt was narrowly beaten at Randwick last start and its form prior included two consecutive wins. There’s no denying its ability and the inside draw helps, so consider it a winning hope.
Redouble is a talented colt for Hawkes Racing which won on debut before running third in the Hampden Stakes at Doomben. The well-bred son of Redoute’s Choice ran on late in the Group 1 J.J. Atkins and it was closing well on a wet track last start. Drawn the widest in barrier eight, but it looks a winning hope at $2.80.
France has come for support at $4.60 after two excellent runs this season. The Snowden-trained colt won fresh up at Canterbury before running second behind Achi Baba at Rosehill last time out. It has the breeding to suggest it will continue to perform well in city grades and Blake Shinn is a good jockey to have in the saddle.
Race 2 tip: Redouble to win ($2.80) at WilliamHill.com.au
Race 3 – Australian Turf Club Handicap (1400m)
Magicaz was the well-supported favourite at Randwick last start when it finished a narrow second placing. The four-year-old mare was beaten by a nice up-and-coming type so take nothing away from that defeat. It’s unbeaten in two starts on this track and three starts at this distance, so the $4 looks like good value.
Harlem Lady is the current $2.90 favourite after it finished off well behind Bonny O’Reilly last start. The Chris Waller-trained mare gets a handy 3kg claimer in the saddle which takes its weight down to 58.5kg and given its record at this distance, expect a good run from the current bookmakers’ elect.
Lycia hasn’t quite fulfilled its potential, but it’s inconsistent enough to worry some punters in this. The John O’Shea-trained mare finished third behind Harlem Lady to end its last campaign and although it hasn’t impressed since, it could sneak into the money at odds of $6.
Race 3 tip: Magicaz to win ($4) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 4 – Tab Highway Handicap (1100m)
Chosen Prayer doesn’t have the best win strike rate of three from 23 starts, but it has finished second at its last three races. The five-year-old has been close up in each of its recent placings and it’s last start second behind Modha should be a good form guide for this. $3.50 with bookmakers.
Pumpkin Pie started its career in fine style by winning both races and it finished second behind a nice type last start. The Danny Williams-trained filly tried hard behind Eckstein at Randwick and the three-year-old filly has plenty of upside. It’s short on the tote at $2.60, but that’s a price worth taking.
Farah is capable of running good races, but it has won only one race from 20 starts. The son of Commands finished second behind L’elu at Scone last start on a heavy track and it wasn’t far behind Eckstein its start prior. Punters are getting $11 which is a good price.
Race 4 tip: Pumpkin Pie to win ($2.60) at Bet365.com
Race 5 – Schweppes Handicap (1400m)
Imposing Lass is a winner of the Gold Bracelet at the Gold Coast last year and it was good enough to finish sixth in the Queensland Oaks as the favourite. The Bjorn Baker-trained mare ran on stylishly for fourth last start and it will only get better with more distance. It’s unbeaten at the 1400m and it should be taken seriously at odds of $3.60.
Girl Sunday scored three straight wins this preparation before running third last start at Rosehill. The Gerald Ryan-trained mare defeated the likes of Heartlings and Dixie Chick during its winning run and it will carry only 51kg in this after the 2kg claim from apprentice James Innes Jnr. That brings it right into contention and bookmakers agree at $2.10.
Gold Symphony hasn’t quite kicked on after a promising start to its career, but the four-year-old has ability and it drops in weight for this run. Not the worst at $10.
Race 5 tip: Girl Sunday to win ($2.10) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 6 – Tabcorp Mile R81 (1600m)
Sabino Speed is a last start winner which has won three times at Warwick Farm. The son of Mossman fought hard to win at Randwick last time out and it will come into calculations with any easing of the track. Bookmakers rate it a chance at $4.60.
Cauthen’s Power showed plenty of promise last season and it’s getting back up in distance where it’s best suited. The five-year-old won its only start on this track for Chris Waller and it has drawn ideally in barrier two. It’s currently at $8.50 to win which is a good quote.
Kingsguard is a former New Zealand runner which has hit top form with back-to-back wins. The Hawkes-trained gelding scored an easy win on this track last start and it has yet to finish out of the money in three starts at Warwick Farm. It is beautifully weighted at 53kg and it has been well supported into $3.20.
Race 6 tip: Cauthen’s Power to place ($2.60) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 7 – Summer Sprint Series (1000m)
Sundance is a capable gelding for Toby Edmonds which won by 2.3 lengths at the Sunshine Coast last start. The three-year-old was considered good enough to run at stakes level in Queensland last year and although it didn’t perform well, the class is there. Solid chance at $4.40 with only 53kg on its back.
Mr Manhattan is looking to rebound after running eighth in the Starlight Stakes behind Kuro. The Joe Pride-trained gelding won its two starts prior to that and it has won two from three starts at Warwick Farm. It wasn’t asked to do much in a recent trial where it finished seventh, but punters are being cautious about taking the $3.60.
Dal Cielo is a former Kiwi runner which carried a big weight when second last start. This is a much harder race, but dropping to 54kg for a class runner is ideal and it only needs to be a shadow of its former self to test these. Great price on offer at $6.
Race 7 tip: Dal Cielo to win ($6) at WilliamHill.com.au
Race 8 – Theraces Sprint (1200m)
Invinzabeel scored back-to-back wins leading into this and it should be considered a winning hope. The five-year-old is twice a winner at Warwick Farm and despite Hugh Bowman riding here at 60kg, it should figure in the finish at $7.
What Could Be was an aptly-named runner last start at Rosehill when it was blocked for the entire straight. The four-year-old was the $4.80 favourite, but it had nowhere to go and punters should look at its win two back as the better form guide. Expecting a big run here carrying 52.5kg and the $6 is a fair price.
Meursault wasn’t far behind them at Rosehill last start and it has a fair amount of ability. The John O’Shea-trained gelding has two wins at this distance and it has taken on much harder fields in the past. It will carry 58kg after the claim from Nick Heywood which brings the $4.40 chance into calculations.
Race 8 tip: What Could Be to win ($6) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 9 – Tab Handicap R77 (1400m)
Sonic Swish is capable of running a good race here and it’s a past winner at Warwick Farm. The Waller-trained gelding mixes its form, but it stormed home to run third two starts back at Rosehill and it was only a length behind Louie Sea Kay last start. Goes into the mix at $6.
King Darci was a winner at Warwick Farm in November and its subsequent efforts have been full of merit. The four-year-old ran third at Rosehill behind Hogmanay and then a close second behind a nice type last start. It deserves to be well-supported at $4.
Hogmanay is in great form having won its last two and it’s a winning chance again. The Waller-trained gelding is twice-placed at Warwick Farm and given the form that it’s currently in, it should be considered a winning chance again. Currently on the second line of betting at $4.80.
Race 9 tip: King Darci to win ($4) at Palmerbet.com.au