We return to Royal Randwick this weekend for two $1 million races in the WFA 7Stakes, dominated by the Waller stable, and the Group 2 Shorts, which marks the return of Private Harry, Joliestar, and Briasa.
Weather is expected to be fine and sunny with a top of 22 degrees and the track should be rated a Good 4. The rail will be out 7m from the 1600m to the WP, and out 4m the remainder.
The first race kicks off at 11.50am AEST and Shannon Buckley previews every race on the card with odds thanks to Palmerbet!
Randwick Racing Tips: Saturday, 20 September 2025
Race 1 - 11:50AM MIDWAY HANDICAP (1600 METRES)
(5) Tenbury Wells arrives second up from a break and gets out to 1600m which looks ideal. He was building into the race nicely first up over 1400m when he got tightened for room inside the final furlong and had to be steadied over heels (race fastest 4-200m split / should’ve finished closer). I think they’ll utilize the good gate and settle better than midfield one off the fence which should give him every possible. Expecting better today.
(8) Orthie’s Boys is the one with plenty of upside. He was terrific over 1300m two-back at Hawkesbury when he was forced to race wide throughout, yet he still hit the line hard to get within 1.5L of Show Country (good form race with 4 subsequent winners coming out of it, including Show country who has won again). They went to 1400m at Kembla Grange last start when he rolled straight to the front and had a very easy time of things before giving a big kick down the straight to win by 2L (was entitled to do so, but still a nice effort). He’s another who maps to get a good run from a favorable draw, getting out to the mile looks OK, and he gets a key jockey change with T. Berry up. Danger.
(4) Monkhana looks like likely leader in the race and may get away with a soft time in front from gate 1. She was pretty good in defeat over 1800m last start when she looked to knock up late. Dropping back to 1600m is a plus and she’ll be hitting peak fitness fourth-up.
TIP: No Bet
Race 2 - 12:25PM TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
(3) Petticoat looks a great each-way play in a very difficult race. There looks to be a very strong speed on paper with several horse’s keen to roll forward, so I think she can camp in behind them from a good draw and look to have last crack at them. She arrives first-up after two very good trials where she went around under her own steam and was never off the bridle. First up last prep she sat back worse than midfield before rounding them up and bolting in by 4.5L. She then ran third beaten less than 4L by Arabian Summer who subsequently won at Group 3 level. Happy her way.
(15) Social Circle is the obvious danger and one to beat. Has absolutely walked in her first two races, scoring by 3.9L on both occasions. She had to do some work to cross over and lead from the wide gate last start (went 2.5L faster than average to the 600m), but she quickened nicely and looked to have plenty in reserve. She’ll roll forward again and put herself in the race. The query is how much pressure she needs to absorb as I strongly doubt she’ll get her own way in front today.
(8) Gaylord is the best roughie in the race. Andrew Mallyon combines with the Matt Dunn stable and the horse has fitness on its side. He was a dominant winner last start over 1050m at Grafton (fastest 4-200m and L200m splits of the race / Grey Effects since won) and I think he’ll be suited by a hot tempo. Watch for him late.
TIP: No Bet
Race 3 - 1:00PM NICK MORAITIS TROPHY (1200 METRES)
(2) Disneck was a tragedy beaten last start after travelling midfield before sticking nearer the inside and not getting out until inside the final 100m when the race was over (clearly should’ve finished closer / ties in with Sergeant Major). He gets the key booking of JMac today, he’ll be cherry ripe third-up, he goes well at Randwick, he goes best on top of the ground, and he draws another nice gate to settle midfield behind the speed. If he gets clear air today, I expect him to be hard to beat.
(4) Junqueira is arguably the most talented horse in the race, but her chances rest on how well she begins. She’s had three trials leading into this assignment and she was tardy away in two of them. She looks to be ticking over nicely to my eye, but she won’t want to be flopping out last and giving away a big head start turning for home. She goes well fresh, her best form is on dry tracks, and she gets the booking of Zac Lloyd. She was enormous in defeat over this track/trip to end last prep when she rattled home 11.6L above average for the final 600m to get within 2L of Commemorative at Group 3 level (clearly good enough form for this).
(6) Midnight Opal has trialed up very nicely leading into this. He looks to be one of the best map horses in the race settling behind the leaders from gate 3, 1200m is his sweet spot, and he also likes dry tracks. One for the exotics.
TIP: No Bet
Race 4 - 1:35PM THE AGENCY REAL ESTATE HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
(14) Dance to the Boom looks a good each-way bet in a competitive race. It was a nice return over 1100m first-up when she had one of the runs of the race before being outsprinted down the straight (high rating race / she went 7.5L above average / Catch the Glory since ran very well behind Fire Star which ties in). They subsequently sent her around in a 1030m trial that was a sizzling piece of work. She sat midfield in transit before getting to the outside and accelerating sharply to bolt in by 4.6L. I think she maps for a lovely run better than midfield, Rachel King sticks with her, she goes well on dry tracks, and she still has a stack of upside. The only query is going straight from 1100m to 1400m second up, but we’ll back the stable in.
(12) Idle Flyer is a clear danger who comes off an impressive win over 1250m last start where she was snagged back to last from a wide gate before hugging the fence to get up and score (zoomed home 9.4L faster than average for the final 600m / had to lump 60kgs / Burj since won). She also had a trial 10 days ago that was a good hit out behind Zoubaby who dominated from the front. She drops 3.5kgs to help offset the rise in grade, there’s no knock getting back on top of the ground and getting out to 1400m looks ideal. She just needs some luck from the draw.
(15) Dominetta was sound in defeat last start behind Well Timed (also here) and is another that will appreciate the extra trip. Gets a 2.5kg weight swing on Well Timed but will need to overcome a sticky gate. Promising type.
TIP: No Bet
Race 5 - 2:15PM ASAHI SUPER DRY KINGSTON TOWN STAKES (2000 METRES)
(3) Vauban is an 8YO gelding who was impressive when resuming last start over 1600m on this track, hitting the line strongly with sharp late sectionals that suggested he’s right on track this campaign. A genuine stayer, the rise to 2000m second-up is ideal and should see him improve again. With Tim Clark back in the saddle and conditions to suit, he profiles as the clear one to beat under the weight scale. Keen!
(12) Birdman also comes through the Chelmsford Stakes where he was very good running into fifth. He was held up at a key stage waiting to angle over heels as Ceowulf went past him, but he was good to the line. I think he’ll improve sharply third up getting out to 2000m, he draws barrier 1 again which should allow him to settle midfield, and he meets some key rivals better at the weights. Danger.
(11) Elamaz is an interesting import from the Waterhouse / Bott stable who won impressively when on debut in Australia over 2000m in June. He’s since had two trials in preparation for this and he will likely roll forward to make his own luck. He gets JMac up and has been firm in the market.
(3) Vauban WIN
$2.25 (4 units)
Race 6 - 2:50PM MYPLATES TEA ROSE STAKES (1400 METRES)
(2) Tupakara should be favourite, in my opinion. She was enormous in the Furious Stakes last start having to hook widest and come from the rear of the field while Apocalyptic settled closer in the run and navigated a path through the middle. If you swap the runs, I think Tupakara wins easily (she had the fastest 8-600m, 6-400m, and 4-200m splits of the race). She gets a much kinder gate today, so I doubt they’ll give away such a big head start. JMac sticks with her and I doubt the extra furlong is any negative. Great chance.
(3) Within the Law also comes through the Furious Stakes and is another who was forced to snag right back from the widest gate before hooking to the outside and rattling home (fastest L200m split of the race / was very good). We know the extra furlong is no issue for her, but she is either going to need some luck from the gate or she’s going to need to take her medicine at the rear of the field again. If she’s close enough turning for home, she can win.
(1) Apocalyptic has to have a case if the other two do, I just think she’s under the odds. Could improve sharply second up and blow them away. Any market push?
(2) Tupakara WIN
$3.80 (2 units)
Race 7 - 3:25PM BILL RITCHIE HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
(8) With Your Blessing was very good behind Pericles and Private Eye last start when punching the breeze throughout. He stuck on gamely to finish within 1.7L of Pericles who had the drop on him and was too strong late. He looks the likely leader in a race without a stack of speed on paper, so I think they’ll try to cross over from a wide gate and then stack them up. He has a fitness edge on his side, he likes Randwick, and 1400m is no worries. Genuine type.
(5) Tavi Time looks one of the better roughies in the race. He’s trialed up beautifully leading into this and 1400m is an ideal kick off point. He has a good fresh record and I think he maps to settle midfield from a decent gate. We know he wants further the deeper into his preparation he gets, so he’ll be strong late. First-up last prep he just missed Sandpaper with 59.5kgs on his back after wanting to lay in under pressure. Include.
(2) Yellow Brick looked to have every possible chance first up, but he couldn’t go with Lazzura et al on a genuine heavy track (winner since won again in Melbourne). They sent him for a trial 10 days ago that was a good piece of work (won comfortably under a strong grip). He’s the best map horse and I think he’s lengths better back on top of the ground. He can hit back hard.
TIP: No Bet
Race 8 - 4:00PM 7 STAKES (1600 METRES)
(11) Fangirl is a 7YO Mare who continues to prove herself as one of the most reliable performers in the top grade, rarely putting a foot wrong and demanding respect every time she steps out. She resumed and looked to be a pass mark IMO at Caulfield over 1400m at G1 level, charging home late behind some other handy types (Mr Brightside & Treasurethe Moment). Now, back in NSW, getting onto a dry track, and stretching out to the mile are all significant positives, with conditions aligning perfectly for her. With James McDonald back in the saddle, expect her to settle rearward before unleashing her trademark turn of foot. She looks primed to launch late and assert her class — clearly the one they’ll have to hold out.
(5) Gringotts comes through the Winx Stakes where he was sound behind Via Sistina on a genuine heavy 10 track. He’s since had a trial over 1200m at Wyong that he won convincingly without being tested. I think he’ll stalk Linderman from gate 1 and then pop off his heels straightening for home. He’ll have a head start on Fangirl and will give her something to chase. Danger.
(3) Private Eye was a dominant winner first up after getting a cheap time of things in front before leading them up over 1400m last start in the Tramway Stakes and just getting touched off by Pericles who had the drop on him (was heavily backed that day going $2.90>$2.10). He’s another who will likely roll forward after the scratching of Royal Patronage to sit right behind the leaders and then give a kick turning for home. Great race.
(11) Fangirl WIN
$2.50 (3.5 units)
Race 9 - 4:40PM YARRAMAN PARK SHORTS (1100 METRES)
(1) Briasa announced himself last campaign as a genuine A-grade sprinter when he won the Group 1 T. J. Smith Stakes over this track/trip. It’s easy to tie his form in with Private Harry as he finished within 1.8L of that runner first up in the Group 1 Galaxy when he was forced back to last from the widest gate before absolutely rattling home (fastest 6-400m, 4-200m, and L200m splits of the race / no disadvantage being nearer the speed that day / zoomed home in 32.56 secs or 13.9L above average for the final 600m). He meets Private Harry 1.5kgs better at the weights today and I doubt he’ll be giving away such a big head start from gate 4. He’s looked super impressive in his two trial wins leading into this, he profiles well first up, and he’s dynamite on dry ground. Should be closer in the market.
(2) Private Harry is the obvious danger and the horse to beat. He has a perfect record, he always puts himself up on speed, and he runs time. If he makes any sort of improvement on previous campaigns, they’ll want to be very, very good to beat him.
(4) Joliestar was scratched last week and set for this instead. She gets to pair with JMac, she also flies fresh, and she goes best on dry ground too. If they overdo it in front, she’ll be swamping them late. What a thrilling race on paper!
TIP: No Bet
Race 10 - 5:15PM PEACHESTER LODGE SHOOT OUT MILE (1600 METRES)
(5) Lord Penman looks well placed here. He was terrific first up over 1200m on heavy ground when he had to weave between runners before finding clear air inside the final furlong and really knuckling down late to get within 0.3L of Cloudland (fastest 6-400m, 4-200m and L200m splits of the race). He’s had a month between runs and resumes over 1600m which looks perfect for him. He draws the pole for JMac who will have options on settling. Happy his way.
(4) Fully Lit absolutely walked in two back over 1400m at Rosehill winning by 5.2L before stepping out to the mile last start where he sat outside the lead on a hot tempo (6.5L above average to the 600m mark) and repelled all bar Shohisha who had last crack at him (went enormous / high rating race / went 10L above average). He’ll likely roll forward and try to fend them off again as he has fitness on his side.
(15) Sunshine Law is clearly the best of the roughies. She’s won 2 from 3 this preparation and gets in with 50.5kgs on her back. Trainer and jockey combo are on fire, she’ll just need some luck from the gate.
TIP: No Bet
