Randwick Racing Tips for Saturday, April 15th

The Championships may be over but we still have a double header of Group 1 racing in Sydney this weekend with the Champagne Stakes and All Aged Stakes headlining a nine-race card at Royal Randwick. The track is currently rated a Heavy 9 and I doubt we'll see much of a change in the track rating for Saturday so we'll once again be looking out for the wet trackers.

We have betting tips and comments on every race below!

RANDWICK RACING TIPS

Race 1

The Highway Handicap is up first and this looks a pretty tricky race. It looks a fairly deep race but I think the $51 on offer for SUPREME LAD is ridiculously over the odds. His last two runs have actually been reasonable. In fact, his run two starts ago at Wagga was huge after he missed the start by 2L and still managed to run into 3rd. Last start he clipped heels at the 900m and nearly fell before finishing midfield, beaten only 3.4L and should have finished closer. His biggest problem is getting out of the barriers as he's been slow away at all three starts this prep. The key for him is the wet track; he's finished in the top 2 in three of his four starts on heavy ground. With the claim for Deanne Panya he goes around with just 53kg and with all that in mind, $51 is a big price. There's as much as $10 available for him to place, so in a tough race I'll be having a small eachway bet on him to start the day. 

Tip: Supreme Lad EW

Race 2

Just the two that really interest me here. The first of those is CANNYESCENT who has won two from three this prep and suffered an internal bleed second up when failing. Lindsay Park interestingly have sent him to Sydney this weekend where he has raced well previously. It was only August last year when he ran 2nd to Chetwood on Heavy ground which is a pretty decent formline for a race like this. Goes well at both the distance and on wet ground, has won at Randwick previously and Bowman is a strong booking. Has a tricky draw to overcome but looks hard to beat with a good ride. Locking in $4.60. The biggest danger and the value in the race is YUMA DESERT who is first up for the Snowden camp. She's never finished outside the top 2 from four runs when first up from a spell, and she's finished in the money at six of her eight starts on wet ground. McEvoy and Snowden are a deadly combination and with the good draw she should be right up on the pace. $8 looks a great price and I'll definitely be having a saver bet on her.

Tip: Cannyescent

Race 3

Pretty keen on ACATOUR here who completely reversed his form last start in the Carbine Club after dropping from Group  to Group 3 company. He won by 3.5L and that was at this track and on Heavy ground so there's absolutely no reason to suggest he can't win this. He steps up to 2000m but the way he won last start suggests that won't be a problem and happy to lock in the $2.80. I'm absolutely terrified of MONGOLIAN WOLF who makes his debut for the Darren Weir stable. Weir is notorious for having horses improve lengths at their first start for him, and if this horse does that then he'll win. It was only two starts ago that he finished 1.8L behind Derby winner Gingernuts on Soft ground over 2100m. If he can turn around his last-start performance in the NZ Derby then he is a strong chance of winning this. The value in the race could once again be SCREAMARR who has had no luck in his past two starts.

Tip: Acatour

Race 4

Another competitive field here. All the money so far has been for HELLBENT and he probably has a few things in his favour over his main rivals here. He only went down by a nose in the Group 1 William Reid last start and comes up to Sydney where he has raced well in the past. He's won his only start on Heavy ground and under the conditions he looks weighted to win this. Just needs a bit of tempo in the race and with Takedown involved he should get that. TAKEDOWN has his first start since finishing midfield in the HK Sprint. The big query will be whether he comes up just as good this prep after we saw Chautauqua struggle upon his return from HK, but he's won a trial leading into this in nice style. First up last prep he won a Group 2 over 1100m here but he faced a tougher task here with 60kg on his back and a wet track, which I'm not sure he's at his best on. REDZEL has finished 2nd at both starts this prep and the form looks very strong. First up he ran 2nd to English who then ran 2nd to Chautauqua in the TJ, and last start he ran 2nd to Russian Revolution in The Galaxy. His 3rd up record isn't as good as his first up and second up record and the distance is also a slight query, but he will handle the ground and should get his chance. CLEARLY INNOCENT could be the value first up for a new stable.

Tip: Hellbent

Race 5

Pretty keen on ASTRONOMOS here. I think he should have won last start but he was ridden very poorly. The ground that day was clearly superior on the inside yet Collett went around the heels of Single Gaze and came down the outside despite it being worse ground. That cost him the race and the key today is Collett off, Williams on. He's undefeated over this track and distance from three starts, has won four from six on Heavy ground, gets in with just 53.5kg and draws well. I've got him a pretty clear top pick. GREEN SWEET should be competitive. He's had just the two Australian starts after being sent here from France, and his last start was a win in the Albury Gold Cup. The form obviously isn't as strong but the horse he beat was Cool Chap who has performed well in this kind of class before. There was a 4 length gap back to the 3rd horse which generally tells you the first two might be pretty good. That was on a Heavy 8 so he handles the ground and still gets in with just 53kg here so he's a definite chance. I'd be much keener on HAPPY HANNAH if the track wasn't in the Heavy range. She needs it firmer.

Tip: Astronomos

Race 6

INVADER picks himself here and looks incredibly hard to beat after his win in the Group 1 Sires' last start. He settled midfield on that occasion and finished off very strongly to run down a smart Kiwi horse so the extra 200m shouldn't be a problem and nor will the ground. WHISPERED SECRET was well-backed last start and landed the gamble despite travelling wide throughout. That win was over this track and distance and was also on a heavy track so she definitely rates as the biggest danger given how comfortably she won. The value could be ABERRO who ran 2nd to Eshtiraak in the Mornington Guineas last start and ran 2nd to Merchant Navy on debut. The query is the Heavy track but if he handles it he could be the value in the race at $19.

Tip: Invader (best bet)

Race 7

Found this race hugely difficult to narrow down. ENGLISH comes up favourite after her terrific run int he TJ Smith Stakes but she tends to struggle to put two races together. In saying that, four of her five wins have come at Randwick and from barrier 2 she'll get a great run just off the speed. If it turns into a sit and sprint, she'll likely be your winner, but I can never catch her. LE ROMAIN struggled in the Doncaster but he didn't get a lot of luck at all at a crucial stage. Prior to that his form was near faultless and his record on wet ground is terrific. The drop back to 1400m probably suits him but he'll need a peach of a ride from barrier 10. I wouldn't be surprised, however, if this race tossed up a winner at a bit of value. MCCREERY could be one of those. He's been freshened up since the Doncaster and did win well first up over 1300m on a Heavy track, but the query for him is the 59kg under weight-for-age conditions here. TIVACI is another that could be a bit of value after finishing 4th in the TJ last start. The step up to 1400m could really suit him and it would be no surprise to see him win. JUNGLE EDGE the blowout purely based on his wet track form. Tough race!

Tip: Le Romain

Race 8

Another really tough race. Could be worth forgiving RAIMENT for her failure last start when the track was playing to front runners all day. She had no hope coming from back in the field and wide on the track but if you look back to her first up win then she must be considered once again here. She draws wide again so will probably be a fair way back again but if the track is fairer she should get her chance. INVINCIBELLA looks one of the better value bets in the race. Her run first up was reasonably good over 1200m where the track was again favouring front runners, and the step up to 1400m is ideal. Her second up record is good and despite having never won on Heavy ground, her Soft record is good enough to suggest she is a legitimate chance here at $12. PROMPT RESPONSE, MY COUNTRY are others to consider.

Tip: Raiment / Invincibella EW

Race 9

Very tricky race to end the card and the quaddie! Prepared to take a little punt on a couple at longer odds here. Taking on FABRIZIO who is the best horse in the race but I think his last couple of trials have been slightly underwhelming and with 61kg first up on a Heavy track he could be vulnerable. MARENOSTRO ran well first up behind Spectroscope and he'll be better suited second up here at 1400m. The claim brings him down to 58.5kg which is a winnable weight and he draws to get a good run from barrier 1. He's never missed a place on Heavy ground from eight starts so at $13 he could be worth backing again. GOD'S IN HIM gets in with just 53.5kg and his record when first up, as well as his undefeated record on Heavy ground, suggest he could be a player here despite the wide draw. Prepared to back both but the chances don't end there.

Tip: Marenostro EW (best value) / God's In Him EW