Welcome to our preview and horse racing betting tips for racing at Randwick on Saturday, August 3rd.
We're racing on a heavy track once again, with the rail in the true position for this week's meeting.
We've previewed every race on the card below!
Randwick Racing Tips: Saturday, August 3rd
Best Bet: Race 3 - (4) Pelethronius
Best Value Bet: Race 8 - (12) Matowi
(4) Mandela gets his final chance with me today. He should have won on debut and last start he probably wasn't as dynamic over the 1400m, but he also didn't get a lot go his way. Back in trip to 1200m today, winkers back on, well drawn and he gets his chance again. If he doesn't go close here, it's curtains. (7) Wandonna might be a touch of value at $11. She finished off nicely first up at Canterbury, recording the fastest final 400m of the race. This is harder, but she should improve and the step up to 1200m also suits. James McDonald booked for (2) Art Collection obviously catches the eye. Won a trial leading into this and wasn't far off Loving Gaby first up last prep.
(7) True Detective looks quite clearly the one to beat after going down by a nose to Spend on debut at Rosehill. The one little query I have is that he ran on heavy ground on that occasion and it can sometimes take it out of them for their next start. Watch the market, because if he's a notable drifter he may race flat. But if he's solid in the market, I suspect he'll be too good. I dare say Bowman would have been riding if it were anywhere near his weight range but he can't make 54.5kg, so he instead takes the reigns on (5) Lifetime Quest. He's become a money-muncher and won't be getting any of my money, having run five 2nd placings from six career starts. (2) Condemned has plenty of talent but has plenty of problems too. Has only raced twice and both have been separated by significant spells on the sideline. Resumes today from nearly a year off, has been gelded but carries top weight. Might just find it a bit tough.
I'm surprised (4) Pelethronius isn't favourite here. He's rediscovered his form in his past two starts and he absolutely loves the wet, so gets conditions to suit once again today. He won over this track and distance last start despite sitting wide without cover, and he'll be even better suited on heavy ground today so he should be fighting out the finish again. I think (1) Gresham has had his fair share of chances to get another win so I'm happy to take him on, especially on wet ground. (8) Our Winnie is going better than his form suggests - he's run the fastest sectionals in his past couple of starts so don't dismiss him.
I'm never confident in these Highway races. (1) I Am Capitan can bounce back. He went very close in a similar race over this track and distance first up before tackling a midweek metro race last start. Back to a Highway today, third up and he's run 2nd on all three occasions here at Randwick. Bowman takes the ride on (6) Nicconita first up. She's also gone close in a couple of starts over this track and distance in the past so it'd be no surprise to see her run well fresh. (15) Lady Demi was specked at long odds last start and probably should have finished a bit closer to the winner, but it was still a great run. Carries the same weight today and there's no reason he can't measure up again. (16) Festival Of Light has come back this prep in great order. Has two wins from two starts and although they were both at Dubbo, he could run well. (17) Moonshine Lady was very well supported in betting in a similar race last start. Started $7.00 on that occasion yet led and dropped out. Going around $23 today so I'd be wary.
Value: (15) Lady Demi $15
We get to see the return of highly-promising Godolphin gelding (7) Roheryn here, who resumes from a 37-week spell. He's only had one quiet trial leading into today's race but he's got plenty enough quality to be winning this. He's a bit short at $1.45 but he looks the winner. (6) Best Guess looks the logical danger. He was only 2L off the winner first up and he's won two of his three second up runs, but is yet to place from four starts at Randwick which is the little query.
Two horse play for me here. (3) Toryjoy stepped away slowly last start and that ruined any chance she had of winning. She'd been ridden forward in her two starts before that, which brought about a win and a 2nd placing. Once she settled last last start, she was hopeless. If she jumps today, she can settle much further forward and bounce back to form. (8) Missybeel ran well two starts back behind Pelethronius, who then came out and won again. Last start she just got too far back at Canterbury, then got held up at the 200m and only got clear running late in the race. She's a winner over this distance and is much better suited at Randwick. We're getting $6.50 and $5.50 respectively so happy to have something small on both at those prices.
Also backing (3) Toryjoy $6.50
Going to stick with (2) Haunted who I think is simply the best horse in the race. He was very well backed to win the Ramornie at Grafton last start but it was a horror show. He found himself well back on the rails at the top of the straight and never looked like winning, but he did hit the line very hard once he got out. Randwick should suit him and this is a drop in grade. (4) Fortensky is suited third up today after two good efforts to open his campaign but I'm not convinced he's quite got the class of Haunted. (5) Milk Man is a French import making its Australian debut today. He's trialled four times here and he won the latest of those, but he's only won at 2100m so far, so the 1300m first up might be a touch sharp. (9) Gala Moshea was terrific first up and can go well again.
Sticking with (7) Cyber Intervention who is knocking on the door after two good 2nds to open his campaign. The two races he's come out of have both produced subsequent winners and this horse has won third up previously so looks well placed today. He's also won at his only start here at Randwick and has raced well on wet ground. He ticks plenty of boxes. (2) Primitivo looks to be flying but will get a fair way back from the wide gate and he's not one that wins out of turn. James McDonald back on board is a positive. (9) Exasperate has had eight starts this prep and has placed in seven of them. Bowman takes the ride but I'd be happy to take him on in Sydney. (12) Matowi continues to race well and is edging closer to a win. He looks the value at $7.50 after two good recent runs. Gets his chance today.
Value: (12) Matowi $7.50
(7) Cyber Intervention
$2.30
Just one horse that I'll be backing here and that's (11) The Party Girl. I was keen on her when she was scratched recently but she takes her place here and looks well placed. She was around $7.50 before scratchings but comes into around $4.80 now with the smaller field. I think we can still play her each way at that price as they'll pay three placings with eight runners engaged. She's racing well and this is her pet distance; she's never finished out of the top two over 1400m. She ran 2nd here over this track and distance last start, she's drawn well today and McEvoy takes the ride so she should be competitive once again.
(11) The Party Girl
$4.80
