Our Randwick racing tips this weekend look at a handy 9-race card with the superstar mare Winx the headline attraction in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes.
Along with the Group 1, we also have four Group 2's and one Group 3 on the card.
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The track is a Good 3 but the forecast is predicting quite a bit of rain and Randwick tends to turn into quicksand with the slightest rain so it may be worth favouring wet track specialists throughout the day.
We have racing betting tips and comments for every race below.
Randwick Racing Tips - Chipping Norton Stakes Day
Race 1
Like the look of MOST EXALTED here who we had as our best bet of the day last start before he finished last in a field of 5. He pulled up thumps and poor post race recovery so I'm inclined to forgive him for that run. His previous start was a win over 1900m and he gets in with just 51kg after the claim. Importantly, if the rain comes it will suit him and not many others. Looks a decent bet at $5.50.
Tip: Most Exalted
Race 2
Happy to back DREADLOCK here at the $5.50 available. This horse has four seconds from four starts over the distance, and ran 2nd twice at Morphettville over this distance last preparation. Led all the way to win two starts back at Wagga before being collared late last start at Mudgee in the Country Championships Preview. Has placed twice on soft ground so if any rain comes he should handle it, and has Hugh Bowman booked to ride. Plenty of positives here and good odds. Hardest to beat could be LADY MARMALADE who bolted in at Scone last start and comes into this third up from a spell.
Tip: Deadlock
Race 3
I've got this between EXCEEDS and SONGLIKE. Exceeds won first up from a spell before running 2nd to Veranillo last start. Veranillo then ran 2nd to She Will Reign last start and is set to line up in the Slipper so the formline looks pretty strong out of that race. To add to that, she has won her only start on soft going so any rain that comes should suit her. SONGLIKE is on debut for Bjorn Baker after two impressive trials. In her first trial she finished second to She Will Reign, and then in her second trial she won by two lengths. Her sire Your Song loved the wet ground so she is bred to handle the rain if it comes. Happy to back Songlike at $5.50 and have something on Exceeds at $5.
Tip: Songlike
Race 4
Tough race with any number of winning chances. SINGLE BULLET showed on debut that he is a seriously promising colt but not convinced he handled the heavy track last start. I think from the wide draw he'll be ridden cold as he was on debut and if the track is a bit firmer than what he got last start I think he can bounce back. DRACARYS finished off very strongly on debut to win a Warwick Farm maiden. This is obviously much stronger than what she beat but she did it in good style and showed she handled the wet ground which could hold her in good stead here. SOUFFRANT is one to watch on debut after two trial wins, while COLESBERG beat Single Bullet last start and can't be discounted.
Tip: Single Bullet
Race 5
Pretty confident that CHETWOOD wins this if he finds his best form. He was incredibly disappointing in the Group 2 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley last start but he may not have handled the track. Back to Sydney and up to a distance where he is undefeated, and any rain will only increase his chances. If he bounces back he should be winning - the only concern is Godolphin's poor form at the minute. BIG MONEY will love the Soft ground if the rain comes and ran a cracker last start behind Le Romain, while MCREERY is destined for better races but might find the 1300m first up a touch sharp.
Tip: Chetwood
Race 6
Hugh Bowman jumps off FOXPLAY here to ride OMEI SWORD but I think FOXPLAY can win this after a barnstorming finish first up behind GLOBAL GLAMOUR. Global Glamour gets all the favours with the barrier draw but if Foxplay manages to get cover I think she'll be mighty hard to hold out. The step up to 1400m is ideal, and while Omei Sword is probably the best horse in the race, she might be slighty underdone first up. It wouldn't surprise me to see her win, but look for her next start in the Coolmoore Classic. Global Glamour is a Group 1 winner at 1600m and so the 1400m is no problem, but given Foxplay was $4.50 out to $13 first up before finishing 2nd by a nose, that suggests to me that she had plenty of improvement left in her. If she improves today, she'll win.
Tip: Foxplay
Race 7
Winx!
Outside of the great mare it is pretty likely to be the same two horses finishing 2nd and 3rd as it was in the Apollo with Hartnell and Endless Drama, but given Endless Drama is $1.70 at best to place there really isn't much value in the race at all.
Race 8
Two I like here. DIXIE BLOSSOMS produced a huge first up run under 59kg in Group 3 company to finish 3rd beaten 0.3L. She gets in well with 55kg here and should be improved second up from a spell. Bit of a sticky draw in barrier 9 but she'll settle midfield or worse and hopefully come over the top of them late. She's run 2nd at her only start on rain affected ground so if the rain comes she isn't disadvantaged. The second I like is SHILLELAGH which is a horse I've had a lot of time for for a while now. Forget she went around first up when heavily influenced by a fall which made her be checked severely at the 800m mark. She is undefeated from 3 starts when second up from a spell and even though she isn't well off under set weights and penalties, she can still go close here at her pet distance. Well drawn and has Avdulla on board so she ticks plenty of boxes at $8.50. FIRST SEAL will need the run in my opinion, while money has come for Flippant and Zanbagh.
Tip: Dixie Blossoms / Shillelagh EW (Best Value)
Race 9
Two I like here but the clear standout is YOUR WAY who arguably should be undefeated this prep but still has six wins from eight starts. She's won five from six at the distance, including last start when a comfortable winner in similar grade, and she's won her only start on Soft ground. Well drawn, well weighted and can definitely win again. The main danger is LOFTY'S MENU who is undefeated from four starts when first up from a spell. Never finished outside the top two at this distance and has gone well in this grade before. No surprises to see him win first up here.
Tip: Your Way (Best Bet)
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