Welcome to our preview and horse racing betting tips for racing at Randwick on Saturday, October 19th.
The TAB Everest headlines the 10-race card, with 12 of the country's elite sprinters duking it out for the $14million prize.
The track is currently rated a Good 4 and the rail is in the True position.
Check out our race-by-race preview and betting tips for Satuday's card below and CLICK HERE to view our race-by-race preview of the Caulfield meeting in Melbourne, featuring the G1 Caulfield Cup! You can also check out our comprehensive preview of the Caulfield Cup HERE!
Randwick Racing Tips: Saturday, October 19th
Best Bet: Race 6 - (1) Brutal
Best Value: Race 1 - (8) Tommy Gold
Race 1 (Market)
(1) Postcode will be tough to beat based on his debut run in the Breeders Plate behind Global Quest, who I think is a really impressive two-year-old. It wouldn't shock me to see Tim Clark take him to the front today and attempt to lead all the way, but in any case, if he improves anything on that first run then he's quite clearly the one to beat. Taking $1.90 about a horse in a race like this with a number of other unraced two-year-olds is always a risk though. I think there's two at good odds to have something small on instead to start the day. The first is (8) Tommy Gold. He's had just one trial and he went nicely in that. He jumped to a share of the lead and was under a stranglehold the entire time, all the way to the line. James McDonald trialled him and he remains on for race day, which is notable given Waller and Godolphin also have runners engaged, who JMac obviously regularly rides for. He's had five rides for John O'Shea this season, resulting in a win and three placings. I think he'll give this a huge shake at $9.00. (10) Time Is Precious is on debut for Gerald Ryan and Glen Boss. She ran 2nd in her trial too, beaten about a nose after picking up late. These Gerald Ryan two-year-olds are always competitive in these races so I'd have something on at $9.00 from the good draw.
Also backing: (10) Time Is Precious $9.00
Race 2 (Market)
I'll be taking on (2) Humbolt Current at his current $3.60 quote. He's had more than enough chances with me since arriving in Australia and if he wins at that price, all power to him, but he won't be getting any more of mine. The positive for him is he gets a soft draw, JMac on and a drop back in grade. He was beaten a nose two starts back in this company so he'll go close no doubt. I'll be with (3) Angel Of Heaven who steps up to 2000m for the first time this prep after two runs over 1500m and 1600m. She won third up last prep over 1900m so the rise in distance will help and I think this is a winnable race for her. (7) Johnny Vinko isn't without a hope at all. Was slow away last start and couldn't make up the ground but he didn't run badly and if he can jump a bit cleaner he'll go well. (4) Maid Of Ore has won her past three starts and six from 11 overall so there's no reason she won't go well again.
(3) Angel Of Heaven
$2.90
Race 3 (Market)
This is a wide-open Highway so I won't be betting big here and I'll be looking for value. I'm with (8) Gumshoe on top. He's got a terrific first up record with two wins and a 2nd from three starts. He's won two from three at the distance and he won here first up last prep over 1200m on heavy ground. He's undefeated on Good ground so the firm track is no problem, Hugh Bowman is booked to ride and he gets blinkers back on. Looks like they've set him for this so I'll take the $9.00. (1) Can't Find Snippy doesn't win out of turn and he resumes from a long spell but he's never missed a place when first up from a spell and he's never missed a place at this track. The queries are he races with pads on for the first time and he's drawn barrier 18 with 59kg, but he'll go forward and make his own luck so $26 looks a bit over the odds with all things considered. (11) Lady Demi is also way over the odds at $17, that's a crazy price. Her last four starts have all been in Highway Handicaps here at Randwick. She ran 2nd in the first two, then had no luck at all when held up the entire straight, and then won last start. She carries a bit more weight today but she's proven in these races and brings reliable form. I'd be surprised if she wasn't in the finish.
Value: (11) Lady Demi $17 & (1) Can't Find Snippy $26
Race 4 (Market)
I had a hard time separating these. It might be time to jump back on (3) Maddi Rocks. She has been a bit disappointing in recent starts but they've both been on wet ground and she gets back onto firm ground today. Her first up run behind Pandemic was good and even the form out of her second run behind the likes of Funstar looks pretty good! If she finds her best form back on a suitable surface she'll be very competitive. (7) Special Snap went close after a luckless run in transit first up. I'll stick with her here and expect her to roll forward from barrier 10 in a race that appears devoid of speed. She's at a decent price around $6.50.
Value: (7) Special Snap $6.50
Race 5 (Market)
The Kosciuszko isn't any easier to figure out. (1) Victorem is our $2.70 favourite. He's had seven wins from 16 starts overall, including two in Listed grade. He's got a good first up record and has also won two of his three starts at Randwick. He ran close enough to favourite for this race last year but failed on the heavy deck. Better suited on firm ground this year and with a good draw I'd expect him to go very well. (3) Noble Boy has seven wins from nine starts and he's also first up into this. He started the $2.05 favourite in Listed grade at Eagle Farm last time we saw him, and coincidentally Victorem was the winner of that race, with Noble Boy disappointing. Fans of SP profiles should take note of that because the market expected Noble Boy to win that day and if he's at his best he could well get redemption here. Bowman on and drawn well in barrier 4. $5.50 is a good price to try and get something back. I'll also definitely be backing (8) Handle The Truth at $7.50. He was my best bet first up but he was butchered. Completely forget he went around. Whether he's got the brilliance of the first two is the query but he's got a good second up record and four of his six wins have been at this distance. Nash Rawiller takes over the ride today and I think he's definitely capable of measuring up in this race. (9) Star Boy is a ridiculous price at $26. He split Spanish Dream and God Of Thunder first up before finishing 1.4L off the winner last start on unsuitable wet ground. God Of Thunder will start close enough to favourite for a Group 3 in Melbourne today and Star Boy beat him home first up. He's undefeated third up and he's finished in the top two in 10 of his 11 starts on Good ground. He's crazy odds. (12) Notation is scary with blinkers reapplied and JMac booked. I'll take on the favourite purely because I think there's value available in Noble Boy, Handle The Truth and Star Boy.
Value: (8) Handle The Truth $7.50 & (9) Star Boy $26
Race 6 (Market)
(1) Brutal beat home the likes of Classique Legend last start and based on that, he must be winning this. He's a Group 1 winner in Group 3 grade, albeit over a shorter trip than what he won his major over. If there is one query its whether he is still sharp enough second up over 1200m or whether he's looking to go up in trip now, but he's got brilliance and surely proves too strong here, especially given he was scouted for an Everest slot after that first up win. Outside of him it's pretty even. (2) Home Of The Brave ran 2nd to Brutal last start so should go well here. (3) Brave Song has a very good second up record and may not have been best suited in Melbourne first up. I'm not underestimating his ability at all and I suggest he'll be very competitive here. (5) Easy Eddie ran well first up and has won two of his three second up runs so can improve. (6) Deprive returns to Sydney and he's undefeated from five starts here at Randwck. Backing Brutal to get the job done again but if you're searching for value, I'd tip you into Brave Song and Deprive.
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Race 8 (Market)
Going to play this pretty simply. It's a bit risky but I'm going to take on (1) Happy Clapper, who is yet to win from nine starts at this distance. Now I know five of those were against Winx, but I think the mile is his pet distance. He does love Randwick though, so if he's going to win one over 2000m it will be here. (2) Samadoubt was only run down in the very last stride by Verry Elleegant last start over this distance. He's an even better horse on firm ground so he'll relish the track conditions here and will take plenty of catching from the front. It will be interesting to see if he gets an easy lead (or a lead at all) with (4) Stampede in the race, which is why I've put (3) Life Less Ordinary on top. He's third up from a spell now and he's only ever missed a place once from seven starts when third up. He's never missed a place from four starts at the track and distance, he's drawn well and he might be able to turn the tables on Samadoubt today given the tempo looks pretty good up front.
(3) Life Less Ordinary
$4.60
Race 9 (Market)
The St Leger over 2600m isn't really a race I'm too excited for, with a number of these coming out of the G1 The Metropolitan. I was with (3) Gallic Chieftain in that race at 20/1 and he was beaten a nose by (1) Come Play With Me (reach for the sick bag). His run was outstanding and I'm hoping he can turn the tables with a 2.5kg swing in the weights. He's got a reasonably good fourth up record so hopefully he can win here and atone for last start. The blinkers come off and are replaced by visors. I'd be watching the market with (2) Patrick Erin who wasn't beaten far in The Metropolitan and JMac goes on today. (14) Carif with the light weight and Kerrin McEvoy on isn't without a hope at double figure odds.
(3) Gallic Chieftain
$4.80
Race 10 (Market)
(110 Dealmaker had his birthday when winning last start! It was a race that had his name all over it and he only fell over the line to win by 0.2L, so I'll be leaving him out here even though I was with him last time. I'll give (12) Junipal another go after his luckless run in the Epsom Handicap last start. He was trapped wide without cover throughout and tailed out to finish last. Prior to that though, he won over this track and distance, and Master Of Wine has come out of that race and won by a furlong last week. Carries just 52kg here and so long as that run in the Epsom hasn't totally cooked him, he should go well today. Waller has two runners in this race that I'm very keen to back next start. (2) My Nordic Hero is trialling enormous but he gets the 3kg claimer on first up and his second up record is significantly better, so I'd suggest this run will bring him on and he'll be cherry ripe next start. (5) The Lord Mayor is another in that basket but I'll still be having something on him today at $26. He was sound first up in Brisbane and JMac jumps on today for his Sydney return. This horse is undefeated from three starts when third up from a spell so be on him next start if he runs well here. He might be able to go well today before then anyway. (6) Articus is flying and there's no reason he can't give this a good shake, while (7) Emperor's Way might be looking for 2000m but he's not hopeless.
Value: (5) The Lord Mayor $26
