Welcome to our preview and horse racing betting tips for racing at Randwick on Saturday, September 15th, featuring the Group 1 Colgate Optic White Stakes.
We have nine races on a Soft track but there is warm, windy conditions predicted with no rain on the radar, so the surface should dry out.
We’ve got betting tips and comments for every race below. You can also tune into Episode 51 of the Before You Bet Podcast!
RANDWICK RACING TIPS
Best Bet: Race 4 #1 Redzel
Best Value: Race 7 #7 Futooh
RACE 1
Only two I’m interested in to open the day with the Highway Handicap. (1) Equal Balance went close first up over 1100m at Rosehill in a Highway on Soft ground. Drawn wide here and comes back 100m in distance but he’s won two from three over the 1000m. (4) Lifesaver won first up in a different Highway over 1100m at Rosehill, so also comes back 100m in distance. He’s been kept fresh with five weeks between runs and although he’s drawn wide too, he looks a strong chance again. Probably wants the ground firmer rather than Soft. We’re getting $4.80 for Equal Balance and $5.50 for Lifesaver, happy to have something on both.
RACE 2
Doesn’t look a deep race but (1) Santos adds some intrigue, resuming here for the first time since being well beaten in the Golden Slipper back in March. He won the Pierro Plate first up last prep in impressive fashion before getting the job done again in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes. The form out of both those races has turned out to be very dodgy, however. None of the horses he beat have turned out to be any good at all. He gets the blinkers on for the first time today but he also carries 59kg and they’ll have him wound up to win this. I’ll be taking him on though. (3) Neutrality was well backed when beaten by Graff first up in the San Domenico Stakes. Graff looks to be one of, if not the best, three-year-olds in the country and has backed up that win with a huge run last weekend. Tipping that form is a bit better than the form Santos brings. (4) Charge has had a few weeks off and a trial since running 2nd to Sandbar in The Rosebud. McDonald takes over from Jay Ford here which is a big upgrade and I’d be having something on at $6.
RACE 3
A few that stand out here. (5) Another Dollar was sound first up when beaten a length over 1400m behind Best Of Days. She’ll benefit from that run and will also relish the extra distance today. Barrier 1 is a touch tricky for her given she will likely get back a bit but she’s got plenty of upside and should go close. (7) Instant De Reve was a horror show last start when very well backed at longer odds but never got a crack at them in the straight. The form guide will say he finished dead last but he went to the line under a stranglehold behind a wall of horses. Drawn wide today so will get his chance. Worth sticking with at $14. (11) All Too Soon drops back from 2000m to 1600m, which is the distance he saluted at two starts ago. Drawn to get the run of the race and should be hard to beat. (6) Souchez is knocking on the door.
Value: (4) Instant De Reve $14 BetEasy
RACE 4
(1) Redzel returned in phenomenal order with victory in the Concorde Stakes first up over the 1000m trip here. He’s won seven of his 11 starts at Randwick and the step up to 1100m second up won’t worry him at all. Based on his win first up he’s clearly the one to beat. (2) Brave Smash ran well first up and comes into this second up. I suspect he will still need one or two more runs before peaking for The Everest, where they will also reapply the blinkers. He goes around without blinkers on again today. (4) English is another that will be peaking for The Everest and she resumes today without synthetic hoof filler on, which is a positive sign that she hasn’t got any feet problems at this stage of her prep. Even though she’s won three races first up from a spell, she’s only ever placed once from five starts at the distance. (9) Invincible Star started basically the same price as Redzel first up in the Concorde but was beaten pretty comfortably. It might be a slight market overreaction here that has her a $5 chance based off that. That was her first run in 43 weeks so she should be much fitter for that run. She could possibly give Redzel a good run for his money here but I think he’ll still be too good.
RACE 5
Very intriguing race with a few different angles. (2) Pierata might be the best horse in the race but there is some query over his fitness after he was scratched due to lameness a few weeks ago. He’s since been back to the trials and has trialled well, so if he’s back to being right, he’ll take a power of beating in this. (12) Paret has three wins in a row to his name and is delivering on the early promise he showed as a juvenile. He jumps up sharply in grade and these are much better horses than what he’s been beating but I think he’ll measure up. (1) Music Magnate is a Group 1 winner and has won three of his four third up runs. He jumps from 1000m to 1400m which is a big query though. (5) Invictus Prince ran out of his skin behind Winx last start which was a complete form reversal on what he’d shown in his first two starts in Australia. If he reproduced that run he’d win this, given he beat the likes of D’Argento, Kementari and Unforgotten. (8) Siege Of Quebec has been very well backed in both starts this prep. First up he was luckless but last start he was awful. He may have choked down on that occasion as the tongue tie goes back on today. It wouldn’t surprise to see him bounce back today.
Value: (12) Paret $6.00 Paret
RACE 6
Winx. Outside of her, (8) Unforgotten looks to be just about a moral to place. The only way she won’t place is if Glyn Schofield snags her and gives her a run around to just keep her ticking over. (7) Egg Tart is another strong place chance at a bit better odds. (1) le Romain has run 2nd on five occasions when third up from a spell. (2) Who Shot Thebarman has been flying at the trials and could be the huge value at $15 to place.
Unforgotten to place
$1.60
RACE 7
Three main chances I’ll be backing here. (3) Fiesta resumed with a strong win first up in the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes and backed that up with another strong run behind Pure Elation last start. I have a very big opinion of Pure Elation and I think that’s the form line to follow. Barrier 11 is a bit tricky today but Bowman sticks with her and hopefully the track allows for horses to come down the outside, unlike a couple of weeks ago. (5) Pretty In Pink ran 3rd behind Pure Elation and Fiesta last start and was only first up so should have more improvement to come second up. She’s also drawn wide but she proved that she’s up to this level last start and that her two career wins as a juvenile had some substance. (7) Futooh resumed in a different race four weeks ago. She ran 3rd behind Fiesta when Fiesta was first up in the Silver Shadow Stakes. Up to 1400m suits Futooh given she was a winner over a mile last preparation and barrier 1 gives her an inside run while the others will be back and/or wide. She looks the value at $11.
Value: (7) Futooh $11 BetEasy
RACE 8
Good little race. (5) Avilius has been ultra-impressive in his two Australian starts to date, winning them both. He won first up over the mile here at Randwick and followed it with a Group 3 win over 1900m at Rosehill. Up to 2000m third up here and back to the big Randwick track, which should offset his wide barrier draw somewhat. Clearly the one to beat. (4) Libran has put the writing on the wall with a good run first up behind Winx and then another good run for 3rd behind Unforgotten last start. He’s got a good third up record and is undefeated over this track and distance so must be a huge each way chance here despite the horror barrier draw. (8) Sedanzer is drawn even worse in barrier 19. She wasn’t beaten all that far first up and she’s undefeated from four starts when second up from a spell so must be respected. (12) Alward was good in the Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury first up and is much better suited second up at 2000m today. James McDonald takes over from Kathy O’Hara which is an enormous jockey change and I would definitely be including him in the quaddie at $14. (10) Emperor’s Way is another horse that’s undefeated at the track and distance so has some minor claims.
Value: (12) Alward $14 BetEasy
RACE 9
Very tough way to end the day. (2) Trekking has come back in good order with a solid win first up followed by a solid 2nd last start behind Don’t Give A Damn. That horse didn’t exactly frank the form last weekend but I don’t think the formline is necessarily bad. Trekking has to carry weight today but he’s capable of winning despite that. His stablemate (3) Marsupial is first up and has never finished outside the top two from three starts when fresh. Bowman goes on which is a positive booking and he looks some sort of chance. (6) Suncraze is worth forgiving for failing on a Heavy track first up. He’s much better than that and has a good second up record. He’ll also appreciate getting back to firmer ground and the big Randwick track. I like the booking of Jason Collett on him so at $19 he goes in the quaddie. (12) Euwase has claims.
Value: (6) Suncraze $18 UBET
