We’ve got an awesome Tuesday program at Randwick today for the annual Melbourne Cup meeting. While obviously all eyes will be on Flemington for the majority of the day, there are still ten cracking races on the card here in Sydney today.
The weather has been good in Sydney for the past week and the track is currently rated a good 4. With Randwick having the week off and the rail out 2 metres we should see every horse getting their chance today.
As usual, Billy Bestford has had a look at the meeting and has found his best bets for the day at Randwick.
And if you're looking for Flemington analysis then don't forget to check out our Melbourne Cup Day tips and Melbourne Cup runner-by-runner preview articles.
Randwick Racing Tips: Tuesday November 1st
Race 4
(8) Saturn Star was a scratching at the gates a couple of weeks ago when a short-priced favourite following a good debut win. That maiden he won on debut has turned into an extremely hot form race and I think he looks a very strong chance to make it 2 from 2 here. He’s since been back to the trials where he held off Lost And Running under a hold. Clark should bounce him out to the lead and he will be very tough to catch.
Think (14) Vivid Flash can regain some of her best form now that she strikes a dry track again. Her best runs have been on top of the ground and this is the weakest race she has contested for a while. She will enjoy getting onto a bigger track.
(7) Hoover Lucy should be ready to peak 3rd up and just like the stablemate she will enjoy a dry track as well. Best performances of her career have been 3rd up and you’d expect Frankie Dettori can give her every possible from the inside draw.
(10) Ticket To Anywhere isn’t the worst roughie and comes into this off a very tough win 2nd up.
(8) Saturn Star
$2.20 (4 units)
Race 5
The feature race of the day sees the inaugural running of The Big Dance worth $2m.
I like the chances of (7) Sibaaq who brings some very strong form into a race like this. Looked very good resuming over 1400m when only just beaten by Finepoint and then backed that up with a 2nd to group one winner Ellsberg over 1500m. Out to the mile 3rd up looks ideal and he has a great record over this trip. Maps for all the favours and just needs the gaps to appear to be in with a strong winning chance.
Hard to knock the first up win of (5) Hosier who was dominant from the front over this track/trip. Drops 2kg off that performance and if he hadn’t drawn gate 20 he would probably be a couple points shorter in the market. All depends how much work he has to do early but he is obviously one of the class horses in this field.
Down on just 52kg I can see (14) Casino Kid running very well. This horse hardly puts a foot wrong, finishing in the quinella at his last four starts. Expect he sits back off them and will be flying over the top late. Tuned up for this with a strong trial win.
It was a bridge too far for (2) Surf Dancer at WFA last start when finishing well back in the Craven Plate. He started $4.80 there so on SP alone you have to think he is a good chance here at a bette price. Back to 1600m suits and will look the leader a long way up the straight.
(6) Aleas was in need of the run first up when finishing middle of the pack over 1500m. Obviously this race is the target and 2nd up form over 1600m is very good. Trust the stable to have him ready. Sneaky value chance.
(7) Sibaaq
$6.00 (1 unit)
Race 7
(6) Dragonstone started $4 first up in Melbourne against Asfoora - who has since won again impressively on the weekend. This horse was in the worst part of the track there and will be fitter for that effort. Back to Randwick and getting up to 1100m are all positives while he draws for a good run on speed.
(10) Clemenceau will be hardest to beat coming up from Melbourne off the back of some super consistent form across his career. He is yet to miss a placing from eight career starts. Drops right down to 50kg after the claim for in-form Zac Lloyd and will give them something to catch. Just think he is a touch short in the market.
(4) Through The Cracks is a decent each way chance, resuming off the back of some really strong trial work. The knock is probably where he gets to from gate 1 but any luck could see him give this a shake.
(7) Sky Command was the beneficiary of a strong on-speed bias on a wet Randwick track a few weeks ago. He has a good record at 1100m and loves racing here. In career best form as well.
(6) Dragonstone
$4.80 (1.5 units)
Race 8
Think (9) Cavalier Charles gets a nice setup here off a good run in The Kosciosko. He was a good run from the back of the pack and drops 4kg here. Gets a 6.5kg weight swing on Far Too Easy and draws much kinder than the favourite today. A dry track suits and stepping up to 1300m for the first time is no knock.
(8) Banju flies fresh and draws inside for William Pike. Expect he uses that to his advantage to roll forward and gets a gun run just off the leaders back. He’s had three trials to tune himself up for this so should be sharp enough to win.
(1) Far Too Easy was a big run to finish 2nd in The Kosciosko behind the dominant Front Page. This horse was taking ground off him late on in the piece so the step to 1300m looks ideal. This is easier than what he has been in before and just needs luck from the draw.
(11) Dalavin has won five on the bounce as he worked his way through the grades in country NSW. He deserves a crack at something like this and won’t know himself dropping right down to 52kg. Can make his own luck up on speed and run a bottler.
(2) Fender ran 3rd in The Kozi and has been more than competitive in tougher races than this. Key jockey change should see him every possible chance up near the speed.
(9) Cavalier Charles
$3.70 (1.5 unit)
