Welcome to our preview and horse racing betting tips for racing at Sandown Lakeside and Randwick on Saturday, May 26th.
The Sandown track s currently rated a Soft 5 but could be upgraded to a Good 4 with fine weather predicted, while Randwick is a Good 4 and could be upgraded to a Good 3 at some stage.
We’ve got betting tips and comments for selected races below.
Best Bets - Saturday May 26th
Best Bet: Randwick Race 1 #5 The Autumn Sun
Best Value: Sandown Race 3 #5 My Psychiatrist EW / #6 Zasorceress EW
Sandown Racing Tips
RACE 2
Sticking with the proven winner in the field here in (1) Princeton Spirit, who has won four of his five career races. His last win was over this same track and distance and although he rises from a BM70 to a BM78, he drops slightly in weight. He’ll roll forward to either lead or sit outside the leader, which will be beneficial on a Lakeside track that typically favours those on the speed. I’m wary of the weight of money for the Weir runner (3) Artie Dee Two, who won on a Heavy track last start.
TIP: (1) Princeton Spirit
RACE 3
It’s rare that I get involved in these sorts of staying races but there’s a couple at good odds here which I’m prepared to have something small on. The favourite (8) Lycurgus comes off a dominant win on the Hillside course here at Sandown, which was over this distance of 2400m. He bolted in by over 3L on that day and the fact he’s had that run over 2400m leading into this is a big plus. Looks hard to beat but I’ll just back him as a saver bet. His stablemate (5) My Psychiatrist is a chance in this at $17. She won first up over 2100m at this track before finishing last at Flemington last start. I’m not too worried about that as she’s had five runs second up from a spell and has never placed in any of them. Her third up record suggests she can bounce back, however, with a win and two placings from four starts. She’s a value chance. (6) Zasorceress has failed badly in recent times but she finally gets up to a distance which might see her be somewhat competitive. She hasn’t raced over 2400m for a long time but her run last start was promising and with just 51kg on her back she might be ready to do something. Backing all three at level stakes.
TIP: (5) My Psychiatrist EW / (6) Zasorceress EW
RACE 4
I don’t profess to know a great deal about jumps racing but I do know (6) The Dominator is good at the caper. He was trained to a tee to win at Warrnambool last start over this distance and he carried 69.5kg in doing so. He drops down to 64kg today and meets the runner-up from last start 3kg better off at the weights. Taking the $4. The horse he obviously has to beat is the Brierly/Grand Annual double winner (1) Gold Medals, but that horse has to lump the 69kg today and drops back from 5500m. The value in the race could be (7) Don’t Be Shy at $11. He won two hurdle races last preparation in good style but fell at his return to the jumps last start when he was cruising. Worth another chance today at good odds.
TIP: (6) The Dominator / (7) Don’t Be Shy EW
RACE 7
Two horses I’m very keen to back here. I’ll be taking on (9) Jaws Of Steel – not for any particular reason, just want to back two other horses that appeal more. I wouldn’t discourage you from having a saver bet on Jaws Of Steel. (8) Galaxy Raider goes on top. I had all but declared him a cat after he completely turned it up last start, but the winner is in decent form this preparation and they cleared out to the third horse. He returns to the scene of his win two starts ago and although he’ll want firm ground rather than soft, he’s a big chance again here at $4.60. I’m very keen to back (5) King River at $10, especially if the ground is still in the soft range. He absolutely bolted in first up at Caulfield on soft ground and even pulled up with thumps after the race. The trainer said post-race that they had just been waiting for a race where he would get soft ground. He’s been entered in races for about the last month straight but has been scratched every time, presumably because the ground was too firm. If he lines up here you can guarantee they’ve come to this race for a reason. Looks the best value all day.
TIP: (8) Galaxy Raider / (5) King River EW
RACE 8
This looks a nice race for (4) Honey Esprit who bolted in at Warrnambool two starts ago and then bumped into the smart Platinum Angel last start. On that occasion, she sat three-wide without cover on the speed and fought on to finish a clear 2nd, 1.75L ahead of the 3rd horse. From barrier 8 today I expect they’ll roll forward again, which is a good spot to be in at this track, and if she gets an easy enough run up on speed she’ll be awfully hard to beat against this field. Taking $3.10.
TIP: (4) Honey Esprit
Randwick Racing Tips
RACE 1
Should be a good way to practically double our money here in the opener at Randwick with (5) The Autumn Sun. This horse is favourite for the Group 1 JJ Atkins in a couple of weeks’ time and has been set for this race instead of going to Queensland where the stable also have Zousain. Based on his debut win he should be winning this at $1.95.
TIP: (5) The Autumn Sun
RACE 2
Hoping the favourites get the job done early at Randwick because I’m with (2) Vontaine here. He backed up some good trials to win on debut at Kembla over 1200m and then jumped straight to 1600m which proved no issue, recording a 7L win in Class 2 company. He comes to town now and although the drop back to 1400m is some query, he gets Avdulla on board, should go forward and prove very hard to run down.
TIP: (2) Vontaine
RACE 4
I think (1) She Knows is the lay of the day here. She bolted in to win a Highway two starts ago at Hawkesbury with 59kg and backed that up with a narrow defeat in Listed company at Scone last start, but she’s got a number of things against her here. Firstly, she carries 62.5kg here with no claim. She is a three-year-old filly, that’s a tough ask. She also comes up against (2) Larlabrook here, who beat her first up last preparation. On that occasion, Larlabrook carried 57kg and She Knows carried 53kg. Today, Larlabrook carries 58.5kg and She Knows carries 62.5kg. That’s an 8kg weight swing in favour of Larlabrook, who beat her! Larlabrook has followed basically an identical preparation to the one which saw her win that race first up last prep, so she’s a huge chance today at $4.80. I’ve actually got (11) Falerina to beat both of them at $3.70. She was beaten on debut but followed that with two easy wins at Muswellbrook and Scone. This is obviously much harder but she’s drawn well and gets weight off both of the others. Happy to back Falerina at $3.80 and back Larlabrook to win slightly less. Taking on She Knows completely.
TIP: (11) Falerina / (2) Larlabrook
RACE 7
The Kim Waugh stable is absolutely flying and they well and truly put the cash on (3) Our Century last start when it sat wide and still proved too good over 2000m at Rosehill. Steps up to 2400m now third up from a spell, no problem with the distance as he’s run it three times previously and has placed in all three. Collett off but Avdulla goes on and from barrier 4 he looks tremendously hard to beat if he can repeat his last effort. $2.60.
TIP: (3) Our Century
