Welcome to our preview and horse racing betting tips for Spring Champion Stakes Day at Royal Randwick on Saturday, October 7th.
The nine-race card is of course headlined by the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes, with the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes and the Group 3 Angst Stakes other feature races on the day.
We have betting tip and comments for every race below.
Listen to @Tim_Tips Racing Preview with the Before You Bet Podcast!
In Episode 3 of the Before You Bet Podcast our horse racing specialist @Tim_Tips chats about the weekend's action at Flemington and Randwick and previews and offers tips from all the biggest Australian horse races for this Saturday, October 7th! Listen to the podcast on the media player below, or you can find the Before You Bet podcast on iTunes!
ROYAL RANDWICK RACING TIPS
Best Bet: Race 3 Interlocuter
Best Value: Race 9 Colosseum King
Race 1
Keen on two here. Prepared to take on REGENT at the prices. No real knock on the horse, he’s run 2nd to Screamarr and The Avenger in two starts this prep, who are both good horses. He’s had the run at 1400m and looks ready to peak third up from a spell. The draw is tricky but McEvoy takes the ride so he’ll get his chance. He’s $2.90 and as I said, no real knock on him but I just prefer others at better prices. I’ve got SPARKY LAD on top. This horse resumed from a short spell with a win over 1400m at Warwick Farm. The horse that finished 3rd that day was Kaonic, who was very impressive on Wednesday at Canterbury and looks set for a big future. Waller thought Sparky Lad was still a bit big first up so expect him to have improved a length or two, and from the good draw he’ll get a nice run for Avdulla. I think Waller is confident this horse will win, and I think we’re getting a good price at $4.40. The other horse I’ll be backing is OUR MANTRA at $8. He won first up over 1200m at Warwick Farm before running 2nd to Beau Geste last start, with Paret back in 3rd. Those are two nice horses that can be followed and Beau Geste goes around in a G2 later on the card. He was beaten 0.2L on that occasion and both his back legs were galloped on, so that makes the run even better. Awkward draw in barrier 9 but looks a nice chance. FRENCH TUNE the other with a chance. Should lead and be hard to catch.
TIP: Sparky Lad / Our Mantra EW
Race 2
Not a race to get excited by at all here with just the four runners. UP ‘N’ ROLLING should have beaten ALWARD last start but Hugh Bowman just simply outrode Kerrin McEvoy in the race, forcing him to be snookered on the turn which allowed Alward to get first run and that was the difference. Up ‘N’ Rolling only got out very late and the race was over by that stage. Up ‘N’ Rolling gets a 1.5kg weight swing in his favour so it’s hard to see him getting beat here given he should have won last time. He does draw barrier 1 again so he’ll probably sit right behind Singing but I expect Kerrin McEvoy to atone for last start. Up ‘N’ Rolling to beat Alward.
TIP: Up ‘N’ Rolling
Race 3
INTERLOCUTER looks the best bet of the day for mine. He was huge first up when winning over 1400m at Rosehill, before losing the race on protest. The rise in trip to 1600m only helps him here, and I think he’s probably destined for better races. Draws nicely and keen to be on him at $2.45 with Crownbet, who are offering money back in Crownbet Reward Points if your horse runs 2nd or 3rd in Races 1-5. I think HOGMANAY is the biggest danger after an improved run last start. He finished off nicely behind Sir Plush who just ran them into the ground. Well weighted after the claim and well-drawn in barrier 2. Keen to take on MAPMAKER today. He was our best bet when winning last start but he had absolutely everything in his favour in that race and had no excuses not to win it. He faces a much tougher race here. He was running well in Saturday races leading into his win so he will run well, but I think he’ll find one or two too good. IMPRAVIDO can improve.
TIP: Interlocuter (Best Bet)
Race 4
On first look at this race I was keen to take on the favourite CASCATA ROSSA with SCHEDULE, but the deeper I got into the form of Cascata Rossa the more inclined I was to back it. This horse won by 6L in good time at the Gold Coast last start, and the most telling thing from that race is that both the 2nd and 3rd horse have since come out and won their next starts. The horse that beat Cascata Rossa first up also won his next two starts, so that tells me the form is trustworthy enough for Cascata Rossa to measure up here, and from the barrier he should get a lovely run. I still think SCHEDULE is the main danger and is set to run a big race. He comes out of a strong Highway Handicap first up behind My Tagoson, and ran 2nd in the Dubbo Cup last start. He won a Highway Handicap last prep and looks suited here third up at 1600m. Draws poorly but McEvoy is once again on board and I’m expecting him to go close. Expect a good run from RED KNOT here. He was unsuited first up over 1100m and then ran behind the likes of Screamarr, Regent and The Avenger, who would all be odds-on favourites in this. Gets out to his best distance now and looks to get a soft lead from barrier 3. At $13 he can go well. Cascata Rossa on top, saving on Schedule, something small Red Knot.
TIP: Cascata Rossa / Red Knot EW
Race 5
A couple of Waller horses I’m keen on at double figure odds here. The first is SHILLELAGH who is a horse I really like. She won in Group 3 company over 1300m last prep and has had four quiet trials leading into her first up run here. She’s won twice before first up and the key for her is the firm track. I think she can be really competitive fresh at $11. The other is ALL OUR ROADS who has his first Australian start after two trials. This horse is a Group 2 winner in New Zealand over 1600m, but has a good first up record with two wins and a placing from four starts. As I mentioned in the podcast, Kerrin McEvoy wanted to ride this horse but Waller couldn’t get a jockey to ride INVINZABEEL at 53.5kg, so McEvoy took one for the team and took the ride on that horse instead. All Our Roads gets in well at the weights after the claim for Magorrian, who has actually been winning some metro races in recent weeks. Draws well and expecting a big run at $14. BURNING PASSION is one I’ll be saving on at $5. Should go very close here. Comes out of some very strong races in recent starts. Beaten 0.7L by Deploy (running in the Everest) and then beaten 0.3L by Comin’ Through and Tom Melbourne. Goes right up in the weights here but has a great record at the track and the distance. GOT UNDERS was placed perfectly last start to win a Group 3 third up from a spell at his home track. He beat Sound Proposition who then ran 5th in the Epsom. He’s placed in five of his six runs when fourth up from a spell, so despite the hike in weights he is definitely one to include at big odds. SIR PLUSH ran them into the ground last start and will likely try the same tactics. Could win with the light weight but keen to take on at the price. Backing both Shillelagh and All Our Roads with a saver on Burning Passion and possibly Got Unders.
TIP: Shillelagh EW / All Our Roads EW
Race 6
Very keen to bet here. Happy to follow the VIRIDINE/SINGLE BULLET form line. Viridine beat Single Bullet by 1.3L first up over 1100m at Randwick to keep his undefeated record intact. James Cummings was very bullish about this horse, saying he had improved dramatically in the month leading up to his first up race and he was even surprised that he was able to win as well as he did because he thought he was still a bit big in condition. He said that if anything, the horse has worked “too well” leading into this race, which tells me that he’s improved quite significantly since that first up run, which should see him very hard to beat here. Avdulla jumps off CHAUFFEUR to keep the ride, and from barrier 2 he’ll box seat once again. SINGLE BULLET would have gone pretty close first up but was held up for the early part of the straight. When he got clear he motored home along the rail. He gets a 2kg weight swing on Viridine here, but draws barrier 8 so I anticipate they’ll go back. I think he's got the ability to turn the tables so I’ll be having a saver on him, though the prices are shorter now due to scratchings. I thought CHAUFFEUR was very short at $5. He ran well first up behind Pariah, but Pariah was subsequently poor in the Golden Rose and the horse that ran 3rd, Jorda, then went to Melbourne and performed poorly. His last two runs have been in harder grade than this, but they weren’t ultra-impressive, and he drops back to 1200m which is a query. Avdulla jumps off to ride Viridine and I’m happy to take him on here. ALBUMIN ran 3rd to Viridine and Single Bulllet last start but he’s having his fifth run back from a spell now while the other two are still only second up. BEAU GESTE can go well but I prefer his stablemate.
TIP: Viridine
Race 7
Only three I’m interested in here for the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes. My biggest bet in the race will be on TANGLED at $5.50. This horse resumed over 1200m which didn’t suit him at all, then quickly stepped up to 1600m second up with a big weight. He really should have gone very close on that occasion but had a chequered path in the straight, so it was a good effort under 60.5kg. Now steps up to 2000m at his third run back and gets a big drop in weight to 56.5kg. Draws well in barrier 2 so expect him to sit closer and Blake Shinn is a good booking. I think he’s a good horse with a nice turn of foot, and I like the price we’re getting. I think the value is ASTORIA at $8. This horse won a Group 3 over 1600m two starts ago, but was poor last start as favourite. James Cummings said he put that down to the horse switching off in the lead up to the race because they gave him such an easy week. He said the horse has had a much better preparation for this race and expects him to bounce back. Happy to have something small on. ACE HIGH was set to win last start by the trainer, when he stepped up in distance and had a change of tactics to lead. He led all the way, fighting off SANCTIONED. I think the 2000m is a distance he’ll relish, and he’ll lead once again from the good draw. The trainer was very positive about his chances and I’ve got no real knock on the horse. I just prefer others, but I’ll be having a saver bet on him. The slight query is five runs at Randwick for zero placings, but there’s contributing factors to that. I can’t believe the price about SANCTIONED, who is around the $4.80 mark. He had a dream run behind Ace High last start, peeled off his back and loomed as if he’d go straight past him. But he failed to do so and Ace High was actually pulling away from him again on the line, so the 2000m is a huge query for mine. I think he’s the wrong price and I’ll be letting him go around without my money.
TIP: Tangled / Astoria EW
Race 8
DAYSEE DOOM was a good winner for us last start when taking out the Golden Pendant. She sat three-wide on the speed on that occasion and still ran home strongly. I thought the win was full of merit and I’m happy to be on her again here. She’s never finished outside the top two from three runs when third up from a spell so look for her to peak. The wide draw is some concern and hopefully Adkins can get some cover this time given she’s up to 1600m for the first time. $4.20 seems a good price. DIXIE BLOSSOMS ran 2nd to Daysee Doom last start, beaten 0.2L, and gets a 1kg weight swing in her favour today. She’s never missed a place at the track and draws beautifully in barrier 6 with McEvoy on board. My concern is she’s had three runs third up from a spell for just the one placing. But she’ll get her chance here. I think the value is DAWN WALL at $7.50, who I was very keen on last start when she was disappointing behind Washington Heights. I think she can bounce back from that. Her first up run was enormous behind that same horse, and she’s undefeated over this distance. Third up, draws well, Avdulla goes on, pretty keen to stick with her. Don’t rule out ZENALICIOUS at double figure odds. She’s ready to peak here third up from a spell, and was only 2L off Daysee Doom last start after settling last. Draws much better here and she always produces her best run when third up. Third up last prep she ran 2nd to Foxplay, beaten 0.3L. That should see her right in the mix here. MY TRUE LOVE steps up in grade but is undefeated second up from a spell. Keen on Daysee Doom and Dawn Wall but Zenalicious is the one at good odds I’m wary of.
TIP: Daysee Doom / Dawn Wall EW
Race 9
Very tough way to end the card. Landed on PIRACY by default, there’s nothing wrong with his form. He’s three from three from four this prep and has been convincing in all three of those wins so deserves his chance here and can make the step-up to Saturday grade. Draws well, McEvoy retains the ride having ridden him in his last three starts, can win this too. $5.50 is about the right rice in a competitive race. FIRSTHAND is first up here with two trials under the belt. Has won twice before first up from a spell and is undefeated at the distance. Can go well. REDOUBLE is also first up and returns to the races as a gelding, having his first start for new trainer Bjorn Baker. He’s trialled well and draws nicely so no surprise to see him put it all together here. CHALK comes out of a midweek race but covered ground and did well to run 2nd. Not the worst chance at double figure odds at the bottom of the weights. One I’m keen to back at huge odds is COLOSSEUM KING. He trialled really well behind Nieta and was held up the entire straight first up at Wyong. He’s got a reasonable second up record, and he’s since trialled really well again, winning by 3L at Randwick. Draws barrier 1 here so can sit closer, gets a senior jockey on, and I think the horse is going really well so happy to have something on at $35. He’s never placed at the track which is some concern but at those odds it doesn’t have to be a big bet.
TIP: Piracy / Colosseum King EW (Best Value)
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Take note: Any of the tips in this article are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always gamble responsibly. Also be sure to check out the Before You Bet Twitter Page for all our thoughts in the lead up to bets! Happy punting!
