The time-honoured December Handicap headlines Saturday’s ten-race metropolitan program at Royal Randwick.
The rail will be set out four metres around the entire course and at publish, we’re faced with a track rated in the Good (4) range.
Check out my full day preview and 2023 December Handicap Day Tips below.
James Squire Handicap (1100m) – 12:30pm AEDT
Traffic Warden returned a decent performance to finish second on debut earlier this month, and on exposed form, he looks capable of going one better at Randwick on Saturday.
The Street Boss colt showed some ability at the trials prior to debuting and while he did look a little green at Rosehill, he was only denied by an impressive Storm Boy.
With natural improvement for that experience, I am confident that he can begin his rise through the grades this week.
Suggested Bet: No. 6 Traffic Warden
Midway Handicap (1600m) – 1:05pm AEDT
Tympanist returned to winning form at the midweeks second-up from a spell, and something like this looks the next logical target for him.
The Belardo gelding has been a good horse for the David Payne yard for a few seasons now; picking off some lovely races and finding form around some credible opposition.
Both runs back this time have been full of merit, but fitter third-up and at the mile, I’m confident he’ll only improve further this week.
Suggested Bet: No. 4 Tympanist
Kia Ora Prague Handicap (1400m) – 1:40pm AEDT
Zouphoria has returned to the races a vastly improved horse, and she strikes another very winnable race at Randwick on Saturday.
The Zoustar filly didn’t show a lot during her brief debut preparation in autumn, but hit the line to finish just over a length second in maiden company at Canterbury first-up this time, before blowing them away on the Kensington course at her latest.
This is a decent rise in class for her, but she clearly relishes the 1400m, gets into the race well under the conditions and does look to have a very bright future.
Suggested Bet: No. 10 Zouphoria
Toyota Forklifts Handicap (2000m) – 2:15pm AEDT
Toesonthenose has clearly found top gear and is chasing a hat-trick of victories when he steps out on December Handicap Day.
The Ocean Park gelding improved steadily with each start during the recent Spring Carnival, and broke back into the winner’s stall via a dominant effort in BM72 company on The Hunter Day.
Having backed up that performance with another easy victory at Rosehill last time out, the 2000m looks ideal at this point of his preparation, and he needs only hold his form to take beating again.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Toesonthenose
Highway Plate (1000m) – 2:50pm AEDT
This is another wide-open Highway race with plenty of winning chances engaged, but I am pretty keen on the resuming Unravel.
Unravel hasn’t been seen at the races since June, but he absolutely flies fresh, and he is two from two at this point of his preparation.
Having won three of only five career starts in total, he’s well and truly a galloper on the rise, and he returned a really nice trial performance out at Scone in the lead-up to this.
Suggested Bet: No. 5 Unravel
Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m) – 3:25pm AEDT
The progressive Accredited steps out today second-up and primed for another big performance.
The Joe Pride-trained sprinter has made just three appearances at the races since debuting, but he has stamped himself as one to watch by winning on two occasions, including an eye-catching performance at Warwick Farm first-up form a break.
This is obviously harder, but he’s another that is open to plenty of improvement, and he with even luck in running, he does look more than up to something of this quality.
Suggested Bet: No. 7 Accredited
Cactus Imaging December Handicap (1600m) – 4pm AEDT
This year’s December Handicap boasts a decent field of fifteen gallopers, rich with the usual suspects that have been going around in races not dissimilar to this one recently.
Joe Pride holds a strong hand in this race as well, including Lekvarte.
Lekvarte returned to the races with a nice run and win in BM78 company on The Hunter Day, and he franked that effort with another strong win in another BM78 contest over 1400m a fortnight ago.
He’ll take further improvement into this contest and should only be more effective at the mile.
Suggested Bet: No. 13 Lekvarte
Precise Air Handicap (1400m) – 4:40pm AEDT
Plundering has improved noticeably with each of his first two runs back from a break and is primed to strike on December Handicap Day.
The Annabel Neasham-trained gelding hit the line to finish fourth, beaten a little under two lengths in BM78 company in his first run back in November, and while he was well beaten by With Your Blessing on The Gong Day, he was still strong through the line for second.
There doesn’t appear to be a galloper of that quality engaged this week and Plundering is drawn to receive every chance form barrier 6.
Suggested Bet: No. 8 Plundering
Chandon Handicap (1000m) – 5:20pm AEDT
Squad is set to make his return to the races in the penultimate contest at Randwick on Saturday, and I thought that it looked a lovely launchpad for him.
The Shalaa gelding hasn’t been seen at the races in May, but he’s another that absolutely relishes racing fresh, and he has recorded two wins and a close up second placing from three previous fresh attempts.
He was almost faultless last time in, and he’s had the benefit of a trial ahead of Saturday’s resumption.
Suggested Bet: No. 4 Squad
Petaluma Handicap (1200m) – 5:55pm AEDT
Shohei clearly needed her first run back from a break to tune up, but I am happy to give her another chance when she goes around in the last on December Handicap Day.
Shohei turned in some nice performances last time in, striking in BM64 company most notably before only just missing in the Gold Bracelet out at Bendigo.
She was just over a length and a half behind the winner at Rosehill when resuming this time, doing her best work late, and natural improvement will see her into the finish of something like this.
Suggested Bet: No. 11 Shohei
