Ten races will be run and won at Sydney’s Royal Randwick on Saturday, December 23rd.
With some of the country’s biggest stables and best jockeys engaged, there really does look to be plenty of value to be found, and you can find all of my Royal Randwick Tips below!
Drinkwise Plate (1100m) – 12:30pm AEDT
Pisces debuted with a nice effort to win at Kembla Grange earlier this month and can go on with it at Randwick on Saturday.
The Frosted colt showed some ability at the trials prior to debuting and timed his run to perfection on debut.
With natural improvement and under a senior hoop in Craig Williams, he can continue his rise through the grades.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Pisces
Kia Ora Prague Handicap (2400m) – 1:05pm AEDT
Father’s Day can win again at Randwick on Saturday.
The Galileo gelding has won two of his last three starts, finishing a head second on the other occasion, and he has been freshened since a comfortable triumph in BM72 company at Warwick Farm.
I like that he has been back to the trials, and this looks to be a wide-open race.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Father’s Day
Highway Handicap (1600m) – 1:40pm AEDT
Final Comment has been racing in consistent for this time and has more than earned a crack at a Highway Handicap.
The Hellbent gelding had been knocking on the door of a win since October and was rewarded via a dominant performance at Canberra last time out.
He’s hard fit and ready for this race, and just requires some luck in running from a potentially sticky draw.
Suggested Bet: No. 6 Final Comment
Midway Handicap (1200m) – 2:15pm AEDT
Ningaloo Star has been performing well in metro midweek races this time in and looms as a key winning chance at Randwick on Saturday.
The John Sargent-trained hasn’t missed placing at her last three trips to the races, winning here on The Big Dance Day and only just missing at her last two.
She’s hard fit and something like this does look well within her means.
Suggested Bet: No. 7 Ningaloo Star
Doyle’s Breeding And Racing Handicap (1600m) – 2:50pm AEDT
We were with Mistress when she recorded a dominant win on Wyong Magic Millions Day, and I am happy to stick with her in Sydney this week as well.
The More Than Ready mare dusted off the cobwebs with a decent effort for third behind Shuri on The Hunter Day, but was a vastly improved performer at her latest.
I’m only expecting a strong showing on the big Randwick track this week and she has drawn ideally in barrier 4.
Suggested Bet: No. 9 Mistress
The Agency Real Estate Handicap (1200m) – 3:25pm AEDT
This is one of the better races on the program and there is a case to be made for a few of them, including Valiancy.
Valiancy clearly needed her first run back this time when beating only one runner home in BM72 company on the Kensington course here, but she worked home well int third behind the talented Legio Ten most recently.
Fitter third-up and slightly further out in trip this week, I think she’ll be right in the finish again.
Suggested Bet: No. 8 Valiancy
Precise Air Handicap (1100m) – 4:40pm AEDT
This is something of a drop in class for Fox Fighter, and I think that he can finally return to winning form.
The Foxwedge gelding is yet to strike in three starts back from a break, but he was good through the line for fourth in the Listed Starlight Stakes before backing up the next week in the Listed Razor Sharp, beaten only a length.
He’s hard fit this week and I think he has a lot of these rivals covered for class.
Suggested Bet: No. 3 Fox Fighter
Schweppes Handicap (1400m) – 4:40pm AEDT
Chrysaor hasn’t been seen since winning the Group 2 Callander-Presnell back in late October, but he has trialled a couple of times this month and this is obviously a big drop in class.
The Better Than Ready colt turned in a few good performances earlier this year, but there is no doubt that he was at his best at his most recent appearance.
He gets into this race with almost no weight on his back and is drawn ideally in barrier 6.
Suggested Bet: No. 11 Chrysaor
Vale Mr Alan ‘Jock’ Gollogly (1800m) – 5:20pm AEDT
This looks a nice race for Aristonous.
Aristonous won each of his first two starts upon debuting in Australia back in June, and he certainly wasn’t out of his depth in Saturday metro company.
Given he was only half a length third behind a couple of fit ones first-up this time, I’m expecting an improved performance this week, while getting out to the 1800m also suits.
Suggested Bet: No. 4 Aristonous
Benchmark 78 Handicap (1300m) – 5:55pm AEDT
Danaustar has returned to the races in career-best form this time, and I think that the last at Randwick on Saturday is another very winnable one for him.
Danaustar returned to winning form in BM78 company on Kyneton Cup Day, before repeating the dose in a similar race on The Gong Day most recently.
I like that he’s a month between runs while the booking of Craig Williams this week adds further confidence.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Danaustar