Another 10-race card is on offer at Royal Randwick this Saturday.
The weather is fine, the track is rated a Good 4, and our best bets across the entire meeting can be found below!
Race 1: Class 3 Highway Handicap (1600m) – 11:30am AEDT
Tricky Highway race to start, but it does look a winnable one for the Lyle Chandler-trained Mazita.
This lightly-raced four-year-old impressed winning back-to-back starts at Muswellbrook and Gosford, before having his chance at a hat-trick denied when stepping out over the track and distance a fortnight ago.
He was far from disgraced running fourth in the end, struggling a little in the soft conditions early before making up good late ground once clear around the 300m mark.
Back on top of the ground, I think he’s worth sticking with.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Mazita
Race 2: Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1000m) – 12:05pm AEDT
Perseides is a Queensland-based gelding that looks ready to give this a real shake in his return to the races.
By Star Witness, the six-year-old has missed the money only once from six starts over 1000m, while there’s also a lot to like about his first-up record (5:2-0-1).
His recent trial win really caught the eye, and if the track stays in the Good range, he’ll be right in this.
Suggested Bet: No. 3 Perseids
Race 3: Midway Handicap (1100m) – 12:40pm AEDT
Our Kobison resumes looking to add to a tidy record that includes three wins from five starts.
Lightly-raced for a four-year-old, this promising gelding appeared in good order during a recent Wyong trial, while there’s been plenty to like about the form out of his most recent win at Warwick Farm back in August.
The inside gate is to his favour, and with Nash Rawiller riding plenty of winners of late, he appears in safe hands.
Suggested Bet: No. 3 Our Kobison
Race 4: Bisley Workwear Handicap (1300m) – 1:15pm AEDT
Regan Bayliss returns to the irons aboard Rocketeer Girl.
The pair combined to win well at Canterbury back in November, before finding the bottomless track at Kembla Grange a tough slog when beaten over five lengths.
Her recent effort over a touch further here was full of merit, nailed only late after leading out of the turn. Back to 1300m, I think there’s scope for improvement with some weight off.
Suggested Bet: No. 5 Rocketeer Girl
Race 5: Precise Air Handicap (1500m) – 1:50pm AEDT
Running By brings some nice Melbourne form into her Sydney debut.
The Maher and Eustace-trained mare by Impending was beaten just over a length at Sandown two back, a form that line that has since produced five winners – including Masterful at Cranbourne last week.
The lightly-raced four-year-old has since gone on to win herself at Caulfield by half a length, and I think she may have won by more if she wasn’t held up at the top of the straight.
Suggested Bet: No. 5 Running By
Race 6: James Squire Handicap (1600m) – 2:25pm AEDT
Buillt commands real respect over the mile with two wins and a place to his name.
Chris Waller’s gelding went close to a third win when returning off a four-week break over the track and distance three weeks ago, taken back early from the inside gate before storming into the finish to grab second.
J-Mac settling closer to the speed on this occasion should do wonders, and with less of a gap between starts, I think he’ll prove very hard to hold out from a soft gate.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Buillt
Race 7: EGroup Protective Services Handicap (1400m) – 3:00pm AEDT
Irish import Hellsing is the one worth watching here on debut for Annabel Neasham.
The four-year-old entire has made only five starts for two wins, one at Listed level when taking out the Churchill Stakes by half a length midway through last year.
He really caught the eye in his Warwick Farm trial, and given his form in wet and dry conditions, J-Mac should have plenty to work with.
Suggested Bet: No. 4 Hellsing
Race 8: Benchmark 88 Handicap (1200m) – 3:40pm AEDT
Quite keen on Stromboli here if he can earn his way into the field.
The Hawkes-trained five-year-old has been super consistent this prep, last seen running second over shorter after having plenty go wrong at various stages in the run.
He’s rock-hard fit and proven over this trip, not to mention Zac Lloyd’s terrific record in the saddle.
Suggested Bet: No. 15 Stromboli
Race 9: Climate Roofing Handicap (2000m) – 4:20pm AEDT
Winning form is good form, and that’s what Kapakiri brings with him.
Chris Waller’s star stayer made it a hat-trick of wins over the same trip on debut at Randwick last month, finding the front 150m from home to go on to win with plenty left in hand.
Dry conditions are key to his chances, but with Tommy Berry retaining the ride, I can’t find a reason why he won’t go on with the job.
Suggested Bet: No. 8 Kapakiri
Race 10: Ranvet Handicap (1100m) – 4:55pm
Amnesty appeared in need of the run when weakening late first-up off a lengthy spell over further last month.
The 1200m may have been a little too sharp on the fresh side, so this does look a more winnable assignment despite the tricky gate.
We’ve seen what this mare is capable of as a three-year-old, and with natural improvement still to come, I think she’ll prove tough to run down if she can land somewhere around the speed.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Amnesty
