Racing returns to Royal Randwick on The Ingham Day!
Ballot-free entry into the 2024 Doncaster Mile goes on the line in the Group 2 Ingham race and an outstanding field is engaged.
There are ten winners to be found, however, and my 2023 Ingham Day Tips can be found below.
Oran Park Highway (1400m) – 12:20pm AEDT
Veandechance returned a winner at Doomben last month, and something like this looks an ideal progression point for her.
The Vancouver mare didn’t show her best form last time in, but her fresh effort this time suggested that she has returned an improved galloper.
She strips fitter and is drawn to receive every chance under barrier 6.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Veandechance
Bob Ingham AO Handicap (1400m) – 12:55pm AEDT
Step Aside returned a winner of a similar race at Rosehill when resuming, and I’m confident that he can go on with it at Randwick on Saturday.
The son of Redwood raced consistently in metro company last time in, winning a BM72 most notably, and hit the line to beat home some fit horses in his first start back last month.
He’s yet to finish worse than second at this point of his preparation and Nash Rawiller will have options in running from barrier 1.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Step Aside
Coolmore Highway (1400m) – 1:30pm AEDT
Another wide-open race with several winning chances, but I am going to have something on Golden Decade.
Golden Decade struck at the midweeks up in Brisbane two starts back, following that performance up with another good one for second, beaten by a length in a Saturday metro race at his latest.
He’s hard fit and getting back down to Sydney in country company can herald another race win.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Golden Decade
The Sacco Group Midway (1200m) – 2:05pm AEDT
Terra Mater returned to action with an eye-catching performance and win at Canterbury a couple of weeks ago, and this looks a great opportunity for her to transition back into Saturday metro company.
The Wandjina mare is yet to miss placing in nine career starts, picking off some nice races and finding form around some quality opposition.
She was dominant in the slightly weaker race first-up this time, and natural improvement will see her right into the finish of something like this as well.
Suggested Bet: No. 8 Terra Mater
Inglis Nursery (1000m) – 2:40pm AEDT
Typically, there isn’t a lot of form to study ahead of this year’s Inglis Nursery, but I thought that Blue Stratum was good on debut and will take improvement into this race.
The Blue Point colt attracted good interest in betting ahead of the Maribyrnong Plate, ultimately finishing second by a head behind Dublin Down.
On exposed form, he can go one better on Saturday.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Blue Stratum
Listed Max Brenner Santa Cup (2000m) – 3:20pm AEDT
I’mintowin has returned two nice performances since resuming, and he looks ready to strike third-up and out to 2000m this week.
The former Kiwi galloper made an ideal debut to Australian racing with a comfortable win at Rosehill last month, and was only a head behind the winner at Newcastle last time out.
He drops in the weights this week, and breeding suggests he’ll relish rising in trip.
Suggested Bet: No. 8 I’mintowin
Group 2 The Ingham (1600m) – 4pm AEDT
Ballot-free entry into next year’s Doncaster Mile goes on the line and a fittingly outstanding field has accepted for Saturday’s feature race.
Detonator Jack was nothing short of dominant in The Gong last time out, and with luck from the barriers this week, I think he can win again.
The Jakkalberry gelding has always been a good horse, but he has continued to improve with each start back this time and was rewarded with the best and most lucrative win of his career last time.
He’s hard fit, clearly relishes the mile and Jason Collett understandably retains the ride.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Detonator Jack
Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m) – 4:40pm AEDT
Fox Fighter is third-up and on the short back up into Saturday’s Razor Sharp Handicap, and I think he’s going to take beating.
The Foxwedge gelding finished fifth, beaten three lengths in a decent 1100m sprint here at Randwick when resuming this time, and I thought he was very good into fourth behind some good, fit horses in the Starlight Stakes last week.
It has been a short while since he won a race, but with even luck this week I think it’s a great opportunity for him.
Suggested Bet: No. 8 Fox Fighter
Jack Ingham AO Handicap (1600m) – 5:20pm AEDT
We were with Promitto at big odds when he hit the line to finish second at Newcastle on The Hunter Day, and I’m happy to stick with him when he goes around on The Ingham Day.
The Divine Prophet gelding hadn’t been showing his best form during his last couple of preparations, but his fitness increased noticeably with each start back this time, and he found favourable conditions at his home track last time out.
He’s hard fit this week, he gets some relief in the weights under Zac Lloyd again, and he should enjoy getting back to the big Randwick track.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Promitto
Aloha Strawberry Hill Stud Handicap (1100m) – 5:55pm AEDT
Way To The Stars has been excellent with his runs spaced this time, and he strikes another winnable race at Randwick on Saturday.
The Reward For Effort gelding has won two of three starts back this campaign, only just missing in BM78 company at Rosehill on the other occasion and he really was a level above them in a similar race to this one, last time out.
He’s five weeks between runs into this race, but a recent trial at Newcastle adds further confidence to his chance this week.
Suggested Bet: No. 7 Way To The Stars