The eight race at Randwick racecourse on Saturday is the Group 2 The Shorts. The race will be run over 1200m with the current favourite for the race being last start odds on beaten Rain Affair who will be looking to recoup punters losses. View our The Shorts 2012 tips and runner by runner preview.

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1. MANAWANUI

Return of last year’s Golden Rose winner who acquitted himself well in three races during this year’s Autumn carnival. Hasn’t raced since March but looked good in his only barrier trial hit-out, running second eight days ago.
The draw does him no favours.

2. HAPPY ZERO

Former Hong Kong galloper who came to Australia via Great Britain. Has had eight starts in Australia and whilst he has produced some eye-catching efforts, including a third in the G1 Stradbroke at his most recent start, is yet to taste victory here. Will get back and have to find his way home through the big field.

3. RAIN AFFAIR

Returned to racing a fortnight ago at Warwick Farm in G3 Concorde Stakes at the 2/1on favourite but soon after straightening, those who took the short odds were worried. He laboured home to finish fourth, beaten 4.4 lengths behind stable-mate Tiger Tees. His record prior was as solid as they get and if you overlook that, the odds of $3.80 on offer look good.

4. SPIRIT OF BOOM

Handy QLD galloper who was very good when narrowly defeated by ‘We’re Gonna Rock’ in the G3, Bobbie Lewis at Flemington last start. Might have been prepared to concede him a bit of a chance but the barrier draw is going to make it hard for him.

5. NOBBY SNIP

Gai Waterhouse’s lone representative in the race, the son of Snippetson has built a good record of five wins from nine starts, including two Listed events.  Expect him to push forward from his draw and with two solid trials under his belt, expect him to fit enough but, given it’s his first go at Group company, there’s a little reservation.

6. PAMPELONNE

Lightly raced gelding from the Tim Martin yard, who won three races in good style last prep before starting 5/1 in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 where he finished sixth then (beaten 3 ¾) Has won two from two first up but, unlike then, hasn’t had a trial leading into this, nevertheless, think he’d still have some improving to do and $9.00, prepared to find out.

7. MALAVIO

This bloke improved at every run last prep, graduating from a Restricted 0 Metro Win race to claiming the Listed Civic Stakes at his most recent start in June by 2 ¼ If he’s continued to make that sort of improvement during his freshen up, might be an outside chance here in an extremely open race

8. ALMA’S FURY

Put together a solid campaign last time in registering three wins and recording placings in the G2 Ajax Stakes and G3 Doncaster Prelude over 1500m and 1600m respectively. Will be giving most of these a significant start heading for home from his wide draw and should appreciate having this run and a longer trip.

9. SATIN SHOES

Smart mare who will push forward and be handy from her draw. First up last start she had her chance but was no match for Tiger Tees in the G3 Concorde Stakes. From eight attempts at this trip, she’s yet to register a win and has recorded three seconds and a third.

10. ONE LAST DANCE

Well bred mare who won her first three starts including the Blue Diamond Preview and Prelude before being sidelined for eighteen months. Has had three runs back the latest of which saw her making ground late for sixth of nineteen (beaten 3.4) in the Bobbie Lewis. In a big field, the inside gate can be as much an advantage as disadvantage.

11. APPEARANCE

Darley runner with the Guy Walter stable who is tackling this event first up from a spell. Won a Canterbury mid-week first up last prep before claiming the G3 Keith Nolan Classic three starts later over a mile but appears to be starting this prep in the deep end of the pool.

12. RENEWED VITALITY

Has been off the scene for ten months and has had two barrier trials, winning the latest, in preparation for his return today. Normally likes to take a forward position and will get his chance to do that from his draw but hard to see him winning a race of this quality first up.

13. FAMOUS SEAMUS

Has won four from his nine starts and chased home Malavio in the Listed Civic Stakes, finishing second (beaten 2 ¼). Record suggest he’s a bit above average but think he might be shooting a little high here.

14. MR. ARMSTRONG        

Has won two of his last seventeen starts and they were a Muswellbrook Open (April 2011) and an Eagle Farm Quality (February 2012). A win here would certainly surprise.

15. ROSE OF PEACE

A mare from Gary Portelli’s yard that has won two from her twenty starts, her most recent win at 100/1 in the Listed Wenona Girl in March of this year. Tackles this race first up and given that she’ll get back, find it hard to rate her a genuine winning chance.

16. EVER THE SAME

Lightly raced mare who, from her eight career starts, has recorded three wins including a smart effort in landing the Listed PJ Bell. Also has a third (beaten ½ ) to Hallowell Belle to her credit. Hasn’t been asked to do a great deal in two trials for her comeback here and fancy she’s one to keep a close watch on.

17. EMOTIONAL CIRCUS

Backing up from here fourth, beaten 1 ¾ behind champion mare More Joyous last week in the Sheraco Stakes.
As we saw her start prior, she can reel off a big finish and the tempo of this race and track, should play into her hands.

OVERVIEW

Where do you start? Only five of the seventeen runners are quoted at a price of under $10.00 here with the favourite, Rain Affair at $3.80. If you’re happy to forgive his last start and go on his previous record which includes two seconds in Group 1 company here at Randwick, the price looks good. Pampelonne next best. Good in a quality race at only his seventh career starts and we’ll trust leading hoop Hugh Bowman to do the job from a wide draw. Going wider, I think we could see a sneaky run from Ever The Same. As mentioned above, she’s only lightly raced, has demonstrated above average ability in some of her wins to date and will appreciate the tempo of the race. At $16.00, she’s worth including in your multiples.