RANDWICK

WEDNESDAY 25 APRIL

TRACK:      GOOD 4

RAIL:    +9M 1600m-WP, +7M remainder

 

 

 

BEST BET:       

 

Race 4             No.8    VELOCITA

Race 5             No.3    MALAHAT

Race 7             No.8    BEACON

 

 

Race 1

8 – 4 – 7 – 3

STOCK UP has been inching towards a win and now that she is third up and steps to 1400m she looks to get her chance after finding the 1300m a fraction short last week. Sazavee comes through the same race as Stock Up where she finished in front of her and looms as major player again especially if she can get control. Stryke Rock from barrier one looks to get the soft run off what looks a solid enough tempo. He comes here off a three week freshen up following three very good runs this preparation.

 

 

Race 2

7 – 3 – 10 – 2  

Rosehill looks to hold the key here with Chris Waller having two fancied runners including my top pick PEMBROKE CASTLE who returns here following 74 days on the sideline and Tim Martin with the favourite Danawi. Pembroke Castle has produced two very good career runs and has caught the eye with two very good trials in readiness for this race. Pembroke is a quality two-year-old who I am sure Waller is hoping can book his ticket on the float to Queensland for the winter carnival. The Autumn Sun is not to be underestimated off the back of some very nice barrier trials so keep an eye on the betting. Tim Martin will saddle up Danawi who has only trialled publicly once and looked well above average winning at Rosehill by a widening 4.5 lengths. I’d be surprised in the winner wasn’t in these three.

 

 

Race 3

4 – 11 – 13 – 6

Looks a tricky race but I have settle on COLOMBINA who did has done enough in her three  career starts to suggest a win is just around the corner. First up this time in she was solid behind Pure Elation before a last start narrow defeat she third up she should be ready to peak. Separated looks a handy filly that will appreciate a mile in time but from a good gate here and with enough natural early toe she should get a good run and be around the mark. Galina has trialled ok and did show ability in her only career run in the Gimcrack last September. Winspear has good speed and from gate one could bounce on the bunny and give plenty of cheek especially with the shades on.

 

 

Race 4

8 – 9 – 2 – 3

VELOCITA is a promising filly destined for some nice races and following a solid effort first up when holding off stablemate and subsequent Melbourne city winner Savacool and she looks the one to get past here. Her biggest asset to my eye is her turn of speed and from a good gate here and a nice tempo expected I think when Blake Shinn lets the brakes off she can dispose of the others in a few strides. Ardanza is a nice mare and is not without a big show here even just judging her off her latest run when having little luck behind Higher Ground who was then able to win the Frank Packer Plate last Saturday here. Hussterical will likely roll to the front and on her best form will take a bit of running down.

 

 

Race 5

3 – 12 – 10 – 7

MALAHAT look one of the better bets on the day in this flying 1000m contest against some questionable types especially in the city and over this trip. Malahat has been gelded since his last run back in the group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington during the Flemington week of the spring carnival. He has been readied for this assignment with two trials and although that weren’t stunning he did enough to suggest he has come back in good order. The speed should be reasonable and I think all being square he can blow his opposition away in the run home. Aboukir Bay was good winning at Wyong fresh up and from gate one he must be entertained as a player. Fabry and Rose of Man round out my top four but I think Malahat is the pea.

 

 

Race 6

2 – 5 – 9 – 3 

Hardest race of the day for mine so I advise to go widish in the second leg of the quadrella. I have finished with KARAVALI who is coming off a month’s freshen up and drops back in grade after finished well back in the group 3 Epona Stakes. Her previous win at Randwick when beating subsequent Epona Stakes winner The Pinnacle and Nettoyer will have her amongst the major spoils here. Araaja is set for her Australian debut off the back of one official trial and although she finished last in that trial the effort was solid and the mail from the track is that she goes well enough to be a player here first up. Drochaid was solid getting the job done last start beating Dubaiinstyle and both loom as big chances here. The former Lloyd Williams galloper now with Kim Waugh Goathland has looked good in two recent barrier trial wins so keep safe. As I mentioned it’s a tricky race so go wide or go for a beer.

 

 

Race 7

8 – 6 – 5 – 14

Looks a good race for my top selection BEACON who resumes here after almost six months spelling and with an expected nice tempo he should get an ideal race scenario. He has trialled twice and although he has finished rearward in those trials he has done it under his own steam and looked nice and relaxed and ready fire when pressure gets applied. With some of the speed scratched it changes the dynamic but I expect Cradle Mountain and Oxford Magic to set a fair tempo and hopefully Beacon can stalk them. Cradle Mountain took real giant steps last preparation winning three straight albeit at Goulburn, Canberra and then Kembla so it’s another step for him this time around in town. That said he looks a real progressive galloper that has been tremendously handled by Clare Cunningham. Smartedge is the one who could pop up without surprising me as I have always had a nice opinion of him but thought he just needed time. Al Mah Haha has been gelded so look for him to improve this preparation.

 

 

Race 8

8 – 5 – 2 – 3

Drawing barrier one has swayed me to tip BRIGHT FUTURE who should lob straight in the perfect trailing position with the likes of Chapelco and Grand Finalist going forward. Bright Future has been rock solid in his three runs this campaign and should appreciate the step up to 1400m. Grand Finalist was solid last start behind subsequent Frank Packer Plate winner Higher Ground and gets the blinkers here to sharpen him up. If Chapelco can get across and roll at his own tempo stepping back in distance he will give the others something to chase. Pure Rebel the query for mine especially if they decide to roll forward and he finds a spot on-pace.

 

 

QUADDIE:

 

1^st leg:              3

2^nd leg:             2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10

3^rd leg:             6, 8

4^th leg:             1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9

 

Cost $84 = 100%