Randwick Racing Tips: Saturday, January 9th

Odds Last Updated: March 3, 2021, 9:36am (AEDT)

The winner definitely comes from these top three in the market, it’s just a matter of which form you want to follow. I am putting (1) Matowatakpe on top here and he is the outsider of the three. His run wasn’t too bad despite being beaten by 3.6 lengths in sixth by All Time Legend. That horse was in another league and our boy finished within a length of second, which shows how good the winner was. He is drawn well and comes back in grade which is a plus and with the 2kg claim of Tom Sherry, it brings him further into this race. He handles the sting out of the ground and will map to sit just off the speed which is ideal.

(3) Triple Ace is looking to make it five in a row after his narrow win at Canterbury. Josh Parr sticks with him and he maps to get a suck run throughout. After his win last start on the soft 6, I think the ground will pose no issues for him here.

(2) Malkovich is the likely leader from the inside but is unproven in the wet. He has been up since August and subsequently failed last start on the heavy going in the Gosford Guineas. This is a big step back in grade, so maybe he can handle the going better in a weaker grade.

Tip: (1) Matowatakpe $6.00 Bet365 E/W

Also Betting: (3) Triple Ace $3.65 Sportsbetting

Betting Strategy: 1 unit EACH WAY Matowatakpe B3TSP, 1 unit WIN Triple Ace B3TSP

Odds Last Updated: February 21, 2021, 11:56am (AEDT)

Not a betting race here for me but I am predicting a Scone trained 1-2-3. (4) Pinnacle Prince goes on top here after a super impressive win last start at Randwick. The son of Hinchinbrook came from last at the 400m mark to win by almost a length in devastating fashion. Second-up last preparation he went down to stablemate It’s Me by two lengths, but she isn’t here to spoil the party for him today. He definitely won’t be so far back this start and he gives every indication that he handles the sting out of the ground well.

(2) Step On Fire was the victim of a poor draw last start which subsequently put him in a poor position. He raced wide without cover for the majority of the event but managed to hold on to fourth place, finishing 2.8 lengths off the eventual winner. He has drawn the inside gate here and gets Rachel King aboard, so it is expected that the run will be much kinder this time in.

(8) Joey’s Chance is likely to get pretty far back from the barrier and will be flying late, hence he could be a good inclusion into your exotics. He doesn’t mind the track conditions and will carry no weight, so that should improve his chances slightly to run a solid race.

Tip: (4) Pinnacle Prince $2.00 Bet365

Betting Strategy: No Bet

Odds Last Updated: January 10, 2021, 12:55am (AEDT)

Siding with (4) Zing after her last start effort at this track and distance. After hitting the lead around 350m out, our girl was travelling strongly before being over-run by Bowery Breeze. She was defeated by a length as she looked to have just peaked a touch late in the piece. She did beat the rest of the field by 1.3 lengths and that is a nice positive to take out of the defeat. She should be nearing peak fitness now and staying at the mile looks ideal. Where she gets to in the run will be up to Tommy Berry from barrier 7, so hopefully she can get a kind run throughout and put herself in a winning position.

(9) Fifteen Aria does look a nice progressive filly, but I query the step up to 1600m in benchmark 72 grade from her maiden win. Her form has been held up nicely by the win of Flexible at Warwick Farm, but the question is what did it beat? She gets no weight and showed last start that the soft going is no issue.  The stablemates should fight this one out.

(2) Foxborough is the main rival to the Waller pair and comes down to a nice weight with the claim of Chris Williams. The draw is a touch awkward, but she does enjoy these conditions.

Tip: (4) Zing $3.05 Sportsbetting

Also Betting: (9) Fifteen Aria $5.00 Bet365

Betting Strategy: 2 units WIN Zing B3TSP, 1 unit WIN Fifteen Aria B3TSP

Odds Last Updated: January 10, 2021, 12:55am (AEDT)

This bloke looks something special and I expect him to make it four wins in a row. (5) All Time Legend settled at the rear of the field last start after beginning awkwardly from the wide barrier. He began his run around 300m out and accelerated past the field and the winner and streaked away to a 2.5 length win. It appears Les Bridge has got to the bottom of him and I expect him to take the next step through the grades her second-up.

I will be having something on (3) McCormack each way at massive odds. On face value the first-up run was average, but he should have finished a bit closer than 6.1 lengths as Kathy O’Hara stopped riding late in the straight. It wasn’t reported in the steward’s report but as Yamazaki came through, he drifted a touch which cause Threeood to drift and halt the riding of our bloke. He is proven on the wet going, has drawn better than last start and should sit much handier, he is proven in this grade and better and of course has a nice record second-up. The price is definite overs.

(10) Dream Circle is probably the pick out of the rest who can run well here.

Tip: (5) All Time Legend $2.00 Bet365

Also Betting: (3) McCormack $23.00 Bet365 E/W

Betting Strategy: 3 units WIN All Time Legend B3TSP, 0.5 unit WIN McCormack B3TSP, 1 unit PLACE McCormack B3TSP

Odds Last Updated: February 7, 2021, 12:06pm (AEDT)

Not a race I am overly keen on and have (1) Juventus on top. He has had three runs this preparation, running third at Kembla Grange behind Mo’s Crown and Onslaught before going down a length to I Am Vinnie at Randwick. Last start he had to go back from the wide barrier and from the 400m – 300m he was held up for clear running before finding air and accelerating through. He ended up finishing 2.5 lengths in sixth and only 0.6 lengths behind rival (7) Greek Hero, to whom he meets 4.5kg better off here. He is drawn much better this week and gets a nice 2kg claim of Chris Williams which will give him some relief in the run. His runs on soft ground are better than they read and with the step up to 1500m, I think he is a nice each-way chance.

(6) Brutality is a good chance to go back-to-back in the wins column if he can bring his mid-week form to Saturday grade. He is drawn poorly but has the advantage of keeping Kathy O’Hara aboard and of course loves the wet tracks. Should see some good improvement here second-up stepping up to 1500m.

(3) Come Along will appreciate the step back in distance and the sting out of the ground. He runs well in this grade and is a must include in all exotics.  

Tip: (1) Juventus $7.00 Unibet E/W

Betting Strategy: No Bet

Odds Last Updated: February 28, 2021, 9:56am (AEDT)

Going against the favourite here with a nice each-way proposition. (11) Pandano was no match for rival (2) Big Parade last start, going down by 3.7 lengths in fourth but he did hit the line well and travelled nicely through the line. He meets (2) Big Parade 3.5kg better off for that run and (6) Mo’s Crown half a kilo better off whilst carrying a mere 52.5kg. Being by Dundeel I think the track conditions won’t be a bother for him and if Jay Ford can get him into a nice position in the straight, he is a solid each-way bet.

(2) Big Parade is the logical selection here after a brilliant win last start. It will be interesting to see what Josh Parr does from the inside barrier with 59kg and I am sure the backers will be hoping that the energy is conserved early.

(4) Bandersnatch looks a good pick for the exotics and should improve from his last start placing. With Tommy Berry engaged to ride, I expect him to be forward and to create his own luck.

Tip: (11) Pandano $18.20 Sportsbetting E/W

Betting Strategy: 0.5 unit WIN Pandano B3TSP, 1.5 unit PLACE Pandano B3TSP

Odds Last Updated: January 10, 2021, 12:55am (AEDT)

(6) Gone Bye will do one thing and that is go forward and be hard to catch. He has been in tremendous form this preparation and gets to carry 1.5kg less than his narrow win last start and he is draw to do what he likes from barrier 3. He has shown in the past that he can handle the wet conditions and with the low weight, he is going to take running down. He is on top for me, but I won’t be betting.

The connections of (2) Spirit Ridge will be hoping for a win here with bigger targets in the Autumn. After narrowly going down over the mile two starts ago, the son of Nathaniel saluted over this track and distance on Boxing Day by less than half a length. Although he drops a touch in grade, he has drawn the wide gate and has to give some of his rivals’ weight. He is on top for me with no confidence.

(3) Laure Me In will attempt to turn the tables on (2) Spirit Ridge and gets a 3kg weight swing to boost his chances after a 1.1 length defeat. He will have to contend with a poor barrier to get the job done.

Tip: (6) Gone Bye $6.00 Bluebet E/W

Betting Strategy: No Bet

Odds Last Updated: January 17, 2021, 9:36am (AEDT)

Call me crazy, but I favour one here at massive odds. (2) High Opinion was given none from the barrier last start but showed some nice go forward from the 300m mark. Around the 150m mark, Tommy put the whip away before sitting up on him 75m out. With plenty left in the tank and some residual fitness carried on from his campaign in August, he gets a massive chance to improve nicely second-up back in grade. He gets the 2kg off for Chris Williams and should be able to sit closer than last start from a more favourable barrier. Track conditions won’t worry him regardless of whether it worsens or improves and of course the step up in distance suits. I’ve seen worse $50+ chances.

(3) New Arrangement is another we will speck at an each-way basis following his 1.5 length win over the Randwick mile last start. Wet track suits and he will get a nice 3kg claim of Cejay Graham which will come nicely into play entering the straight. If she can get him into a nice spot, he will be hard to beat again.

(11) Space Is Deep was scratched at Canterbury for this race but will give them a start here second-up. Look for him late.

Tip: (2) High Opinion $53.00 Sportsbetting E/W

Also Betting: (3) New Arrangement $7.00 Bet365 E/W

Betting Strategy: 0.25 unit EACH WAY High Opinion B3TSP, 1 unit EACH WAY New Arrangement B3TSP

Odds Last Updated: March 3, 2021, 9:36am (AEDT)

(10) More Prophets is the pick in the last and she has been in nice form. The Smart Missile mare is yet to finish outside of the top 3 and showed she was going to continue that first-up with a very nice win at Warwick farm, which has since produced three winners since. Her last start was good, and I thought maybe she just peaked a touch in the final 50m and that run will bring her on massively for this race. Kerrin McEvoy takes the ride and from the draw she should be able to get a similar run to her previous runs.

(3) Helga will get a nice run throughout from a good draw and will be firing fit after two solid runs. Chris Williams stays aboard so that gives her some weight relief and she maps to sit just behind the leaders, which is ideal for how I think the track will play.

(8) Strawb is going to have it all to do especially with the poor draw. She is talented and will be flying late but she will need luck.

Tip: (10) More Prophets $7.00 Bet365

Betting Strategy: 1 unit WIN More Prophets B3TSP