Randwick Racing Tips: Saturday, February 5th

(3) Spacewalk started big odds on debut in the Breeders’ Plate. He sat wide without cver before working to get outside the leader. He battled on OK for 5^th, beaten just over 2L. Draws much better for his return here with Hugh Bowman in the saddle and his recent trial was sound.

(9) Plymstock won at double figure odds on debut two weeks ago and draws the inside with Tim Clark retaining the ride today. She has obvious claims.

James McDonald takes the ride on the favourite (5) Lady Laguna, who is undefeated from two career starts. Won on debut at Eagle Farm in Brisbane before bolting in on a Heavy 10 at Rosehill 10 weeks ago. Has been given a let-up ahead of today and while she’s hard to knock, my obvious query is the fact that last victory was on a bog track, potentially making the margin slightly flattering.

Tommy Berry rode Lady Laguna on that occasion but chooses to ride (7) Cythera for the Snowden’s who makes her debut after winning her only trial.

Tip: (3) Spacewalk $5.50 Sportsbet

Also Backing: (7) Cythera $6.00 Sportsbet

Betting Strategy: 0.5 units WIN Spacewalk, 0.5 units WIN Cythera

Full field of 18 for the Highway, doesn’t make things easy!

The two I’d be leaning towards here are (2) Ahead Start and (7) Participator.

Ahead Start has plenty of talent when he’s right. He has a great fresh record with two wins and a 2^nd from three starts. He resumed with a 2^nd in a similar race to this behind Leo last preparation, and that horse then went on to win a BM78 at his next start. Draws terribly in barrier 17 here but JMac is in the saddle and he’ll be somewhere in the finish.

Bowman takes the ride on the unbeaten Participator who hasn’t been seen since destroying his rivals in a Class 1 at Wagga in October. Prior to that he been Verbek who, although hasn’t won a race yet, isn’t a bad horse.

Tip: (2) Ahead Start $7.00 TAB

Betting Strategy: No bet

Another wide-open race for the Midway.

(1) Pecuniary Interest won first up over track and distance in a similar race, before going back-to-back Midways with a second up victory over 2000m. Stepped up sharply in grade to tackle the Listed January Cup last start but was outclassed, so drops back to Midway company and also drops back to the mile. That has to be the query but he does have three wins from four starts at the distance, as well as five wins from eight starts on soft ground.

(5) Icecrusher ran 2^nd to Trajection first up over 1400m. Was only run down late there and meets Trajection 2.5kg better off at the weights here. Has a good second up record and handles all surfaces so has to be some sort of chance at double figure odds.

(2) Trajection has five wins from eight starts on soft ground so will be better suited back in grade and back on wet ground today.

(3) McCormack gets a huge jockey change with Hugh Bowman booked to ride.

Tip: (5) Icecrusher $10 Bet365

Betting Strategy: No bet

(1) Malkovich comes up favourite here despite carrying the full 62.5kg, giving his rivals 4kg+. The stable is flying and the horse rarely runs poorly but that’s a fair amount of weight to concede.

The Godolphin camp hold a strong hand with (3) Kallos and (5) Emanate. Kallos was last seen finishing down the track in the Coolmore Stud Stakes following a win in the Danehill Stakes. Bowman booked from the inside gate.

Emanate gets JMac on and while she hasn’t won first up previously, she hasn’t had a whole lot of luck in a couple of those runs.

(2) Wisdom Of Water has won back-to-back Magic Millions races but it’s hard to know how that form will stack up against this calibre of opposition.

Tip: (3) Kallos $4.20 TAB

Value: (5) Emanate $11 TAB

Betting Strategy: 0.75 units WIN Kallos, 0.25 units WIN Emanate

(7) Deel With Me comes into this on the quick backup after finishing 3^rd on he monorail at Rosehill last weekend. Tongue tie on, Tim Clark on, so could be in for a more positive ride here up to the mile.

(10) Van Roy is a very interesting runner coming to Sydney after consecutive wins in country Victoria. A BM64 at Camperdown isn’t normally a great form reference for metropolitan Sydney on a Saturday, but I doubt the stable would bring him here if they thought he was hopeless.

(5) Yukon was a sound effort first up over 1400m and the form has been good with Waihaha Falls coming out and winning. Up to the mile second up suits but the wet track is a query. If this was on a Good track I’d have him on top.

(4) Through Irish Eyes is a scary horse first up over the mile with JMac booked. Last seen running over 2800m but this stable can do things most others can’t.

(1) Arctic Thunder gets Collett back on and a wet track which suits.

Tip: (7) Deel With Me $8.00 Ladbrokes

Betting Strategy: 0.5 units E/W Deel With Me

The Inglis Millennium for the 2YO’s.

James McDonald gets down to 54.5kg to ride (14) Paris Dior, which for him is about as light as he can go. Should have won on debut and atoned for that with a dominant win a Canterbury last start.

The boys have won all three editions of this race and (1) Sejardan is the most popular of them, having won the Breeders’ Plate and Golden Gift at his first two starts. That was three months ago now and it’s hard to know how they come back. He’ll be out the back but we know he’s got a big finish.

(6) Boldinho ran 2^nd to Ebhaar on debut and then had no luck at all in the Inglis Nursery last start when held up the entire straight. Bowman sticks with from the good draw and can go close.

Tip: (6) Boldinho $6.00 PlayUp

Betting Strategy: No bet

Based on her first up run, I think (7) Joviality is back somewhere near her best this preparation. She was beaten 0.3L by Rule of law, who then won again last weekend, and there was a 3L gap back to the 3^rd horse. JMac sticks with, just needs to give her a good run from the draw and she should be awfully hard to beat.

Stablemate (1) Steel Diamond third up with Jamie Kah on board looks a winning chance as ell and could pose the biggest threat to the favourite.

(4) I Siyou Baby makes its stable debut for John O’Shea, having previously raced in the UK. Apprentice booked first up suggests it may not be ready just yet, but it’s an interesting runner at big odds.

Tip: (7) Joviality $2.90 Bet365

Betting Strategy: 2 units WIN Joviality

Really only interested in two runners here in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes.

(4) Paulele has five wins from 10 starts, including two from three at this distance, and he’s probably the best suited to the 1200m fresh. His to wins at the distance have both been here at Randwick and he handles all conditions.

(11) Ranch Hand gets James McDonald, which is notable given his association with Paulele last prep. This horse won first up down the straight at Flemington last preparation and the prep before that was beaten a nose on the Gold Coast first up. Think they have a decent opinion of him and think he’ll be ready to go here.

Tip: (11) Ranch Hand $7.00 TopSport

Saver: (4) Paulele $2.30 Sportsbet

Betting Strategy: 1 unit WIN Ranch Hand, 1 unit WIN Paulele

(1) Lancaster Bomber looks a good each way chance here in the penultimate race. He ran well for 2^nd first up and he has a terrific second up record with three wins from six starts. Placed both occasions he’s run over this track and distance and has won in all conditions. Just needs a good ride from the apprentice from the wide draw.

(10) Maotai had plenty of ability as a 2YO and now has his first start as a 3YO, and gets the blinkers on for the first time. Always a little query how they progress from two to three.

(13) Silent Impact won well first up to take his record to three wins from four starts. Draws well again here and looks the horse to beat.

Tip: (1) Lancaster Bomber $12/$3.20 TAB

Betting Strategy: 0.5 units E/W Lancaster Bomber

(3) Laure Me In is a big price at 25/1 here to close out the day. Had no luck at all first up in the Carrington Stakes where he never saw clear air. He has an outstanding second up record with three wins and two 2nds from six starts, and he’s won once before over this track and distance. Definitely prefers the ground to be in the good range so if it’s anywhere near a Good 4 – Soft 5 by the last, he should be a great each way chance.

(4) Frosty Rocks was beaten a head in the Magic Millions Cup last start. Has never finished out of the top two from three starts at the distance and gets J Kah.

(9) No Compromise ran well first up for 3^rd and will be suited by the rise in trip as well as the soft ground. Gets JMac so plenty to like about him.

(8) Through The Cracks next best.

Tip: (3) Laure Me In $27/$6.50 Sportsbet

Betting Strategy: 0.5 units E/W Laure Me In