First Group 1 of the Sydney carnival, with the running of the Winx Stakes today. Our PlayUp form analyst has identified five winners below, including a tip for the feature race.
Randwick:
R5 #6 Showmanship: $2.50 on PlayUp – The team have decided to run this talented galloper at Randwick over Melbourne, and he looks very well suited here. Gets barrier one with J Mac booked to ride, and rails in run is proving to be a winning formula in Sydney racing of late. He was enormous running 3rd on a heavy 10 in the Wangoom at Warrnambool, first up off a spell of 606 days. Spelled again but has jumped out very nicely, and can be beating these.
R7 #3 Fituese: $10 on PlayUp – G3 Toy Show Quality has a strong line up, and i’m confident that last years winner of this race can go back to back. She is a proven first up performer, having won four of seven fresh runs in her career including this race last year on similar track conditions. She draws barrier one which is perfect for her on speed racing style, and the drying track will be massively to her favour. She battled towards the end of last prep on heavy going, and with the spell and some good trials she will be well suited on a drying deck.
R8 (G1 Winx Stakes) #1 Mo’Unga: $4.80 on PlayUp – Last years winner of this race is looking to go back to back in the G1 feature, and I can’t see why he won’t. When looking at last years race, he had one solid trial leading in before putting Verry Elleegant to the sword and other proven G1 performers in a cracking win. There are a lot of similarities between that prep and this one, his first trial at Rosehill behind Hilal was very solid, and he was given an extremely quiet second trial just for fitness. Drawn barrier two looks perfect, a super first up record of 5:3-1-1 in his favour, and should be able to beat this field who have targets of longer distance in mind.
The Valley:
R1 #9 Miss Subtly: $5 on PlayUp – Have been impressed with the two career starts of this G Begg filly, finishing an extremely close second on both occasions (beaten 0.1L and 0.2L respectively). Her Sale debut run was very good, leading the field in a fast tempo and still finishing with the 12th best last 200m split of the entire day, just nailed late by a swooper who enjoyed the strong tempo. She maps for an uncontested lead here, and should be able to slip away on the turn and won’t be for catching.
R8 #4 Extremely Lucky: $2.10 on PlayUp – Very talented Will Clark gelding lines up for his first crack at Group success, coming off a hugely impressive Listed Lightning Stakes win. He came from last to beat a very smart field, and his sectionals backed up what we saw. Second up here and will be fitter, he has a great record over this 1000m distance and should be mapping closer today from the draw. J Kah takes the ride, a big push within itself, and with some key rival scratchings i’m genuinely surprised he is still above even money.
