It’s day 2 of The Championships, and for the first time in a number of years a horse other than the mighty mare Winx will be victorious in the G1 Queen Elizabeth stakes at Randwick, which is undoubtedly the feature race of the day. Will it be an Australian based horse saluting, or will the imports prove too strong? Randwick is also plays host to three other G1 races, each with their own importance. The Australian Oaks is a cracking race over the 2400m, featuring a number of last start winners and place-getters’. The Sydney Cup is the ultimate staying test of the Autumn carnival, and the English horse Young Rascal looks hard to beat. Lastly, the Coolmore Legacy see’s the country’s best milers line up for one last crack at G1 glory this carnival. Meanwhile at Caulfield, their nine race card includes a number of G3 events and a Listed race, and it looks to be a great day of betting at ’The Heath’. PlayUp form analyst Lewis Willoughby has identified five key bets, see them below:
Caulfield:R3 #5 Zousonic $3.10 at PlayUp – Comes here well into her prep, having her fourth start since a freshen back in January. The run last start in the Bendigo Guineas was a serious eye catcher, she flew home over 1400m and recorded the quickest sectionals of the entire meeting. Today from barrier four she maps for an easier run, rock hard fit and sticking to the 1400m should not be an issue. Preferring the track to be dry, and if it is she should be able to be very competitive in this race. The main danger for mine is Debt’n’deficit, who is a very talented horse in its own right, and could be the play for any quinella’s/exacta’s.
Caulfield R4 #14 Too Good Too Hard (BEST) $4.00 at PlayUp – Another horse who was a big eye catcher last start, first up at Mornington she ran 2nd after just finding one better on the day. They ran good time over the 1200m that day, and she was caught three wide with cover for the majority of the event. Stripping much fitter here second up, and with that fitness I don’t expect the drop back in distance to be any issue. Barrier three is a perfect draw, I expect her to be positioned much handier to the speed today, and with even luck she will be right in the finish.
Caulfield R7 #10 Scarlet Dream $7.00 at PlayUp – I have been eagerly awaiting the second up run of this highly promising Hawkes’ trained mare, and it finally comes today. First up at Caulfield back in March over the mile, she just ran out of time late making a dive at the winner, and had to settle for second place. She ran the fastest last 400m and 200m sectionals of the entire meeting, and that is extremely impressive accomplishment for a staying horse who was having her first start in the prep. Out to the 2000m today is perfect, and she seems to have the most upside out of any of these horses in my opinion. In her previous prep, she finished 2nd to Verry Elleegant in the G1 ATC Oaks, and she has 2000m form behind Finche and Etana. No doubt today she will be fit and ready to go, and her current quote is way over the odds. I’m really confident that she will run a massive race!
Randwick:R4 #7 Philizzy $16 at PlayUp – I’ve gone for something at a bit of value here in what looks a cracking, but wide open, edition of the G2 Percy Sykes Stakes. This filly for Anthony Cummings returns from a freshen after running 4th in the G3 Magic Night at Rosehill. After winning on debut three starts back, she has not had the best of luck in her two subsequent runs, finding loads of trouble in the straight each time and finishing well when it is all over. She is drawn well in barrier four to get a good trail midfield with cover, and i’m hoping that with even luck she may be able to improve and be competitive. There are some really talented horses here I could make a strong case for, but i’m taking a gamble and going with the unknown factor with this horse. Maybe a 1×3 type of play would be best here.
R8 (G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes) #10 Master Of Wine $9.00 at PlayUp – Similar to my last selection, i’ve found something at a touch of value again. I think this Hawkes’ trained gelding is an absolute star in the making, having won his last four starts, including three straight wins this preparation. He romped home by 3.5L most recently in the G3 Sky High, and seems as though he still has much more to offer. The wet track is no concern, he is proven on all types of going, and thoroughly deserves his chance at the top level here. Barrier 13 is a bit sticky, but if he is able to relax with cover and have clear running in the straight, I can’t see any reason why he won’t give this race a serious shake up. Play him on an each-way basis, and hopefully you won’t be disappointed!
G1 selections:R6: G1 Australian Oaks – Shout The Bar win $4.40 at PlayUp
R7: G1 Sydney Cup – Young Rascal win $2.45 at PlayUp
R9: G1 Coolmore Legacy – Nettoyer Win $8.00 at PlayUp, save on Noire $15.00 at PlayUp
