Huge G1 day of racing all across the country, with five races to be run at the top level split between Sydney and Melbourne. The G1 Chipping Norton and Surround Stakes at Randwick will be run on a heavy surface, while Melbourne will be bathed in sunshine to host Oakleigh Plate day, with the Blue Diamond for the 2yo’s and the Futurity Stakes rounding out the feature races for the afternoon. Take a look at the PlayUp form analyst selections below for a cracking day of racing.
Caulfield
R2 #2 Flying Mascot $1.85 at PlayUp
Very good fresh running second to Probabeel in the G3 Bellmaine stakes, which for obvious reasons is a very strong form line. She looked to have the raced sealed up only to be nabbed on the post. Her last 600m sectional was almost 10L quicker than the standard, and now second up stepping to 1400m she is ready to win. A proven group performer who is already a G3 winner, and ran 2L off Colette in the G1 Empire Rose last prep.
R4 #10 Forbidden City $7.50 at PlayUp
Big price for a horse who is coming off a last start 8L demolition win at Sandown, and what was seen to the eye was also backed up on the clock. She sat up on a hot tempo going 2L faster than average, and still let down under hands and heels to blow her opposition away. Second up, goes to 1400m and maps for a perfect run up on speed with her natural gate quickness.
R7 #10 Hafey $19.00 at PlayUp
Very keen on this 2yo in the G1 Blue Diamond, coming off a debut win at Bendigo early in February. He won by a comfortable 3.75L on that occasion, and although beat nothing special it was a strong win on the clock and Craig Williams was more than glowing of his assessment of the horse. He has drawn wide, but this is not necessarily the worst thing as he will be afforded cover in the race, and be wider on the track with clear air in the crucial stages. Stable have a massive opinion of the horse, he is over the odds.
Randwick
R6 #7 Kiku $10.00 at PlayUp
Angling for value on a track that is guaranteed to be in the heavy 10 range, and you’ll need to find horses that handle it. Kiku fits that mould, having never finished worse than second in three career starts on a heavy. That includes a minor placing to in The Buffering Stakes only two runs ago, and a 2.5L win in Sydney last winter. She is third up into this race and in great form, a two time winner at the distance and Nash sticks aboard from the Queensland campaign. A lovely map with only 55kg is the cherry on top.
R10 #5 Maotai $2.30 at PlayUp
Horse on the way up here, coming off a scintillating first up victory here at Randwick last start. He won quite easily, defeating a handy BM78 field in the process. Returns to the track and trip in harder grade, but finds a very winnable race and carries no weight for the rise in difficulty. As long as he handles the wet track, I see no reason as to why he shouldn’t be making it back to back victories.
