It’s one of Randwick’s premier race days, with the running of four outstanding Group One races throughout the afternoon for Day 1 of The Championships. The fields assembled in all races are absolutely top notch, and will be accompanied by a ripper Bendigo Guineas program in Victoria. Our PlayUp analyst has found a bunch of bets at both venues, including selections for all of the Group One races.
Randwick R1 #4 Nominator $5.00 at PlayUp – Another quality field of 2yo’s has assembled for the G2 Kindergarten Stakes, and Nominator looks the right bet to kick off the program. This horse was very good on debut at Flemington behind Cavalla, and was immediately spelled. He returned a winner at Gosford in very similar heavy conditions to what he finds today, putting away a maiden field by close to 3L on the line. Second up here, fitter, and back on a wet track are all positives. Should be right up on speed and hard to run down.
Randwick R5 (Country Championships Final) #9 Tap ’N’ Run $21.00 at PlayUp – Love this race, one of the feature events of the Randwick Autumn Carnival every year. I think this Ron Stubbs runner is a very good each way play, coming through the Wagga qualifier behind Another One. He got held up at a crucial stage, and flew through the line over the 1400m there making up many lengths. He has since run extremely well down the Flemington straight in a very hard race, and the Randwick 1400m track will be perfect for his racing pattern. The booking of Craig Williams is a huge bonus, as he sat on the horse at Flemington, and looks a great each way bet.
Randwick R6 (G1 Inglis Sires’) #11 Brosnan $31.00 at PlayUp – Cannot figure out why this horse is so long in the market, and the favourite Fireburn is hogging way too much of the attention. This Snitzel colt was very impressive on debut here at Randwick on a heavy 10, settling in an impossible winning position towards the back and making up big metres through the line. It was a similar story at Flemington last start, where he flashed late to run 4th, only beaten 1.15L on the line. Back to Randwick suits, we know he handles the wet, and now third up I think he can be peaking and going very close.
Randwick R7 (G1 Australian Derby) #12 Elzamee $31.00 at PlayUp
Randwick R8 (G1 TJ Smith Stakes) #2 Eduardo $3.90 at PlayUp
Randwick R9 (G1 Doncaster Mile) #21 Bankers Choice $17.00 at PlayUp
Bendigo R5 #6 La Chevalee $3.90 at PlayUp – Extremely impressed with the first up performance of this talented Maher and Eustace horse, who proved she is back in great order when running 3rd at Sandown over the 1400m. She got back behind midfield off a strong tempo, but the horse who won settled outside the lead, meaning the shape of the race didn’t suit this horse. She flew home late in the piece, and her last 400m was 3L quicker than benchmark average. Second up with a great record at this stage, and is a two time winner over this trip as well.
Bendigo R9 #10 Second Slip $6.00 at PlayUp – Think the Adelaide visitor can win the last for the Will Clarken yard, although this horse is hardly foreign to racing in Melbourne, having won multiple times here. He was very good first up at Morphettville in the Listed Matrice Stakes, leading them up and finishing 3rd behind Ironclad who has been scratched from a G1 Doncaster. His second up record is dynamite, having won three from four second up starts, and the 1400m trip is perfect as well. He maps to lead them comfortably from barrier three, and with the claim bringing his weight down to 55kg he should be extremely competitive.
