The following is a selection of Australian racing tips for Saturday, April 21. The focus is on the Champagne Stakes and All Aged Stakes at Randwick. Ascot, Caulfield, Doomben and Morphettville are also covered. More tips and previews will be added as they become available.
Promotions
View bookmaker racing promotions for this weekend (not available to NSW residents)
Best bets of the day
Randwick Race 1, No. 1 Nic’s Vendetta
Randwick Race 5, No. 4 So Far Sokool
Ascot
Race 3, No. 1 My Greek Boy – 4 stars
Race 5, No. 2 Salorsci – 3 stars
Race 8, No. 11 Young Thor – EACH-WAY – 3.5 stars
Surveyed on course bookmakers recommend you lay (bet against) the following runners:
Race 5 #3 Jingtang
Caulfield
Race 2, No. 3 Widgee Turf – BEST BET – 4.5 stars
Race 3, No. 9 Thrillster – 4 stars
Race 6, No. 6 Street Sheik – EACH-WAY – 3.5 stars
Quaddie: 1, 6 / 3, 9, 11 / 2, 3, 12, 13 / 3, 6, 12, 13
Race 2:
Back Widgee Turf (2.90) to win.
Surveyed on course bookmakers recommend you lay (bet against) the following runners:
Race 2 #3 Widgee Turf
Race 5 #1 Nature Strip
Race 6 #1 Cliff’s Edge
Race 7 #12 Property
Race 9:
BACK (WIN) – Land Of Plenty for 3.5 units
BACK (WIN) – Fastnet Tempest for 1.5 units
Palmerbet – Racing Team Preview:
Race 1: FRENCH EMOTION
Race 2: KEN’S DREAM
Race 3: THRILLSTER
Race 4: KIWIA
Race 5: NATURE STRIP
Race 6: CLIFF’S EDGE
Race 7: BONS AWAY
Race 8: RICH CHARM
Race 9: FASTNET TEMPEST
Doomben
Race 7, No. 4 Amanaat – 4 stars
Morphettville
Race 1, No. 1 Really Swish – BEST BET – 4.5 stars
Surveyed on course bookmakers recommend you lay (bet against) the following runners:
Race 2 #2 Whispering Brook
Randwick
Race 5, No. 4 So Far Sokool – 4.5 stars
Race 8, No. 1 Arbeitsam – 4 stars
Race 9, No. 7 Osborne Bulls – 4 stars
Race 6 – Champagne Stakes :
Best: Not A Single Cent to WIN ($5.50)
Value: Guerrier EACH WAY ($26/$5.75)
Exotic: Box Trifecta 3, 5, 11, 12 ($20 for 83.33%)
Race 7 – All Aged Stakes:
Best: Brave Smash to WIN ($7.00)
Value: It’s Somewhat EACH WAY ($26/$5.75)
Exotic: Box Trifecta 2, 4, 8, 10 ($20 for 83.33%)
Quaddie: 3, 5, 11, 12 / 2, 4, 8, 10 / 1, 6, 10, 15 / 7, 11, 14
Race 3:
Back Dothraki (2.90) to win
Race 7 – All Aged Stakes
My Tips
1. Hartnell
2. Trapeze Artist
3. Le Romain
4. Tom Melbourne
Suggested Bet:
Back Hartnell (9.00) to win.
Race 8:
Back Almost Court (15.00) each way.
Unibet – From the Trader’s Desk:
Race 3, No.2, DOTHRAKI – LAY BET
Race 6, No.11, GUERRIER – VALUE BET
Race 7, No.10, TRAPEZE ARTIST
Race 9, No.7, OSBORNE BULLS – BEST BET
Surveyed on course bookmakers recommend you lay (bet against) the following runners:
Race 4 #3 Holy Snow
Race 9 #7 Osborne Bulls
Palmerbet – Racing Team Preview:
Race 1: NIC’S VENDETTA
Race 2: TEST THE WORLD
Race 3: TAKEDOWN
Race 4: TANGLED
Race 5: MANICURE
Race 6: 1. EL DORADO DREAMING, 2. Irukandji 3. Long Leaf, 4. Outrageous
Race 7: 1. TRAPEZE ARTIST, 2. Brave Smash, 3. Hartnell, 4. Le Romain
Race 8: McCREERY
Race 9: OSBORNE BULLS
Runners are listed in number order, not order of preference.
Race 1: 1 Nic’s Vendetta, 4 Ori on Fire, 7 Fermanagh Lad, 9 Majestic Pedrille
Race 2: 4 Test the World, 5 Dissolute, 7 Anatola, 11 In Times of War
Race 3: 2 Dothraki, 3 Burning Passion, 7, Firsthand, 8 Bolero King
Race 4: 1 Tangled, 2 Astoria, 3 Holy Snow, 6 Temprado
Race 5: 4 So Far Sokool, 7 Problem Solver, 11 Lisdoonvarna, 12 Dyslexic
Race 6: 1 Encryption, 3 Outrageous, 12 El Dorado Dreaming, 13 Seabrook
Race 7: 2 Brave Smash, 8 Tom Melbourne, 10 Trapeze Artist, 13 Muraaqeb
Race 8: 1 Arbeitsam, 6 Interlocuter, 10 Cool Chap, 15 The Pinnacle
Race 9: 3 Snippets Land, 4 Savapinski, 7 Osborne Bulls, 14 Tribal Wisdom
Sportsbet – Race Comments and Selections:
Race 1:
The Sydney carnival ends with yet another dry track (!!!) and two G1s, one of them a legitimate high grade contest. Rail now out to 6 metres from the 1400m home, 4 metres the remainder. Highway fans rejoice, they’re back! The first has speed offered by 7 with 88 and 9 within cooee. NIC’S VENDETTA (nine Highway attempts for 1:3:2) resumed over a short dash and that appeared a decent warm-up for something like this. Matthew Dunn nommed three and sends COUNT CUMANI south, enough of a lead to figure him in strongly.
Selections 1 Nic’s Vendetta, 5 Count Cumani, 9 Majestic Pedrille, 4 Ori on Fire
Race 2:
8 resumers in the field of 13 and another couple of 4 week breaks. Perhaps CRAFTY COP can cross up and lead the way. CHALK (drawn widest) may follow suit. 8 and 4 at least handy from inside draws. DISSOLUTE (six runs for Angland for 2:2:2) is four runs into his prep and will call on that race fitness edge to have last say again. First time round Randwick but can see him positioning perfectly in run. TEST THE WORLD is ultra consistent (her only top three miss was that .4L 4th leading to the break) and has trialled well. IN TIMES OF WAR to do what she does (settle off, run into the minor money).
Selections 5 Dissolute, 4 Test The World, 11 In Time Of War, 7 Anatola
Race 3:
Our third consecutive 1200m race has speed supplied by 5 and 6 crossing over. DOTHRAKI is holding form admirably of late and gets a weight advantage on a few key rivals that he beat home last start. One of those is BOLERO KING. 4 kilos worse off to DOTHRAKI from the Star Kingdom but he has come back very well indeed and is far from being burnt out this prep. TAKEDOWN is a G1 winner that drops away from G1 racing. There are queries whether he’s near his best of late though. ISORICH’s latest two wins (consecutive) came at this track and trip. Including.
Selections 2 Dothraki, 8 Bolero King, 3 Burning Passion, 6 Isorich
Race 4:
11 and 12 could make play here otherwise 2 and 4 to be handy. ASTORIA might need a little luck from where he’s drawn but the makeup of this race suggests he may be able to slot in handy (hopefully). His latest was a total forgive and forget run; he was essentially eased down for the final 300m after being poleaxed early in the straight. All but matched with Levendi two back and that form is up to this clearly. TANGLED comes through the right leadups and has blinkers reapplied. HOLY SNOW with weight favours over his Carbine Club rivals (DISSOLUTION, ICON OF DUBAI).
Selections 2 Astoria, 1 Tangled, 3 Holy Snow, 4 Dissolution
Race 5:
8 and 9 to scoot along. Two fillies stand out here for me, both of them 3rd-up. SO FAR SOKOOL was an emphatic winner at Bendigo (with the aid of a lovely ride). She is still in the business of making a name for herself but is all upside and will show that here from a draw that gifts her gun run. The lighter raced MANICURE is full of promise as well. No poor runs for her as yet and there is no outside barrier to contend with today. Can see these two setting up near each other in run and expect them to have an edge at the finish.
Selections 4 So Far Sokool, 5 Manicure, 7 Problem Solver, 6 Moss Trip
Race 6:
This 2YO mile Group One is a tricky first leg of what appears a challenging quaddie. I have 7, 8, 11 and 6 as the running order but I am prepared to be wrong about that. NOT A SINGLE CENT was solid winning at Flemington (with OUTRAGEOUS well behind) then had real issues from the outside barrier in the Sires up here. Not saying he’ll be ridden closer but he does have the option. OUTRAGEOUS was very unlucky in the obvious leadup. Possibly should have won? IRUKANDJI from the ‘lesser’ race but that was very game win. SEABROOK swaps the rails draw in the Sires for a wide one here; that may actually work better for her.
Selections 5 Not A Single Cent, 6 Irukandji, 3 Outrageous, 9 Akkadian
Race 7:
11 to lead 1? TRAPEZE ARTIST was strongly backed to win the TJ and did so with aplomb. When he is on sing there are not many that can match him. Half expecting another second from the hapless TOM MELBOURNE. His Doncaster run was sound for this and he sneaks a nice trail inside. LE ROMAIN crossed from the outside gate in this last year and stuck on for 2nd. Looks ready to peak 3rd-up. HARTNELL has had four 1400m fresh runs in Australia for two wins (G1 and G2), two 2nds to Winx. Those two wins are his only two wins from his last 14 starts.
Selections 10 Trapeze Artist, 8 Tom Melbourne, 1 Le Romain, 3 Hartnell
Race 8:
1 and 11 the obvious leading pair again. ARBEITSAM meets his Selwood rivals worse off weights-wise but his Doncaster placing since tells us he is working at a career peak. Won’t be easy to get past again. COOL CHAP – also through the Doncaster – rises to a distance that will not faze one bit. RADIPOLE needs lots of luck from where he has drawn but if he can slot in OK he’ll be fighting for a long way. ALMOST COURT keeps on keeping on this prep. Top four hopes again for him. Expecting some (possibly plenty of) improvement from INTERLOCUTER.
Selections 1 Arbeitsam, 10 Cool Chap, 9 Radipole, 11 Almost Court
Race 9:
Pace provided by 11, 4 and 2 in the last. I have looked long and hard to find something to beat OSBORNE BULLS here but to no avail. He is just a winner and even though the weights favour a couple of last start rivals (SPECIAL MISSILE one kilo, TRIBAL WISDOM 2.5kg) I expect him to be emphatic again. BLACK ON GOLD not the worst routine; he has won his last two fresh runs. HARPER’S CHOICE and SIR BACCHUS (through the same trial) might finish off with some gusto. Presumably they, along with a few others, have some Queensland aims coming up soon.
Selections 7 Osborne Bulls, 11 Special Missile, 14 Tribal Wisdom, 8 Black On Gold
Race 1:
KEYMASTER (3) Open race and is right in contention. Every chance in this field so watch the finish. ORI ON FIRE (4) Close to a peak and cannot be overlooked. Looks promising in this race. NIC’S VENDETTA (1) Steady horse that never appears to do much wrong. Looks nice if you can get an each way price. COUNT CUMANI (5) Expect a strong showing and can measure up here in this event. Take holding out.
Race 2:
TEST THE WORLD (4) Talented individual. Less depth to this race than previous and is key player. IN TIMES OF WAR (11) Progressing well this prep and this trip appeals. Should be in the finish. DISSOLUTE (5) Has ability and always a chance in this class. Honest enough to be an each way player. TESSERA (3) Solid return to form wouldn’t surprise and has genuine place claims. Use betting as a guide.
Race 3:
DOTHRAKI (2) Is a consistent trier who will be close and can win a tightly contested race. FIRSTHAND (7) Great stats in these conditions. This distance is ideal and must be considered. BOLERO KING (8) Reliable type who gets the ideal position for this latest opportunity. Will take some beating today. BURNING PASSION (3) Expecting to see a solid effort here. Will need luck in the run although should run well.
Race 4:
HOLY SNOW (3) Racing in handy form and has great scope for improvement. Should go better this time around. TANGLED (1) Always gives all in its races and can win this open race. TEMPRADO (6) Continues to race well and faces a suitable field. Expect this runner to go close. PRIMITIVO (8) Racing well. Chance to break through here and a could give a show.
Race 5:
SO FAR SOKOOL (4) Handy enough type who has previously raced well in these conditions. Can figure here. PROBLEM SOLVER (7) Worth considering in this class so don’t disrespect here. Watch market moves. MANICURE (5) Could see a solid effort today. A few breaks and you never know. MOSS TRIP (6) Genuine type who must be included and do not disregard. Better claims.
Race 6:
SEABROOK (13) Looked dominant winning at this track three starts back before running into some trouble in it’s last two starts. Can bounce back into the winners circle here. NOT A SINGLE CENT (5) Looks one of the major players in this event. Looking to forgive last start effort when couldn’t get into the race from that barrier. Drawn better here and expected to be in this finish. LONG LEAF (2) Open race on paper and this horse looks like it will enjoy the step up to the mile. Exotics hope. OUTRAGEOUS (3) This horse may be overlooked in the betting. Suited in this race and can place today.
Race 7:
TRAPEZE ARTIST (10) Continues on an upward spiral claiming some big names when winning last start. Go well again here. BRAVE SMASH (2) Last start appears an anomaly. Look for this horse to bounce back to form here and can win this. LE ROMAIN (1) Looks to be finding some form again and has ratings to take this out. Definite value play. HARTNELL (3) Is a fairly consistent trier who will run well fresh and definitely has the ability to win.
Race 8:
ARBEITSAM (1) Look for better showing at this trip. Races well in these conditions so do not discard. RADIPOLE (9) Is suited today. Good chance and wouldn’t be surprised to see it pick up a win. INTERLOCUTER (6) Thereabouts in past efforts. Could earn a cheque so don’t ignore. THE PINNACLE (15) Sure to figure prominently and appears a value chance. Worth an each way bet in this.
Race 9:
OSBORNE BULLS (7) Going very strongly lately and well weighted here. Big chance. NEW UNIVERSE (13) Mixed form of late although should expect a forward showing. Don’t disregard. TRIBAL WISDOM (14) Looks set to go very close today and definitely one for your exotics. SPECIAL MISSILE (11) Up in grade but warrants respect. Capable of a place here and a good chance.
Race 1:
ORI ON FIRE Was a Bathurst winner three back and hasn’t been far from the winner in a couple of Country Championship Qualifiers at last two starts. Just needs even luck from the gate to be the one to beat with Hugh Bowman in the saddle. NIC’S VENDETTA Looked a run short at Newcastle resuming last start. Has an exceptional second-up record with three all three career wins coming with a run under his belt and rates as one of the key chances here. MAJESTIC PEDRILLE Has been placed three of last four and has bright place prospects again from a good gate. FERMANAGH LAD Has a good record this trip and placed last three starts. Will race on the speed and is expected to be right in the finish again.
Race 2:
IN TIMES OF WAR Did a good job to finishing third at Warwick Farm resuming last start. Has finished runner-up all three second-up runs and gets the chance to go one better with a 2.5kg weight drop on her last start. TEST THE WORLD Hasn’t finished worse than fourth in 12-starts to date and has been the winner in six of those. Resumes on the back of successive trial placings at Rosehill and looks primed for a big run first-up. ANATOLA Resumes for Mark Newnham and has won first-up previously. Is a winner at the track and distance and looks primed for a big run first-up winning both her lead-up trials at Randwick. DISSOLUTE Is chasing the hat trick of wins after successive victories at Kembla and Rosehill. Is getting up in the weights but it is hard to knock the winning form.
Race 3:
FIRSTHAND Resumes for Hawkes racing without a trial. Is twice a winner first-up and is a winner at the track and distance. If the money comes this is the one you would want to be on with Brenton Avdulla in the saddle. DOTHRAKI Is a consistent Peter and Paul Snowden-trained gelding with a win in the Maurice McCarten at Rosehill two back and runner-up finishes in three of last five starts. There is nothing to suggest he won’t be in the finish again. BOLERO KING Won successive races at Canterbury and Warwick Farm at first two runs this preparation before a fighting third in the Star Kingdom last start when he did plenty of work in the run. Better drawn here and is right in the mix. BURNING PASSION Has been close-up both runs this preparation finishing three quarters of a length from the winner when third in the Liverpool City Cup resuming two back before having no luck in the Star Kingdom last start. Has won twice third-up and is ready to win.
Race 4:
HOLY SNOW Won the Autumn Stakes at Caulfield earlier in the preparation and has been in the placings in the Phar Lap Stakes and Carbine Club at last two starts. Just has to run out the 2000m to be the one to beat. TANGLED Has a significant advantage under the set weight conditions with a seven point superior benchmark rating to his nearest rival which is the equivalent of 3.5kg in weight terms. He is a significant player in this after finishing in the placings in the Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby at last two starts. ASTORIA Copped a check early in the straight and didn’t go on with it from that point in the Derby last start. Photo-finish second in the Tulloch two runs back was a solid pointer for this and can bounce back. TEMPRADO Looks to have plenty of upside winning three of last four on the provincial circuit and shouldn’t be under-estimated stepping up in grade with the Snowden polish.
Race 5:
SO FAR SOKOOL Is putting together a good record with three wins and five placings from 12-starts in Victoria. Earned a trip north winning the Bendigo Guineas last start by four-lengths and looks right up to a race like this. LISDOONVARNA Hasn’t missed a place in six starts and four times a winner including a fillies and mares benchmark 73 at Warwick Farm last start. This is her toughest test to date but she looks up to the task. PROBLEM SOLVER Hasn’t finished worse than second in her seven starts with only win giving connections a lucrative payday winning the Magic Millions Maiden at the Gold Coast. Did a terrific job finishing a close dead-heat second behind Houtzen in the P.J. Bell last start after enduring a wide run in transit. Just needs even luck in running to be right in the finish. DYSLEXIC Was an impressive Newcastle winner resuming two runs back and was far from disgraced in the P.J.Bell last start when she was always four-wide without cover. Drawn to get all the favours in the run here launching from barrier three and is a winning chance.
Race 6:
SEABROOK Was only a couple of lengths from the winner in the Golden Slipper and wasn’t far away in the Sires last start. Just has to run out the mile to be the one to beat. EL DORADO DREAMING Caused a boilover with a last to first win in the ATC Sires last start. Whether it was a fluke we will find out here and I don’t think it was. ENCRYPTION Won the Black Opal two back before finishing less than two-lengths from the winner in the Sires last start when he was ridden on the speed. Just has to run the mile out to be right in the finish. OUTRAGEOUS Didn’t fire a shot in the Flemington Sires two back but arguably should have just about won the ATC Sires last start when he only saw clear running late. Looks suited stepping up to 1600m and is right in play.
Race 7:
TRAPEZE ARTIST Handled Redzel with ease to win the T.J. Smith last start and as the winner of a Golden Rose the 1400m holds no concerns. Will be on the speed in a race where there doesn’t look to be much early pressure and is the one to beat. MURAAQEB Was a strong winner of the Carbine Club over the mile last start. Is drawn to get all the favours in the run from barrier two and rates a genuine winning chance. TOM MELBOURNE Just cannot crack it for a Group I win but continues to run good races including a close second in the Ajax resuming two back and wasn’t far from the winner in the Doncaster last. He’s a must for the wider exotics. BRAVE SMASH Won the Futurity at Caulfield this trip three back before a close second in the Newmarket. Was well beaten in the T.J Smith last start but rates as one of the key chances back up to 1400m here.
Race 8:
ARBEITSAM Led all the way to win the Neville Sellwood this trip at Rosehill two runs before an excellent third in the Doncaster when he made the speed in a fast run race. The 58kg a red flag but is still the one to beat. INTERLOCUTER Won three on the trot last preparation and has been close-up both runs this time in at Randwick and Rosehill. Is unbeaten in two third-up runs and is right in the mix launching from the inside gate. THE PINNACLE Won the Epona at Rosehill last start. Is down in the weights and is a winning hope again. COOL CHAP After successive placings at Flemington at first two runs this preparation wasn’t disgraced in the Doncaster last start. Is looking for the step up to 2000m and is a genuine value chance.
Race 9:
OSBORNE BULLS Is putting together a terrific record for Godolphin with six wins and two placings from eight starts and ticked another box last start winning comfortably when taking on 1400m for the first time. Has the same weight and it may well be the same result. TRIBAL WISDOM Has been close-up all three runs this preparation. Should be right at his peak and is a definite player down on the minimum weight. SAVAPINSKI Resumes on the back of successive trail placings at Rosehill. Was only a length from the winner resuming at Canterbury last time in and has to be respected fresh with the Waterhouse and Bott polish. SNIPPETS LAND Was placed in the National Sprint at Canberra two back and was a only a couple of lengths from the winner in the Doncaster Prelude last start. Has won three races this trip and is worth including in the wider exotics.