The following is a survey of Australian racing tips for Saturday, March 23. The focus is on the five Group 1 races at Rosehill: the Rosehill Guineas (Race 4), George Ryder Stakes (Race 5), Ranvet Stakes (Race 6), Golden Slipper (Race 7) and Galaxy (Race 8). Selected races at Moonee Valley (on Friday), Ascot, Eagle Farm, Mornington and Morphettville are also covered.
More tips and previews will be added as they become available.
Promotions
View bookmaker racing promotions (not available to NSW residents)
Best bet of the day
Rosehill Race 5, No. 4. Winx
Rosehill Race 6, No. 2. Avilius
Rosehill Race 7, No. 9 Tenley and No. 5 Cosmic Force
Rosehill Race 8, No. 8 Viridine
Friday
Moonee Valley
Race 4, No.4 Ryan’s Fender – 4 stars
Race 5, No.5 Superhard – 4 stars
Race 6, No.6 Mirette – 3.5 stars
Race 7, No.1 Fell Swoop – each-way – 3.5 stars
Betfair – Feature Race Reports:
Race 6:
Betting Confidence: Medium
Lay – #3 Angelic Ruler
Race 7:
Betting Confidence: Medium
Lay – #10 Sunlight
Race 8:
Betting Confidence: Medium
Back – #4 Spanish Reef
Race 7:
Back Sunlight to win
Saturday
Ascot
Betfair – Feature Race Reports:
Race 5:
Betting Confidence: Medium
Back – #3 Specialism
Eagle Farm
Race 4, No. 12 Spirit’s Choice – 3.5 stars
Mornington
Race 5, No. 3 Legionnaire – 3.5 stars
Race 7, No.3 Self Sense – each-way – 3.5 stars
Race 7:
Back Trap For Fools to win.
Morphettville
Race 1, No. 4 Amberdi – 4 stars
Rosehill
Palmerbet – Horse Racing Tips & Previews:
Race 1: RESIN
Race 2: JONKER
Race 3: VIN DE DANCE
Race 4: 1. THE AUTUMN SUN, 2. Madison Country, 3. Dealmaker, 4. Surely Sacred
Race 5: 1. WINX, Ringerdingding, 3. Land Of Plenty, 4. So Si Bon
Race 6: 1. HE’S EMINENT, 2. Avilius, 3. Unforgotten, 4. Almandin
Race 7: 1. TENLEY, 2. Lyre, 3. Microphone, 4. Yes Yes Yes
Race 8: 1. GRAFF, 2. Pierata, 3. Redzel, 4. Kaepernick
Race 9: ALL TOO SOON
Betfair – Insider Racing Preview:
Race 7:
BACK – Tenley 3.5 units
BACK – Pin Sec 0.5 unit at 20 or better
Unibet – From the Trader’s Desk:
Race 2 #14 Classique Legend – BEST BET
Race 6 #10 Danzdanzdance – VALUE BET
Race 6 #2 Avilius – LAY BET – bet against this horse with Betfair
Race 7: #7 Lyre
Race 3, No. 10 Shaaroh – BEST BET – 5 stars
Race 6
Best Bet No. 2 Avilius – 4 stars
Next Best Unforgotten ($8.50)
Exotic Box Exacta 2,12,13
Race 7
Best Bet No. 9 Tenley – 4 stars
Best Value Pin Sec ($15/$4.40)
Exotic Box Exacta 2,9,10,15,19
Betfair – Feature Race Reports:
Race 4:
Betting Confidence: High
Lay – #1 The Autumn Sun
Race 5:
Betting Confidence: Medium
Back – #4 Winx
Race 6:
Betting Confidence: Medium
Back – #2 Avilius
Race 7:
Betting Confidence: Medium
Back – #9 Tenley; #5 Cosmic Force
Race 8:
Betting Confidence: Medium
Back – #4 Nature Strip
Race 7:
1. Tenley (#9)
2. Loving Gaby (#16)
3. Free of Debt (#4)
Race 7:
Back Microphone ($7.00) to win.
Race 8:
1. Viridine
2. Graff
3. Redzel
Suggested Bet:
Back Viridine to win ($6.50)
Race 4: The Autumn Sun
Race 6: Avilius
Race 7: Cosmic Force and Tenley
Race 8: Viridine
Race 4:
Still not sure how THE AUTUMN SUN (1) won last start as he looked to be struggling at the 400m. Stamina really kicked in late and he proved too strong for Fundamentalist. Won’t necessarily relish the conditions, but all indications suggest he will love the 2000m. Has a clear class edge and expect him to be very prominent from the inside draw. MADISON COUNTY (2) ran similar closing splits to the former in the Guineas and he too should improve further getting out in trip. The logical danger. SURELY SACRED (4) was sent out favourite in the NZ Derby and while failing to feature, he sets up well back in trip. DEALMAKER (9) was solid in the Australian Guineas, next best.
Race 5:
WINX (4) is yet to taste defeat since May 2015 and she will attempt to win a world record 24 Group 1s here. She will also become the only four-time winner of the George Ryder Stakes and with all things being equal, it should be a walk in the park for the champ. Scary to think in her final preparation she is going as good as ever, but she is. She ran a Timeform rating of 126 in the Apollo Stakes first-up then ran 129 in the Chipping Norton Stakes. Those figures are well beyond her rivals. LAND OF PLENTY (1) gets the blinkers on for the first time and is racing well for Team Snowden. DREAMFORCE (2) is a query on a heavy track, but he too is racing well, while RINGERDINGDING (8) will likely use this as a springboard towards the Doncaster.
Race 6:
AVILIUS (2) failed to fire in the Group 1 Australian Cup last start, but was notably sent out the $1.70 favourite and his form was very very good. The fact they push on with his campaign suggests he has come through the run in good order and may pay to forgive a good horse one bad run. UNFORGOTTEN (12) gets beyond a mile for just the second time since winning last year’s ATC Oaks and remains under strong notice with Bowman back aboard (2/2). Best form has her right in the finish. DANZDANZDANCE (10) brings some very good form over from NZ and will relish the wet conditions. Has to be included. SHILLELAGH (11) next best of her Australian Cup second placing.
Race 7:
COSMIC FORCE (5) put an absolute gap in them in last weekend’s Pago Pago Stakes and looks to set up the best if the track remains heavy. Was obviously visually impressive when winning by 7.3L, but the clock also backed up the strength of his performance. Remains the highest rated 2YO to this point and shouldn’t be far away from the inside draw. The one to beat. TENLEY (9) is unbeaten in three starts and is clearly a filly trending the right way. Looks the number one seed for Godolphin and no doubt she will be very strong late. MICROPHONE (2) toyed with Cosmic Force last start and only looks to have to get through the ground to be right in the finish again. YES YES YES (1) will likely get a long way back from the draw, but he cannot be underestimated.
Race 8:
VIRIDINE (8) really impressed when returning as a gelding, closing off very well to finish a narrow third behind Ball Of Muscle. Ran the fastest 800m/600m of the meeting and is clearly the weight horse out of the Challenge Stakes. Ran third in this race last year and has drawn to get a lovely run. Should relish the strong tempo and prove hard to hold out. PIERATA (3) was very good against the race shape first up and has figures easily good enough to be winning here. The drop back from 1300m is another tick with a likely heavy track. NATURE STRIP (4) failed to fire a shot as the $2.25 favourite in the Oakleigh Plate, but is obviously more than capable if the real Nature Strip turns up. REDZEL (1) is all class and is in fact well treated with 59.5kg.
Race 4:
1. The Autumn Sun (5 stars)
2. Madison County (4 stars)
3. Crown Prosecutor (2 stars)
4. Surely Sacred (2 stars)
Race 5:
4. Winx (5 stars)
2. Dreamforce (4 stars)
1. Land Of Plenty (2 stars)
8. Ringerdingding (2 stars)
Race 6:
2. Avilius (3 stars)
10. Danzdanzdance (3 stars)
1. Almandin (3 stars)
8. Sikandarabad (3 stars)
Race 7:
15. Exhilarates (3 stars)
7. Lyre (3 stars)
1. Yes Yes Yes (3 stars)
2. Microphone (3 stars)
Race 8:
1. Redzel (5 stars)
11. Easy Eddie (4 stars)
13. Baller (2 stars)
2. Ball Of Muscle (2 stars)
Unibet – Race Comments and Selections:
Race 4:
THE AUTUMN SUN (1) Looks like he will appreciate the step up to 2000m. Clearly the one to beat. MADISON COUNTY (2) Made up a stack of ground in the Randwick Guineas last start. Each way appeal. SURELY SACRED (4) Sent around favourite in the NZ Derby. Watch betting. CROWN PROSECUTOR (3) Won the NZ Derby last start at cricket score odds. One for the trifectas.
Selections: 1 The Autumn Sun, 2 Madison County, 4 Surely Sacred, 3 Crown Prosecutor
Race 5:
WINX (4) Running in what is probably her penultimate race. Should make it 32 on the trot here. LAND OF PLENTY (1) Good effort in the C.F Orr Stakes at Caulfield. Looks the likely exacta play. DREAMFORCE (2) Should be fitter for two runs back this prep. Place claims in this. RINGERDINGDING (8) Good effort behind Mystic Journey last time out. Can add value to your multiples.
Selections: 4 Winx, 1 Land of Plenty, 2 Dreamforce, 8 Ringerdingding
Race 6:
AVILIUS (2) Slightly disappointing last start when sent out favourite in the Australian Cup. Can bounce back to best form today. HE’S EMINENT (5) UK raider who has form behind some very smart horses overseas. A win wouldn’t shock. DANZDANZDANCE (10) Star NZ mare who is racing in great form. This isn’t out of reach. UNFORGOTTEN (12) Not disgraced when 3rd behind Winx last start. Each way claims.
Selections: 2 Avilius, 5 He’s Eminent, 10 Danzdanzdance, 12 Unforgotten
Race 7:
COSMIC FORCE (5) Never gave the rest of the field a chance in the Pago Pago Stakes. Harder here but looks every chance of repeating. MICROPHONE (2) Classy win in the Skyline Stakes. Can go on with it here. TENLEY (9) Unbeaten Godolphin filly who is drawn to get a soft run. Could make it four in a row. YES YES YES (1) Hindered by the horror draw but has the class to overcome it. Each way the play.
Selections: 5 Cosmic Force, 2 Microphone, 9 Tenley, 1 Yes Yes Yes
Race 8:
REDZEL (1) Arguably the best sprinter in the country. Will make his presence known here. GRAFF (6) Classy 3 year old colt who will appreciate the weight relief here. Has the ability to take this out. NATURE STRIP (4) Speedy type who will lead them to the turn and give them something to run down. Watch betting. VIRIDINE (8) Second up specialist who will improve off gallant first up effort. Winning hope.
Selections: 1 Redzel, 6 Graff, 4 Nature Strip, 8 Viridine
Sportsbet – Race Comments and Selections:
Race 4:
Pace?? Maybe 12 heads up, maybe 7. THE AUTUMN SUN need not get too far back from this draw and please, if he’s not as far off the front as last start when he straightens that would be good for my heart. Lots of talk this week about Australia’s best 3YO. Certainly worth discussion after what Mystic Journey did last week but I would imagine SUN only enhances his case here. If any horse wants 2000m I reckon it’s him, right here right now. Where he goes next start we’ll leave to post-race, I just hope he lives up to all expectations today, just as he did at Randwick. Go SUN.
Selections: 1. The Autumn Sun, 2. Madison County, 8. Chapada, 9. Dealmaker
Race 5:
Here it is folks, the clash we’ve waited years for – WINX versus SO SI BON!! One with 35 wins from 41, the other with 2 from 35. It can’t be just me that is amused by seeing them side by side on the form page. Not to knock SO SI BON, he’s in good nick and all, and no knock on horses like LAND OF PLENTY, DREAMFORCE, PROMPT RESPONSE and RINGERDINGDING. Either G1 winners or G1 competitive the lot of them but they have something in common, they are up against Winx for the first time in their careers. They won’t know which way is up after she’s done with them. Just another signpost along the road to her finale, revel in the glory folks.
Selections: 4. Winx, 1. Land Of Plenty, 8. Ringerdingding, 2. Dreamforce
Race 6:
Good competitive stuff overall but not a lot of natural pace. 4 can assume the frontrunner’s role. UNFORGOTTEN peaks for this (and her next run of course) and despite drawing wide, and likely settling a fair way off the front, I think she can call on her class to do the job. Stablemate SHILLELAGH also in the conversation. AVILIUS has to bounce back to turn tables on that mare from Flemington but his Sydney record (3 from 3) won’t put anybody off. Was only beaten 1.4L anyway. DANZDANZDANCE has a real live winning chance, possibly at a price?
Selections: 12. Unforgotten, 2. Avilius, 10. Danzdanzdance, 11. Shillelagh
Race 7:
The last 11 Slipper winners (and 18 of the last 20) have either finished 1st or 2nd at their final lead-in run. The latest eight have been beaten only once, or not at all, coming into the race and all of those competed in either the Reisling or Todman. From the last 22 it’s 11 fillies/11 males. Only one winner over $14 from the last 20 years. TENLEY is on to new conditions for her but it’s hard to fault her prep leading in. Draws to have good options pending how the track is playing. Can Waller with YES YES YES his sole entrant upset the mighty blue army? The barrier might make it harder but he still profiles well. COSMIC FORCE (so awesome last week!) and MICROPHONE (who beat him prior) next best.
Selections: 9. Tenley, 2. Microphone, 1. Yes Yes Yes, 5. Cosmic Force
Race 8:
Look at them go here. NATURE STRIP and BALL OF MUSCLE speediest, with 1 and 5 setting up handy. I have been keenly with GRAFF each-way in both runs this prep and while he has returned me donuts financially I find it a bit hard to kock what he’s doing. Back to this way of going, at a track he has good experience at, I think he can be the one today. The last six times REDZEL has been sent out favourite he has won only once, and he’s got this big weight which could make things tough late. Has to be figured into the placings though. Wouldn’t be stunned should NATURE STRIP bounce back. His G1s thus far have been disappointing but he has beaten high grade horses and run time along the way.
Selections: 6. Graff, 9. I Am Excited, 2. Ball Of Muscle, 1. Redzel
Race 4:
The Autumn Sun (5 stars)
Madison County (4 stars)
Surely Sacred (4 stars)
Race 5:
Winx (5 stars)
Land Of Plenty (4 stars)
Dreamforce (4 stars)
Race 6:
Avilius (5 stars)
Unforgotten (4 stars)
Danzdanzdance (4 stars)
Race 8:
Viridine (5 stars)
Pierata (4 stars)
Nature Strip (4 stars)
Race 4:
THE AUTUMN SUN Was an emphatic winner of the Caulfield Guineas before spelling and his two wins this time preparation in the Hobartville and Randwick Guineas stamped him as a potential Champion. The one to beat. DEALMAKER Has been in the placings in two of his three starts this preparation. The 2000m looks a genuine query but can place. ARAMAYO Won the Spring Stakes at Newcastle last preparation. Hasn’t been far from the winner in his three runs this time in and rates a place chance stepping up in distance. ARROGANT Was narrowly beaten in the Waikato Guineas this trip two runs back before battling on well in the NZ Derby last start. Is worth including in the wider exotics.
Race 5:
WINX The best we have seen in this land. 32 straight looks a formality. Cheer her home. RINGERDINGDING Hasn’t been far from the winner in each of his three runs this preparation and can get into the placings. LAND OF PLENTY Won the Toorak in the Spring. Placed at his first two runs back before a length fourth in the Futurity last start. Is worth including in the wider exotics.
BRUTAL Hasn’t been far from the winner in his two runs this time in. The 1500m at this level looks a genuine query but can place from an on speed position.
Race 6:
AVILIUS His run peaked at the 100m before finishing just over a length from the winner in the Australian Cup last start. Was impressive winning the Carlyon Cup and Peter Young Stakes at his previous two runs and has to be given another chance. DANZDANZDANCE Won successive Group I’s in New Zealand last December and was a close second in the NZ Stakes last time out. Has a very good wet track record and looks set to get conditions to suit. Right in play. UNFORGOTTEN Ran a much improved race when third in the Chipping Norton last start. The Australian Oaks winner in the Autumn last year and she is ready to win here. ACE HIGH Has been close-up all three runs this preparation and was only a length and a half from the winner in the Australian Cup last start. He’s ready to do something peaking fourth up.
Race 7:
COSMIC FORCE Chased home Microphone in the Skyline before relishing the heavy track with an emphatic seven-length win in the Pago Pago Stakes. That ability to get through the ground is a huge plus and he is right in the mix launching from an ideal gate. TENLEY Is unbeaten in her three starts to date and was an impressive winner of the Reisling last start. Drawn to advantage and only has to handle the wet track to be right in the mix. MICROPHONE Made it three wins from four starts in the Skyline defeating Cosmic Force who franked the form last Saturday. Right in the mix after drawing the inside gate. YES YES YES Has won three from four and was an impressive winner of the Todman resuming from a let-up last start. The wide gate is a concern but has won in soft going and just needs even luck in running to be in the finish.
Race 8:
NATURE STRIP Was a beaten favourite in the Oakleigh Plate last start but has won nine from 14 including the Rubiton at Caulfield resuming two back and has to be given another chance. GRAFF Was only a length from the winner when fourth in the Newmarket last start. Loses nothing on the wet ground and is a winning chance third-up. PIERATA Hit the line strongly in the Canterbury Stakes resuming last start. He’s right in play fitter second-up and is proven in wet ground. EASY EDDIE Relished the heavy 10 to win the Maurice McCarten last week. Shouldn’t be under-estimated with similar conditions likely.