The following is a survey of Australian racing tips for Saturday, December 26. The focus is on the feature races at Caulfield, Eagle Farm and Randwick. More tips and previews will be added as they become available.
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Best bets
These may change leading up to the race day as more tips come in.
Eagle Farm Race 4: No. 1 Shaquero
Eagle Farm Race 7: No. 4 The Harrovian
Caulfield Race 8: No. 7 Tavidance
Caulfield
Race 4: Never Again (14.00, 4.00) (each way)
Race 7: Sansom (5.50) (win), King Of Hastings (3.90) (win)
Race 8: Night’s Watch (13.00, 3.50) (each way)
Race 7:
PANDEMIC (9) Got the upper hand late when winning last time at Rosehill. A win looks likely. KING OF HASTINGS (7) Had a break from racing and returns to competition. Scored a victory two runs back at Swan Hill and likely to race off the speed. Live winning chance. SANSOM (2) Won narrowly last start at Flemington and shows good early pace. Looks very sharp this preparation with 2 wins from 2 starts. Leading chance. WILLIAM THOMAS (3) Stormed home when 3rd last time at Flemington. Should get going late. Market watch advised.
Race 8:
TAVIDANCE (7) Won by a huge margin last time at Pakenham. Possesses good closing speed. Looks hard to beat on bare form alone. PARADEE (8) Let up. Caught the eye when 2nd last run at Flemington and looks well graded. Goes very close. PANCHO (6) Landed the spoils when winning last run at Kilmore. Should just about get the run of the race. Follow market leads. RAINBOW THIEF (11) Charged home into 2nd last start at Flemington and drawn well. Displays good finishing speed. Can surprise and by no means out of it.
Race 7: Pandemic
Race 8: Paradee
Race 7: 9. Pandemic and 7. King Of Hastings
Race 8: 7. Tavidance and 8. Paradee
Race 7: 3. William Thomas
Race 8: 7. Tavidance
Sportsbet – Race Comments and Selections:
Race 7:
SPEED: 6,2 from 7,1? SANSOM is off back-to-back wins this prep. He did beat PANDEMIC home when they clashed here in a Zeditave Stks however, that day there was a significant advantage to on-pace runners (Sansom led) and Pandemic was only beaten .6L when trying to defy the bias, he has a 6.5kg weight advantage here but is yet to fully tick the 1200m box so? KING OF HASTINGS is very good fresh and has jumped out well. BLAZEJOWSKI and WILLIAM THOMAS come back to 1200m. BRAVE SONG the best blowout? TAVISAN certainly a hope.
Selections: 9. Pandemic (top tip), 7. King Of Hastings, 2. Sansom, 3. William Thomas
Race 8:
SPEED: Maybe 10 leads but 2,3,4,6,7 and even 8 can all be handy so? PANCHO held off TAVIDANCE in Kilmore Cup, Tavidance then went to Pakenham and bolted in thrashing NIGHT’S WATCH, GOLD FIELDS and DEFIBRILLATE. He can have an off day Tavidance but if he runs to that again, he is very hard to beat! PARADEE is 7-weeks between runs but just split Affair To Remember and Toffee Tongue in a Matriarch Stks. MOSH MUSIC may need one more but she is very good and proven 2nd-up! That fresh run was much better than it looks on paper.
Selections: 7. Tavidance (top tip), 8. Paradee, 6. Pancho, 5. Mosh Music
Race 7:
7. King Of Hastings, 6. Tavisan, 9. Pandemic, 3. William Thomas
Race 8:
7. Tavidance, 8. Paradee, 6. Pancho, 1. Night’s Watch
Race 7:
9. Pandemic, 3. William Thomas, 2. Sansom, 7. King Of Hastings
Race 8:
7. Tavidance, 10. No Effort, 8. Paradee, 6. Pancho
Race 7:
2. Sansom, 7. King Of Hastings
Race 8:
8. Paradee, 7. Tavidance
Race 6: 4. Ididitforlove
Race 8: 7. Tavidance – BEST BET
Quaddie: 3,4,14/2,9/7/1,4,5
Eagle Farm
Race 4: Shaquero (2.15)
Race 4:
SHAQUERO (1) Back after spell. Chimed in with a win last start at Randwick and having second run today. Plenty to like about it. ALPINE EDGE (3) Really dug deep when winning last run at the track and fitter for debut run. Respect against this field. BABY WONG (5) Came in 3rd last time at this course but up against stronger competition today. Should race on the speed. Worth a bet. ASTROLOGER (6) Second up from a break. Stormed home when 3rd two runs back at Randwick. Each way prospects.
Race 6:
THE ELANORA (1) Displayed potential when winning last run at Rosehill but racing in stronger company today. Tracking very well this campaign. Top chance. MR GEE (5) Comprehensive victory when winning last run at Hawkesbury but facing a stronger class. Expected to be flashing home. Looks promising in this race. DHAKURI (6) Really dug deep when winning two runs back at Rosehill but going up in weight. Been in the money 3 from 4 attempts this campaign. Among better hopes. SEE MARIE (11) Fought on gamely when winning two runs back at Doomben but up in class. Has good closing speed. No shock to see a win.
Race 7:
THE HARROVIAN (4) Got the cash when winning last time at Doomben and likely to race off the speed. Flawless this campaign with 4 wins from 4 runs. Looks a suitable field and easily up to these. PROFIT (8) Came on strongly when 3rd last time around here and expected to be flashing home. Winning chance in what appears a suitable race. GAULOIS (1) Honest race when 3rd last run at Doomben and will benefit with the weight drop. Looks promising in this race. NICCANOVA (2) Jumped at $7.5 and finished 6th last run at Doomben and winless this preparation. Should enjoy a cosy run off the pace. Don’t dismiss.
Race 8:
VIRIDINE (1) Having second run back from a break. Brave effort to win two runs back at Caulfield. Expecting to settle just off the pace. Very hard to beat. SPECIAL REWARD (2) Despite falling back still placed 2nd last start at Newcastle and should jump out and bowl along. Has the ability to figure. ISAURIAN (4) Was fighting out the finish when winning two runs back at the track and likely to race off the speed. Rates a winning chance. ROHERYN (5) Could build on a strong first up record. Game effort to win two runs back at Randwick and hard to fault at this trip. Should be very competitive and is a genuine threat.
Race 4: Shaquero
Race 6: The Elanora
Race 7: The Harrovian
Race 8: Viridine
Sportsbet – Race Comments and Selections:
Race 4:
Another small field however a very interesting bunch as we get closer & closer to the Millions. SHAQUERO should lead from the inside gate & that’s going to make him extremely tough to beat. One start for one win in the Breeders back in October & whilst the form hasn’t shown up going forward there’s only been three runners to have started. Liked his recent trial win at Canterbury in good time under a good grip. ASTROLOGER the big improver, market drifter, drew wide & never a hope at Wyong, good from the back behind SHAQUERO only other run (Breeders). BABY WONG not the best away here latest.
Selections: 1. Shaquero (top tip), 6. Astrologer, 5. Baby Wong, 3. Alpine Edge
Race 6:
The Group 3 Grand Prix is one of the days highlights, as it stands there’s not a great deal of leading types on the map however expect a few to roll forward who may not have in the past due to the step up in distance. Really like the look of the John O’Shea trained visitor MR GEE who got to 2000m at Hawkesbury & blew away his opposition the last 200m & was quite soft very late, the 2200m around here looks made to order for him. Plenty to like about THE ELANORA who although drawn out is likely to push on & give the top tip something to run down. HOPKINS is one to keep an eye on from Victoria.
Selections: 5. Mr Gee (Best of the Day), 1. The Elanora, 11. See Marie, 6. Dhakuri
Race 7:
The Bernborough is named after a great of the turf & whilst THE HARROVIAN is no Bernborough he’s building one hec of a record & is also hugely popular. He shoots for 11 straight wins this afternoon & after taking him on last time & paying the price I won’t be doing so again. Drawn the rails gate he shouldn’t be too far away early on in a race where I’d suggest SNITCH will lead & again run well, he gave plenty last time only being run over late. PROFIT is capable however I’ve had to jump off, having said that the step up in trip will work in his favour. Go the Harrovian!
Selections: 4. The Harrovian (top tip), 6. Snitch, 8. Profit, 1. Gaulois
Race 8:
Plenty of interstate interest here, Godolphin lead the way with with three acceptors. Pace from The Odyssey (drawn out), Inquiry & Special Reward, can’t see anything else on the map racing that trio. Happy to admit VIRIDINE is a better horse than ISAURIAN at this stage of their careers however with a weight pull of 3.5kg & a far better draw I’m going to lean the latters way, keep in mind he is 5 from 5 fresh also & is the defending champ having won this race last year. Reverse the gates I’d likely reverse my tips. SPECIAL REWARD should gain a good run up on the pace. ROHERYN will be out back.
Selections: 4. Isaurian (top tip), 1. Viridine, 2. Special Reward, 5. Roheryn
Race 2: 3. Splendoronthegrass
Race 4: 1. Shaquero
Race 7: 8. Profit
Randwick
Race 6: Primitivo (14.00, 3.80) (each way)
Race 6:
SPIRIT RIDGE (9) Third up from a spell. Got the upper hand late when winning three runs back around here and dropping weight today. Hard to hold out. GREYSFUL GLAMOUR (1) Fought on gamely when winning last run at this course but carrying more weight than last time. Should muster plenty of early speed. This field suits. LAURE ME IN (5) Game effort to win two runs back at Newcastle and shows very good closing speed. Racing consistently since returning from a break. Big danger. BEST OF DAYS (2) Produced an eye catching run when 2nd last time at this track. Will be hitting the line strongly. Market may be ultimate guide.
Race 6: Spirit Ridge
Sportsbet – Race Comments and Selections:
Race 6:
Found this tricky but in the end I’m with SPIRIT RIDGE over stablemate GREYSFUL GALMOUR. Beaten in two runs this prep, SPIRIT keeps rising in class but dropping in weight. Should see the ideal trail here. GREYSFUL wants the track to dry out as much as possible. Obviously she’s flying of late and now has the Randwick monkey off her back. I have found LAURE ME IN mainly resistible across his career but he lures me in finally. Just has to be a winning chance here.
Selections: 9. Spirit Ridge (top tip), 1. Greysful Glamour, 5. Laure Me In, 8. Primitivo
Race 6: 5. Laure Me In
Quaddie: 1,5/2,5,7,11/1,10,11,14/7,9