The following is a survey of Australian racing tips for Saturday, April 10. The focus is on the race card at Randwick, which features four Group 1 races, including the Doncaster Mile (Race 9).
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Best bets
Randwick Race 2: 4. The Irishman, saving on 2. Wheelhouse
Randwick Race 5: 6. Sacramento
Randwick Race 9: 1. Mugatoo, saving on 19. Mo’unga
Randwick
Race 2: 4. The Irishman – BEST BET
Race 5: 6. Sacramento
Race 6: 8. Four Moves Ahead
Race 7:
BEST BET: Sky Lab
EXOTIC: Boxed Exacta: 1,2,3,7,16
TOP 5:
1. Sky Lab
2. Lion’s Roar
3. Rocket Spade
4. Montefilia
5. Young Werther
Race 8: 1. Bivouac
Race 9:
BEST BET: Mo’unga, saving on Avilius
EXOTIC: Boxed Exacta: 2,12,15,16,19,20
TOP 5:
1. Mo’unga
2. Avilius
3. Forbidden Love
4. Rock
5. I Am Superman
Race 10: 13. Perfect Radiance
Quaddie: 1,2,3,7,16/1,2/2,12,15,16,19,20/2,3,6,8,13
Race 1:
PAULELE (1) Showed promise when winning three runs back here and displays good tactical speed. Finished 2nd in a barrier trial at Royal Randwick on Mar 26th. Will be in the finish. VANDOULA LASS (8) Resuming. Solid win two runs back at Sandown and gets a favourable draw. Can give this a shake. BAHAMA (11) Redoutes Choice 2yo trained by Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes having first race appearance. Finished 2nd in a barrier trial at Warwick Farm on Mar 23rd. Definite contender. SUBTERRANEAN (2) Shot away to win two runs back at Doomben but back from break. Has shown early pace in races to date. Placed 2nd in a barrier trial at Warwick Farm on Mar 23rd. Every chance today.
Race 2:
THE IRISHMAN (4) Brave effort to win two runs back at Warwick Farm and third up today. Placed 3rd in a barrier trial at Royal Randwick on Mar 26th. Looks the goods. WHEELHOUSE (2) Ran past a few when 5th last time at Rosehill and looks well placed in this grade. Should enjoy a cosy run off the pace. No surprise to see a forward showing and one of the main hopes in this race. KIKU (12) Scored a victory last time at this course and third up. Likely to get a nice run behind the speed. Ultra competitive this preparation with 2 wins from as many runs. No surprise to see a forward showing and one of the main hopes in this race. HIGH SUPREMACY (8) Dashed home into 2nd last run at Canberra and third up from a spell. Winner in a barrier trial at Warwick Farm on Mar 23rd. Capable of a place and a good chance.
Race 3:
ART CADEAU (3) Really dug deep when winning last time at Goulburn and freshened up. Placed 2nd in a barrier trial at Royal Randwick on Mar 26th. Goes close. SPIRANAC (12) Brave effort to win last time at Tamworth but up against stronger competition. Very competitive this preparation. Can’t be left out of trifectas. TARA JASMINE (16) Nice show when finishing 3rd two runs back at Eagle Farm but rising in grade. Been in the money 3 from 4 attempts this campaign. Marginal chance. ROTHENBURG (5) Kept boxing on when 2nd last run at Muswellbrook but facing a stronger class today. Has run into the money 3 from 4 attempts this preparation. Strong each way hope.
Race 4:
FLEXIBLE (3) Winner three runs back around here but up in class. Might take a while to wind up but should be hitting top gear in the straight. Expected to fight out the finish. DUAIS (5) Fought on gamely when winning last time at Warwick Farm and drawn nicely. Tracking very well this preparation. Respect against this field. SALTO ANGEL (1) Snuck in a place when 3rd last start at Bendigo but up in grade. Should race just behind the speed. Could be value. DARLING DIAMOND (11) Gave plenty of cheek when 2nd last start at Warwick Farm and goes down in weight. Displays good tactical speed. Should be competitive in this race at a bit of odds.
Race 5:
SACRAMENTO (6) Did enough to win three runs back at Rosehill. Likely to be well placed early. This field suits. SELINO (11) Ran past a few when 5th last start at Rosehill. Warrants a bet. HUSH WRITER (5) At $15 came in 4th last run at Rosehill. Won’t be far away during the run. Follow market leads. DADOOZDART (8) Made considerable ground when 2nd two runs back at Canberra and gets a favourable gate. Finishes off strongly. Market may be ultimate guide.
Race 6:
ANAMOE (1) Got the upper hand late when winning two runs back at this venue. Should be swooping on the field late. Hard to see anything getting past this today. FOUR MOVES AHEAD (8) Fought on gamely when winning two runs back here and very competitive this campaign. Expecting to settle just off the pace. Among the major players. TIGER OF MALAY (4) Was fighting out the finish when winning three runs back at the track and third up today. Success in a barrier trial at Royal Randwick on Mar 26th. Worth an each way bet in this. CAPTIVANT (2) Hit the line well when 3rd two runs back at the track and expected to be flashing home. Good prospect for the exotics at least.
Race 7:
MONTEFILIA (16) Did well to run 3rd last run at Rosehill and will be motoring home late. Winning prospect. SKY LAB (3) Really dug deep when winning three runs back around here and going well this campaign. Possesses very good finishing speed. Chance to break through and a could give a show. ROCKET SPADE (2) Displayed potential when winning last run at Tauranga and suited by the weight drop. Should get a lovely cart into it from just behind the leaders. Has been a model of consistency since resuming from a spell. Can fill a place in this field. LION’S ROAR (1) Chimed in with a win two runs back at the track. Always seems to find the line well. Place wouldn’t shock.
Race 8:
NATURE STRIP (2) Got the upper hand late when winning two runs back at Flemington and likely to be well placed early. Success in a barrier trial at Rosehill Gardens on Mar 29th. Capable of taking this out. EDUARDO (3) Dominant winner last time at Rosehill and should race on the speed. Very tidy this campaign winning 2 from as many attempts. Can win this. BIVOUAC (1) Proven record when third up with 2 wins from 4 attempts. Gave nothing else a chance when winning three runs back at Flemington and can find a nice position from the draw. Will be looking to sit just behind the leaders. Open to improvement and has a show in this field. MASKED CRUSADER (5) Chimed in with a win last time at Moonee Valley and ideal distance as proven previously. Expecting to settle just off the pace. Worth an each way bet in this.
Race 9:
MUGATOO (1) Strong record when third up with 2 wins from 3 attempts. Game effort to win last start at Moonee Valley and can go through the gears. Should take beating. MO’UNGA (19) Game effort to win last time at Rosehill and will benefit with the weight drop. Shows good closing speed. In the mix. THINK IT OVER (12) Brave effort to win last start at Rosehill and gets a reduction in weight. Should just about get the run of the race. Could run into the placings. YAO DASH (18) Kicked clear when winning last run at Rosehill and displays good tactical speed. Very competitive this preparation. Looks a good chance of finishing in the money.
Race 10:
NEVER TALK (6) Managed to run into 2nd two runs back at this course and very competitive this campaign. Might take a while to wind up but should be hitting top gear in the straight. Among better hopes. MARBOOSHA (3) Winner two runs back at Flemington and third up today. Expecting to settle just off the pace. Should go close. MACROURA (2) Freshened up. Brave effort to win last run at Moonee Valley and can find a nice position from the draw. Among better hopes. EVERY ROSE (1) Fought on gamely when winning three runs back here but hoping that the added weight won’t hurt. Should race just behind the speed. Worth entertaining from a place and exotics perspective.
Race 1: Vandoula Lass
Race 2: Wheelhouse
Race 3: Art Cadeau or an each-way bet on Baileys
Race 4: Flexible each-way
Race 5: Sacramento
Race 6: Anamoe
Race 7: Rocket Spade each-way or Yaletown each-way
Race 8: Nature Strip
Race 9: Mugatoo
Race 10: Marboosha each-way
Sportsbet – Race Comments and Selections:
Race 1:
A return to Randwick will see a track improving from a rain-affected Soft 7 midweek. Perhaps some more showers later on Wednesday but the end of the week looks clear (raceday itself a magic mid 20s sunny day) so we will be pressing right to the verge of an upgrade to Good 4. In fact in the end that’s what I’ve previewed this for – S5/G4. We begin with a 2YO race and with 6 males and 6 fillies apiece this is an even battle of the sexes. Tipping BAHAMA on the strength of one 740m trial on the synthetic, and one in which she missed the start. So there are some queries with her then but I did like the way she finished off under no riding.
Selections: 11. Bahama (Top Tip), 1. Paulele, 7. Ashema, 8. Vandoula Lass
Race 2:
Look for 5 and 1 to make the play. 3 and 6 handy as well. Nor will THE IRISHMAN be far away. Split the fillies Hungry Heart and Impecunious last start and that form held up well in last week’s Vinery. 4 weeks b/t runs but had a neat trial here on 23/3. Sees every chance from this barrier and jockey and trainer combine very well indeed as a rule. WHEELHOUSE needs two scratchings to make the Doncaster but obviously this looms as a more realistic option anyway. Can he find a spot without covering extra ground though? HIGH SUPREMACY peaks 3rd-up and has won a trial since his latest.
Selections: 4. The Irishman (Best of the Day), 2. Wheelhouse, 8. High Supremacy, 1. Poland
Race 3:
Big numbers but not heaps of speed. 16 could be found at the front. 17 and 18 (both racing at Canterbury Wed.) and 23 are pacy among the emergencies but they are unlikely to make it in. 4, 3 and 1 could find themselves handy. ART CADEAU has established an impressively consistent record and, while he has come from midfield or just worse than in his latest two – also from low draws – I wouldn’t be surprised to see him tracking handier today. Just a narrow in at Goulburn but it was relatively strong and he was jumping from 1100. Barely a whisker between BAUTISTA and ANOTHER ONE at Wagga. Fancy both can find the right runs here to be in the finish.
Selections: 3. Art Cadeau (Top Tip), 10. Bautista, 4. Another One, 5. Rothenburg
Race 4:
Speed supplied by 11 and 15 with 4 and 2 in attendance. Maiden filly SALTO ANGEL may well peak for the Oaks next week rather than today – that’s the way it seemed for her from the Wakeful to the VRC Oaks – but I like how she’s been building to this. You would imagine she will be a long way back from the barrier though which means she is a long way from a good thing. DARLING DIAMOND through an easier race but wasn’t disgraced at Kembla two back against some good girls and she could control from the front. CHEQUERBOARD freshened 7 weeks since winning in Tassie. Gets gun run though and trialled well in Vic last week.
Selections: 1. Salto Angel (Top Tip), 11. Darling Diamond, 2. Chequerboard, 6. Land Ahoy
Race 5:
Tipping SACRAMENTO has become something of a habit for me and it’s one which I’m not about to break. Typically sound last start finishing 3rd to a couple of horses that head Sydney Cup markets, he can cross to a nice handy trailing spot here and will give his all down towards the finish, as is his wont. MIRAGE DANCER started $10 in a very deep Tancred last week but it’s fair to say under-performed. We’ll allow him the chance to bounce back quickly. Might have been a bit too damp for COLLIDE last start so that’s probably a forgive as well.
Selections: 6. Sacramento (Top Tip), 1. Mirage Dancer, 5. Hush Writer, 9. Collide
Race 6:
The first of four G1s is for the 2YOs. 3 to lead from 8 and 5. ANAMOE can stalk with intent just off that trio and his two Sydney performances have him the obvious pick here for mine. The barrier was certainly no friend to him in the Slipper but he reeled off great figures coming home. A much better barrier today should mean a much better run. That said, it has been a testing prep, with two ‘Grand Finals’ already, so whether he can hold up for one more high-rating effort is the main query. FOUR MOVES AHEAD was a couple of lengths off him in the Slipper (and no match at all) but she could be up on speed this time. No knock LIGHTSABER either, who last start beat last week’s easy Baillieu winner Saif.
Selections: 1. Anamoe (Top Tip), 8. Four Moves Ahead, 3. Lightsaber, 4. Tiger Of Malay
Race 7:
YALETOWN to lead and looks to make it five consecutive Tulloch winners to have backed up and won the Derby. I’m not here to say he can’t even he only just lasted. There isn’t huge opposition for the front here and you can imagine him rolling along steadily. Slogging it out behind him last week was YOUNG WERTHER and I’m of the mind he is looking for the longer trip very much now. The gate means Marquand will have to be clever but any galloper who can place in a Derby at start three can be respected at his next try. Blinkers are applied. Lone filly MONTEFILIA has a great chance of course, peaking nicely for this as she does. Fancy was over the top when she peaked late in the VRC Oaks.
Selections: 7. Young Werther (Value Bet), 6. Yaletow, 16. Montefilia, 3. Sky Lab
Race 8:
A fascinating high level sprint. NATURE STRIP and EDUARDO do battle for the front and after their 1000m clash in the Challenge this is a very appealing ‘rematch’. In the end I’m leaning to NATURE STRIP with a jockey on board that has ridden him to victory five times vs EDUARDO with Avdulla first time. It was 3rd-up last prep that BIVOUAC exploded with that resounding Flemington win but his two runs prior were of a higher level than his latest two. Still wouldn’t deny him the chance to find his best, and his best can obviously blow anything away. Last September MASKED CRUSADER – after three consecutive BM88 defeats at odds-on – was bordering on being a figure of fun. Those day are long gone and he is strong in the mix here for mine.
Selections: 2. Nature Strip (Top Tip), 3. Eduardo, 1. Bivouac, 5. Masked Crusader
Race 9:
A wonderful edition of Sydney’s premier handicap. 18 and 3 the main speed. 8 draws widest and has trialled positively so perhaps could make a bid as well. The barrier looks a little frightening for MO’UNGA but perhaps if things are kept simple – go back then swing out on straightening – he could still have a big say in this with his 3YO weight. Coming back from 2000m has worked to win this race in 4 of the last 11 runnings. MUGATOO is one of the very best horses we have and he sets up nicely from a barrier that gives him all sorts of options. The George Ryder has provided the winner of 10 of the last 17 winners and there are a few to respect out of it this year. CASCADIAN – no luck in this last year – has teased us for a long time but rates among the chances.
Selections: 19. Mo’unga (Top Tip), 1. Mugatoo, 10. Cascadian, 18. Yao Dash
Race 10:
Solid speed from 1, 16, 2, 7, 8. MACROURA races well fresh and has been kept so for this, 7 weeks since her G3 win at MV. That was a solid performance and not only does Jamie Kah stay on but the filly returns to Sydney where everything started for her. In fact almost 12 months ago she was matching up against MARBOOSHA and she may again be her biggest danger. Emerges from a particularly strong Listed race and prior to that she beat Supreme Idea which MACROURA had done just prior. NEVER TALK has come a long way in a short time. Particularly admirable that she has won more often than lost as her racing style is a low percentage play as a rule.
Selections: 2. Macroura (Top Tip), 3. Marboosha, 6. Never Talk, 8. Najmah