George Main Stakes day 2014 Tips – Randwick Racecourse

Group l racing continues in Sydney this Saturday at Randwick with the $350,000 Group l George Main Stakes (1600m). Running third to the Doncaster and Epsom as the best Randwick mile race, the George Main has produced some outstanding winners through the years, most notably Lonhro, Grand Armee, Racing To Win and More Joyous. Come Saturday, another star galloper will etch their name onto the already impressive honour roll.

Round two between Earthquake and Winx will occur in the $175,000 Group ll Coolmore Tea Rose Stakes (1400m). The latter won round one a fortnight back in the Furious Stakes (1200m), but added fitness and a firmer track will see Earthquake improve sharply, perhaps enough to win.

 

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Race One (12:40pm) :Bacardi Untameable Handicap (85) 1600m:

Back Me: Interesting race to kick off the program. Interesting to note that Black Revolver is on the quick back up here after racing last Saturday at Rosehill, and performing admirably when third to Reflectance. That was his first run in a month, so I’m tipping there is improvement to come, and getting to the minimum with McDonald back on board, he will take some beating.
Big Danger: Paederos didn’t handle the bottomless Rosehill surface three weeks back when second last to Weinholt. Go back to his run prior and he proved too good for Society Man and co on the Kensington track. A return to that sort of form here and he’ll go close.
Roughie: Projectile trialled like a star prior to his horrendous first up effort at Rosehill behind the top tip on August 16. It should be noted he lost a plate in the run, so that could allow him forgiving. He is on his home track, could possibly bully his way to the front, and based on how he trialled, he has come well, so don’t leave him out.

 

Race Two (1:15pm) : Bill Ritchie Handicap 1400m

Back Me: Putting the grand campaigner Monton on top. He was very good in the Summer and translated that into solid Group l form behind the likes of Boban and Sacred Falls. His two runs back from a spell have been excellent, firstly behind Terravista in the Show County and then Lucia Valentina in the Tramway. He finds his right level now, firmer track and should just about be ready fitness wise.
Big Danger: If you backed Rock Sturdy last time out here two weeks back, you’d have to forgive him for his loss, despite the fact he was near odds on in betting. He got bogged down with the weight on a very heavy track, and the leader/eventual winner, Supreme Warrior, absolutely got away with murder in front. Gets much needed weight relief now and a dry surface, so expect him to bounce back.
Roughie: Great to see Riva De Lago back at the races after six months away. Normally takes a run or two to get into a prep, but he did win a recent barrier trial at Rosehill then looked good behind Arabian Gold in another. Doubt he can win first up against some nice ones here, but he has class on his side and loves 1400m.

Terravista is our Top Tip at Randwick on George Main Stakes day
Terravista is our Top Tip at Randwick on George Main Stakes day

 

Race Three (1:50pm) : Schweepes Heritage Stakes 1100m

Back Me: Hot edition of the Heritage. Delectation went on in leaps and bounds during the Winter, stringing together three impressive wins on the trot before being tipped out for the Spring. He has trialled twice leading up to his Spring debut, and gee he has looked impressive, winning both trials in slick fashion. He’ll ease back from the draw and look to run on off the back of a hot speed.
Big Danger: Kuro hasn’t beaten much in two runs this time in at Warwick Farm, but there was plenty to like about the manner in which he disposed a small field last time out, sitting outside the speed, ambling up on the turn and sprinting clear late. Go back to his Autumn form and he performer well behind This Is War and Hallowed Crown, so we know he has the class to be here, and he has the fitness edge.
Roughie: Shaumari resumes here for Godolphin after a pretty solid Autumn/Winter, which saw her finish third behind Eloping and Ygritte in the Royal Randwick Stakes during the Championships, then running third to Brazen Beau and Looks Like The Cat in the Champagne at Doomben. Two trials leading up to this have been quite good, and will be another that should appreciate a genuine tempo.

 

Race Four (2:25pm) : Tea Rose Stakes 1400m

Back Me: Firm track and added fitness means Earthquake will turn the tables on Winx. There was plenty of excuses for the defeat of Earthquake in the Furious. She was first up on a very heavy track, leading and copped a bit of pressure. I thought she did quite well under the circumstances. Another small field here, so McEvoy may have to take up the running on her again, but with certain things in her favour this time, I’m keen on her to win.
Big Danger: She might not have been rated as a serious chance in the Furious, but the manner and dominant of the victory of Winx had to make you stand up and take notice. She’ll have upside like the top tip also, and has proven to be just as impressive on firm footing…just whether she has the class under these conditions to match it with Earthquake.
Roughie: Lady Sharapova put up a remarkable effort win first up at Canterbury, then went to the Ming Dynasty and was very good when third to Panzer Division, and that horse will go around as a genuine chance in the George Main, so that form does read well. Again, not sure she has the class and depth to beat Earthquake.

 

Race Five (3:05pm) : Ascend Sales Hill Stakes 2000m

Back Me: Putting Junoob on top here in what looks to be a very strong edition of the Hill Stakes. He has got pass marks for mine in both runs this Spring, both over unsuitable distances and both on wet tracks, which he despises. There was plenty of merit in his Chelmsford Stakes run behind stablemate Hawkspur and with the added 400m, and a firm track, gee he will take some beating.
Big Danger: I can forgive Criterion for his ordinary run in the Chelmsford. He had to make a searching run from the back in a slowly run race and just couldn’t sprint when the leaders went. Firmer surface and up to 2000m, like Junoob, will be a massive advantage. He was talked up as a possible Cox Plate horse, so he would want to run very well here to warrant that thought and I am expecting him to.
Roughie: Bagman was the real surprise packet in the Chelmsford. Many thought he was outclassed and not suited at WFA, but he surged late near the inside and was very strong late when third to Hawkspur and Royal Descent. Again like the top two, 2000m and a dry track will help, and he is in super form.

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Race Six (3:45pm) : George Main Stakes 1600m

Back Me: I’m going for the three year old Panzer Division to become the first three year old since Viscount to win the George Main. He has only competed against his own age in three career outings, but gee there is plenty to like about him. Only got beaten by the barest possible margin in the Up And Coming to stablemate Scissor Kick, and we know how unlucky he was in the Golden Rose. Panzer Division then ran in the Ming Dynasty, led, dipped and dived throughout the run yet powered to the line in victory. He tumbles down to 50.5kg, gets a firm track, looks the lone leader, and with that massive weight pull, we have seen in the past it can come in handy.
Big Danger: Hawkspur was given a Jim Cassidy special to win the Chelsmford a fortnight back. Pumper took the initiative in the small field and led them up, at an ok speed, then eased away from the rail, got him going and just when Royal Descent looked the winner to his inside, Pumper, as he has done on so many occasions, lifted the horse over the line and got him home in a deceptive photo finish. Probably will have to do similar tactics with the top tip engaged and look to pour the pressure on. He’ll prove very hard to beat, especially on top of the ground.
Roughie: Rising Romance was excellent I thought when resuming in the Tramway and running third to Lucia Valentina. She got a long way back in the run and only got warm very late, but her last 150m and through the line was very good from a Caulfield Cup perspective. Not looking for her to win, but looking for her to do similar to what she did in the Tramway, perhaps sneak a first four spot, and prove she is on target for her grand final.

 

Race Seven (4:25pm) : William Shaw Knitwear Handicap (80) 1200m

Back Me: Putting the kiwi Cauthen on top. It was this time last year that he was touted as a Caulfield Guineas horse, but he didn’t quite go on with it and went back home. He failed as an odds on pop when resuming at Trentham in January and was again tipped out. Sent to the Busuttin camp for the Spring and after a couple of encouraging trials and jumpouts, he resumed at the Valley in the McEwen and was just run off his legs when fifth to Angelic Light and Lankan Rupee. Five lengths off the worlds highest rated sprinter is good enough for a benchmark 80 here I think.
Big Danger: Atmospherical had good support late in betting when she resumed in the Concorde Stakes, and after looking a chance 200m out, fitness and a very heavy track just got the better of her late and she tired to run sixth, beaten three lengths by Wouldn’t It Be Nice. Fitter, firmer track, good draw and unbeaten second up. Hard to beat.
Roughie: It’s been a long time since Equator has greeted the judge, but this is without doubt the easiest race he has contested in close to 18 months if you forget last start where he had enough. Throughout that time, he has raced at a high level and has been quite competitive without winning, behind the likes of Traitor, Gypsy Diamond and Arabian Gold. Latest trial was excellent with the Pumper in the saddle and the champ sticks with the horse.

 

Race Eight (5:05pm) : Bowermans Furniture The Shorts 1100m

Back Me: Terravista clearly on top. He was given a gun ride by Bowman to win first up in the Show County over 1200m here a fortnight back, comfortably holding In Cahoots, who ran third in the Bobbie Lewis at Flemington on Saturday so that confirms the form, and Terravista looked very sharp in a barrier trial last Friday, indicating he is ready to go here.
Big Danger: Big watch on the first up run of Sessions here. He was okay during the Autumn, but was plagued by wet tracks and we never really saw his best. He looked to trial exceptionally well recently behind Rain Affair, showing a dazzling turn of foot from near last on the turn, then trialled again on slow ground last Friday and won impressively. Goes very well fresh and should get a hot speed to run on from.
Roughie: Famous Seamus returns to racing after a Group l winning Winter prep, with that win coming courtesy of a brilliant Ryan Wiggins steer in the BTC Cup over the Boom brothers, Buffering and co. He trialled last week behind Sessions and looked fairly forward in condition, and under the set weights and penalties scale, he gets in pretty well here, so a good run fresh is expected.

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Best Bet: Race Eight Number 8 Terravista

Next Best: Race Four Number 1 Earthquake

Best Roughie: Race Three Number 1 Delectation

 

Quaddie Tips (Races Five Through To Eight):

Leg One: 1, 2, 3

Leg Two: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10

Leg Three: 1, 2, 6, 8

Leg Four: 1, 2, 3

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News:

Weight-for-age winners are scarce in the George Main Stakes but trainer Kris Lees expects the Group One race to be strong enough to reveal more about Lucia Valentina’s Caulfield Cup chances.

In a race where Hawkspur is the only horse among the 10 runners to have won under the elite weight scale, Lucia Valentina will be out to build on a Tramway Stakes victory which put her at the forefront of Caulfield Cup betting.

“It’s a good test for her stepping up to weight-for-age but she’ll run well,” Lees said.

Lucia Valentina came from nowhere at the 200m for Kerrin McEvoy to win the Tramway, with Lees admitting she caught the stable off-guard.

“I knew she was going well but I was a bit surprised by her dominance,” he said.

Caulfield Cup betting could take on a different look after Saturday’s racing with Lucia Valentina clashing with Rising Romance at Randwick as The Offer continues his spring campaign in the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield.

Rising Romance and The Offer are the equal Caulfield Cup favourites at $11 and Lucia Valentina shares the second line of betting at $13.

“The George Main should give us a good indication where we are heading,” Lees said.

“There is an option to stay in Sydney but I’d say we’d go down to Melbourne and run her in the Turnbull Stakes as her lead-up to the Caulfield Cup.”

Little separates the top five horses in most George Main markets and it’s not lost on Lees that the inexperienced three-year-old Panzer Division is among them.

His father Max trained Coronation Day to win the 1992 George Main as a three-year-old and Lees is ignoring a lean run for the age group since Viscount’s 2001 victory to name Panzer Division as one of the threats to his mare.

“It’s a good race for three-year-olds over time and Panzer Division might be the horse to beat,” he said.

Panzer Division finds himself vying for George Main favouritism after just three starts in a career that began in modest circumstances with a Kembla Grange maiden win in July.

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