Two Group 1 features headline an exciting ten-race program on 2022 Randwick Guineas Day.
The inclement weather has continued in Sydney this week and we’ll almost certainly be racing on a Heavy track, while the rail will be set out six metres 1000m-WP and three metres the remainder.
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Race 1 – 12:20pm – Highway Handicap (1600m)
Moridan faces a rise in class into this week’s Midway Handicap, but he has returned to the races in smart form, and this looks a great race for him.
The Maurice colt finished at the tail of the field at Randwick when resuming, but dropping back to the midweeks proved to be the right decision when he kicked clear to comfortably win at Warwick Farm.
Fitter third-up and out to a mile, he’ll take beating again.
Bet Now: Royal Randwick Race 1
Race 2 – 12:55pm – Group 2 Reisling Stakes (1200m)
Russian Conquest has been outstanding since debuting, and she’s the one to beat in the Reisling Stakes.
The Russian Revolution filly stamped herself as one to watch with a smart win in the Max Lees Classic on debut in November, and she returned from a freshen-up for a dominant win at Randwick on Boxing Day.
She takes her place in this field fresh and following a close-up run for second behind Coolangatta in the Magic Millions Classic, and anything close to her best looks as though it will be good enough.
Bet Now: Royal Randwick Race 2
Race 3 – 1:30pm – Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m)
I’m going to stick with Sejardin second-up in the Todman Stakes.
He stamped himself as a colt to follow with consecutive wins during his brief debut prep, including the Group 3 Breeders’ Plate, and Sejardin returned a competitive effort to fill the minors in the Inglis Millennium when resuming.
I’m confident that he will enjoy big improvement for that effort and with even luck, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish.
Bet Now: Royal Randwick Race 3
Race 4 – 2:05pm – Listed Randwick City Stakes (2000m)
He clearly needed his first run back from a spell to tune up, but I am confident that Entente will enjoy plenty of improvement into the Randwick City Stakes, and he’s the one I want to be with.
Entente has returned many pleasing performances and results throughout his career, but it is fair to say that he went to a new level during a spring prep last year, that was highlighted by a win in the Colin Stephen Quality, and a close-up second placing in The Metropolitan.
He is a winner on heavy going previously, and we can have an each-way play at around the $12 mark.
Bet Now: Royal Randwick Race 4
Race 5 – 2:40pm – Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m)
It has well and truly become a good horses’ race, and this year’s Challenge Stakes field hasn’t disappointed, with the likes of Nature Strip and Eduardo accepting.
That being said, Nature Strip was only just denied in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes a fortnight ago, and I think he’ll be winning this race under James McDonald.
The $1.65 is too short for me, and I am happy to stay out with a view towards something later in the season.
Bet Now: Royal Randwick Race 5
Race 6 – 3:20pm – Listed Fireball Stakes (1100m)
Dragonstone returns from a short break in the Fireball Stakes, and he rates as a key winning chance at a lovely price ($10 at publish).
The Japanese-bred gelding hasn’t missed placing in six trips to the races since debuting, and he returned a smart winner at Kembla Grange in November.
He followed up that performance second in BM72 company at Randwick and went for a break after saluting at the midweeks.
This is the toughest task of his career to date, but he has trialled well, and I think that it looks the perfect opportunity to transition into black type company.
Bet Now: Royal Randwick Race 6
Race 7 – 4:00pm – Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m)
Zaaki will make his eagerly awaited return to the races in the Canterbury Stakes, and he is the one that I want to be with.
His resuming effort in the Tramway Stakes in spring was nothing short of outstanding, and the talented seven-year-old took strides towards champion status in a campaign highlighted by two Group 1 wins.
James McDonald has options from the rails draw and we know how good he is full-stop, let alone on a rain-affected track.
Bet Now: Royal Randwick Race 7
Race 8 – 4:40pm – Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m)
Anamoe has opened our short-priced favourite in Randwick Guineas betting, and rightly so.
The Street Boss colt hasn’t returned a poor effort since debuting, he is a two-time Group 1 winner and he was unlucky not to win the Ladbrokes Cox Plate in the spring, as well.
James McDonald rides this week, the mile is ideal and with even luck, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish.
Bet Now: Royal Randwick Race 8
Race 9 – 5:20pm – Group 3 Aspiration Quality (1600m)
Polly Grey has been charged with carrying topweight, but I still think that she will take beating in the Aspiration Quality.
The talented mare didn’t show a lot in her first run back, but she charged in to score an eye-catching win in the ATC Cup before filling the minors in the Summer Cup on Boxing Day.
She has been freshened since that run, has had a trial and under James McDonald, she too can fight out the finish.
Bet Now: Royal Randwick Race 9
Race 10 – 5:55pm – Group 3 Wenona Girl Quality (1200m)
She hasn’t shown her best in two runs back this time, but I remain a big fan of Fituese, and I’m going to stick with her at a big price in the Wenona Girl Quality ($16 at publish).
She is a multiple black type winner, and I did think that there were things to like about Fituese’s resuming run for fourth in the Magic Millions Sprint.
It is fair to say that she was flat in the Triscay Stakes last time, however, but I am expecting improvement for that run, and she is another whom we can have something on each way.
Bet Now: Royal Randwick Race 10
