The Sydney Spring Carnival continues at Randwick on 2023 Surf To Turf Day!
Formerly George Main Stakes Day, that feature race has been moved to The Everest Day and renamed, so we’ll now be treated to the inaugural running to the ‘7 Stakes’ this weekend, which has drawn an outstanding field of milers.
Check out my complete preview and Royal Randwick Tips below!
Midway Handicap (1600m) – 11:50am
This week’s Midway race is a typically open affair with plenty of winning chances engaged, and I thought that Ninja Star was one that was enormously over the odds ($41 at publish).
Ninja Star has been in good and consistent form since returning from a break, winning two of four and only just missing on another occasion.
This is a pretty big step up in class for her, but she was nothing short of dominant out at Nowra at her latest, and looks to be in peak order.
She’s drawn and weighted well, and I’m keen to see what she can do. Just having a very small each way play myself.
Suggested Bet: No. 11 Ninja Star
Highway Class 2 Handicap (1000m) – 12:25pm
Speaking of wide-open affairs with plenty of winning chances, Race 2 is another Highway race!
Derry Grove is undefeated since returning from a break, and he can keep that record alive on Saturday.
The Star Turn gelding was too good for them in Class 2 company at Ipswich first run back this time, but took huge improvement into a dominant win here at Randwick at his latest.
He’s a month between starts, but that’s clearly the key to him, and a repeat of that last effort would see him extremely difficult to toss again.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Derry Grove
Peachester Lodge Shoot Out Mile (1600m) – 1pm
Chris Waller holds a strong hand in this contest including Gan Teorainn, who I have put on top.
Gan Teorainn was excellent in some very good races over in Europe prior to his purchase and transfer to Waller, and he has improved for two starts since arriving.
Fitter third-up, at the mile and under Kerrin McEvoy, I absolutely love his chances this week.
Suggested Bet: No. 9 Gan Teorainn
Nick Moraitis Trophy (1400m) – 1:35pm
Altivo makes eagerly awaited return to the races on Saturday and looks well placed to strike.
The Wootton Bassett gelding has made just five appearances at the races since debuting, winning four of them and only just missing on the other occasion.
He’s two from two at this point of his prep and has had the benefit of a trial in the lead-up to this return.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Altivo
Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) – 2:15pm
The day’s first black type will see a quality group of stayers go around in the Kingston Town Stakes, including Derby winner Major Beel.
I don’t think many people had him in their numbers when he outstayed them here at Randwick in April, but he certainly stamped himself as one to watch.
He blew out the cobwebs when finishing down the order in the Winx Stakes first-up this time and boy, he was outstanding second-up in the Chelmsford.
Fitter third-up and out to a far more appropriate trip this week, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Major Beel
Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) – 2:50pm
We were with Tiz Invincible when she charged home to score in the Furious Stakes two weeks ago, and I don’t see any reason why we should jump off when she takes her place in the Tea Rose Stakes.
Tiz Invincible showed good ability in two starts during her two-year-old season, but returned this time and improved galloper, breaking her maiden in the Rosebud first-up.
Having franked that effort a fortnight ago, her performance suggested that seven furlongs wouldn’t be a problem at all, and I like that the team have stuck with Zac Lloyd.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Tiz Invincible
7 Stakes (1600m) – 3:25pm
This feature race has drawn an absolutely outstanding field that is rich with Group 1 talent.
Two plays for me: Fangirl on top, and I’m also going to have an each way saver on Pericles.
Fangirl has been a great horse for the Waller yard for a couple of seasons now, and after a long run of near misses in Group 1 company, she returned for a deserved victory in the Winx Stakes last month.
With improvement, I think the mile will be even better this week, and I’m confident she’ll be right in the finish again.
Even after he ruined my perfect day when he went wayward and only just missed in the Rosehill Guineas, I remain a big fan of Pericles as well, and he is two from two back from a break.
Stepping out to weight-for-age this week is a big test, but he’s a very talented galloper, and I can’t wait to see him line up against some of these outstanding opponents.
Suggested Bet: No. 9 Fangirl & No. 8 Perciles
Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) – 4pm
The Everest is only a month away and some of the country’s best sprinters continue to tune up in The Shorts!
It’s going to be another two-horse play for me here, with In Secret on top and Buenos Noches an each-way saver.
In Secret has quickly lifted herself up in to the top echelon of Australian, and indeed the world’s best sprinters.
Having won the Coolmore Stud Stakes late last year, she returned in the autumn to add the Newmarket Handicap to her CV, while I also thought her first run back this time for second in the Concorde Stakes was great.
Buenos Noches has also always hinted at above average ability, and he has performed well in some really nice races.
That being said, his first-up performance and win in the Show County Quality last month hinted at improvement, and I like that he has been kept up to the mark with a trial since then.
Suggested Bet: No. 5 In Secret & No. 6 Buenos Noches
Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) – 4:40pm
Another interesting edition of the Bill Ritchie Handicap, but a great launchpad for Converge, who does look to have a lot of these rivals covered for class.
Converge hasn’t been seen at the races since June, but he returned plenty of typically strong performances last time in, highlighted by his second placing behind Think About It in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup.
His fresh record is sound, but I like that he’s had a couple of trials leading up to his return and I think he’ll be quite forward.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Converge
The Agency Real Estate Handicap (1200m) – 5:15pm
Kibou was sent back to the paddock after finishing second in a hit-and-run assignment at Randwick in June, and he relaunches in the last at Randwick on Saturday.
Kibou has won three of his six career starts to date, finishing second on that other occasions and finding form around some quality gallopers.
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott have a huge opinion of him, and I think he’ll return with a win here.
Suggested Bet: No. 6 Kibou
