Eight of the nine races on today’s card are Group races including the Group 1 H E Tancred Stakes and the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes.
Each race on the card is very competitive and some good racing can be expected. The best bet on the programme comes in the form of LIFE LESS ORDINARY in Race 4. He has not finished too far off the winner recently and looks set to find his way back into the winner’s enclosure.
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|
Race
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Time
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Conditions
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1st
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
4th
|
5th
|
|
1
|
03:30
|
1400m – Benchmark 88 Hcp
|
10
|
12
|
6
|
7
|
3
|
|
2
|
04:10
|
1400m – Group 3
|
5
|
7
|
9
|
6
|
1
|
|
3
|
04:50
|
2000m – Group 2
|
1
|
6
|
5
|
3
|
4
|
|
4
|
05:30
|
2000m – Group 3
|
1
|
2
|
8
|
10
|
6
|
|
5
|
06:10
|
1200m – Group 3
|
6
|
10
|
7
|
1
|
8
|
|
6
|
06:50
|
2400m – Group 1
|
9
|
1
|
2
|
6
|
8
|
|
7
|
07:30
|
2000m – Group 1
|
9
|
1
|
2
|
6
|
3
|
|
8
|
08:10
|
1500m – Group 2
|
8
|
9
|
14
|
10
|
6
|
|
9
|
08:50
|
1500m – Group 3
|
3
|
2
|
9
|
4
|
15
|
Best Bet: LIFE LESS ORDINARY (Race 4)
Value Bet: SHOUT THE BAR (Race 7)
Race 1
ROYAL CELEBRATION has come well in his last two races. He finished runner-up in his last start over 1350m on this course in heavy going. He was running on nicely at the business end of that race, but the winner was too good in the end. If continuing his good run of form, he may be the one they all have to beat. SAUSEDGE is taking on the boys today. She looked a winner in her last start but did not quite go on with the effort. She is having her peak run today and should be cherry-ripe. CONDOR produced a very good run in a Group 3 contest over this distance last time. Dropping back in class and with Kerrin McEvoy doing duty, he should be right there in the run down to the wire. TOP PROSPECT won his last start at Randwick over today’s distance. He fought all the way down to the line. The 6yr old gelding does take a step up in class, but he is in very good form and can notch up the hat-trick.
Race 2
RETURN WITH HONOUR’S last two runs have been decent. He should have won his last start over six furlongs at Canberra last time. He was settled near the back, worked off the rail, but once they headed for home, he found plenty of traffic problems. With a bit of luck in running with Hugh Bowman in the saddle, he should find his way into the winner’s area. I AM SWERVING has finished third in his last two efforts. The manner in which he has finished off those races suggests that the seven furlongs will be right up his alley. Joshua Parr does duty once again and pair could pose a big threat to the top selection. Other runners that will need to be considered in this field are JEMSS with Glyn Schofield in the saddle and TIME IS PRECIOUS who has Brenton Avdulla up.
Race 3
QUICK THINKER has not finished too far off the winner in recent outings. He raced from a handy position in the Phar Lap Stakes last time and stayed on well at the business of that race. He has had the perfect prep coming into this race and looks like the one they all have to beat. PRIDE OF ADELAIDE followed up his eye-catching maiden victory with another good win last time. He does face his toughest test to date, but he looks to have some class about him and must be included in all bets. ZEBROWSKI is in the same boat as the second selection. He too followed up his maiden win with another good victory. He does take on a lot stronger this afternoon, but he gets the services of top jockey Hugh Bowman and the pair merit healthy respect. RELUCTANT has produced two decent efforts since winning his maiden race. He is up in class but could be one for place bets under Tommy Berry.
Race 4
LIFE LESS ORDINARY is the best bet on the card and the best-rated runner in this race. He stayed on well in his last start over this course and distance, but the run that catches the eye is his penultimate effort in the Chipping Norton Stakes. He finished just 2.3 lengths behind the winner that day and if repeating that run in this type of company, he should be the one that they all have to beat. NIGHT’S WATCH has been taking on much stronger in his last three efforts. He drops back to Group 3 company and with James McDonald in the saddle, the pair could pose the biggest threat to the top choice. ALIFEROUS takes on males. She has not finished too far off the winner in recent outings and must be included in all bets. MAID OF ORE is a mare that takes on the boys. She placed in the Canberra Cup and the Albury Cup in her last two starts and should be involved in the run down to the wire.
Race 5
MANICURE has not raced for 19 weeks, but that shouldn’t pose an issue as she has won two races when returning from a lay-off. She has a very good record over this distance with three wins and three second-place finishes from eight outings. Kerrin McEvoy jumps aboard the James Cummings-trained mare and a fifth career victory is definitely on the cards. DIPLOMATICO needed his last run over 1100m on this course. He should strip much fitter for today’s race and can run into the money with Tommy Berry in the irons. VEGADAZE didn’t enjoy the heavy going in his last start. He has a good record on this course with two wins and a third-place finish from five outings. On best form shown, he can earn a cheque. KEMENTARI hasn’t raced in over a year and returns as a gelding. He is a Group 1 winner and if fit and well, he should be right there in the run down to the wire.
Race 6
This is the first Group 1 race on the card. VERRY ELLEEGANT looks like she will be very hard to beat. She fought hard in the Ranvet Stakes over 2000m last time, but the winner was too good. She won her only attempt over this distance and with James McDonald doing duty once again, the pair should find themselves in the winner’s enclosure. AVILIUS stayed on well at the business end of the race last time. There was not much separating him and the top selection that day and he should be right there in the run down to the wire. MUSTAJEER found one too good in the Sky High Stakes last time. He was an impressive winner in his penultimate start over ten furlongs. If repeating that effort, he can run into the money once again. MUGATOO who was imported won his first three Australian races before finding Young Rascal too good last time. Kerrin McEvoy rides and the pair cannot be ignored. MUGATOO
Race 7
SHOUT THE BAR is a lightly raced filly from the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott stable. She won her first two starts well before being touched off in the Kembla Grange Classic last time. She should have no issues with the rise in distance and could be the one to cause the upset under Adam Hyeronimus. FUNSTAR is a five-time winner from seven starts. She was ultra-impressive when winning the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes last time. She should enjoy the step up to ten furlongs and should the top selection fluff her lines, she should definitely be the one to pick up the pieces. PROBABEEL finished 1.3 lengths behind the second selection in her last start. The manner in which she finished off the race that day suggests that she will enjoy the rise in distance. SUBPOENAED finished just behind the top selection in her last start over a mile. Form her mid-field barrier, she should be involved in the fight out for the placings.
Race 8
SWEET DEAL has come well since returning from a 21-week rest. She won the Triscay Stakes in her first run after the break and was just touched off in the Guy Walter Stakes last time. Her record on this course is good with three wins and a third-place finish from six attempts. She is having her peak run today and should be cherry-ripe. POHUTUKAWA did not enjoy the heavy going in her last start. She produced two solid efforts in her first two runs after a break. If the going is on top, she should pose a big threat to the top choice. POSITIVE PEACE is looking for five wins in a row. She does face her toughest test to date, but looks to up the task at hand. She runs well on this course and should be right there in the run down to the wire. AMANGIRI returns from a 20-week break today. She produced some decent form prior to the rest and if not in need of the run, can run into the minor money.
Race 9
This is a competitive Group 3 contest to close off the meeting and caution is advised. The narrow first selection goes to CASCADIAN from the James Cummings stable. He has produced some decent form since winning on debut in firm going. He was touched off in the Ajax Stakes last time and if repeating that effort, he could be the one to beat here. STAR OF THE SEAS caught the eye when hitting the line strongly to win a Group 3 event last time. He won his only attempt over this distance and with Nash Rawiller doing duty, the pair pose a threat to the top selection. DESERT LORD needed his last two starts after returning from a 17-week break. He should be cherry-ripe and on best form shown, he should be right there in the run down to the wire. GAULOIS is the stable companion of the top selection. He is much better than his last run suggests and if repeating his penultimate effort, he could be involved in the finish.
