Australian racing tips – Saturday 21 September 2024 – Randwick

Race 7

AUTUMN GLOW is two for two, winning both starts over 1300M, the latest in a Group 3 event by two lengths and could be just about anything. She will have to negotiate a wide draw nine out of ten, but she looks hard to topple and is made the best bet on the day’s card.

MANAAL has posted two solid last runs, victorious in the latest over 1200M (G2), albeit by just a head. She jumps from gate six and could emerge as the biggest danger to the top pick. She renews her rivalry with AMEENA who has consistent formlines to her name and followed up her penultimate run victory over 1200M with a second place finish next time out in the race mentioned above, that head back from the winner.

The pair meet on the same weight terms today, so it may be difficult to reverse that result, and the latter is drawn the widest of them all. She should, however, be doing her best work to be involved in the finish.

Race 8

A 6yr old and a 5yr old mare could fight out the finish to this race and complete the exacta, but FANGIRL is taken to lead the field home. She is a three time Group 1 winner who finished third last time out over 1400M (G1), just a half length back from the winner, when returning from a 25 week break, but she had to be steadied off the heels of another runner at the 700M mark, so she had her excuse. She has finished fifth in a subsequent barrier trial and whilst drawn the widest in gate nine, she could give the trainer/jockey combination of Chris Waller and James McDonald the first two legs of the day’s Jackpot.

ZOUGOTCHA is the stable companion of the top choice and is also a three time Group 1 winner. She missed out on her hat-trick after victories over 1500M (G1) and 1600M (G1) when finishing second last time out over 1400M in the same race referred to above, beaten just a short-head. She finished seventh in a subsequent barrier trial and as the duo meet on the same weight terms here, there should not be much separating the pair when they hit the line. From her kinder draw three, she makes a solid back-up for the yard.

ROYAL PATRONAGE won two Group 2 races in the USA and then won first time out in Australia, another Group 2 contest over 1400M, by 1.3L, when returning from a lengthy 59 week spell. He jumped awkwardly that day, bumping another runner, but finished the best to win going away. He faces a wideish gate seven, but he would have come on further with that run under his belt and should be included in all bets.

Race 9

A 6yr old mare and a 3yr old and 4yr old filly could dominate the finish to this race and secure the trifecta, but I AM ME may be the one to side with here. She had her consistency rewarded when winning her last start over 1000M (G3) by a head, when returning from a 17 week break. She gets a useful draw two and could round off the hat-trick for champion jockey James McDonald.

LADY OF CAMELOT won over 1200M three runs back, finished second in her penultimate start over the same sprint trip and then third in her latest outing over 1000M, 0.7L behind the winner, but it should be noted that she jumped awkwardly in that event. She recovered quickly to race just behind the leader and did stay on well over the closing stages. The filly was returning from a 21 week spell that day and notwithstanding a wide draw nine, she should be right up there when they hit the line.

STEFI MAGNETICA won her last start over 1400M by a head and has finished second in a subsequent barrier trial. The filly returns from a 14 week rest, but has finished second in her only barrier trial to showcase her well-being. She is drawn one inside the latter and gets the services of non-claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd to aid her cause.

 Race 10

The day’s value bet, ATMOSPHERIC ROCK won his penultimate start over 1100M and then was held up between the 400M and 150M mark before finishing off his race well, ending up in third spot next time out over 1200m, 2.3L off the winner. The gelding has his peak run after returning from a 20 week absence and from gate five, he will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways here.

MORAVIA was returning from a 13 week rest and was crowded shortly after the start before making good late progress to finish nineth in his latest outing over 1000m, four lengths adrift of the victor. The gelding will have to deal with a wide gate nine, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.

KIBOU was slow away and had to be held up between the 400M and 250M mark when finishing third last time out, just a head back from the winner, so can be viewed as an unlucky loser. He has pulled gate six and he gets a set of blinkers fitted for the first time. If these have the desired effect, he should be a big runner here.