Australian racing tips – Saturday, 26 April 2025 – Randwick

Race 7

LONHRO’S QUEEN goes for her hat-trick after victories over 1000M and the latest over 1100M by just under a length. She struck the front at the 100M mark that day and then held off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. The filly gets a handy draw three, will be having her peak run after returning from a 19 week break and will also have 2kg taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice.

POWERFUL PEG has cracked pole position and jumped awkwardly bumping another runner when finishing sixth last time out over 1200M, 3.2L behind the winner. She returns from a 17 week rest, but has had two barrier trials, finishing fourth in the first and winning the latest and the engaging of champion jockey, James McDonald catches the eye.

TRAFALGAR SQUARE is trained by ex-SA jockey/trainer, David Payne and put her disappointing penultimate start over 1600M behind her when finishing fourth next time out over 1200M, just a length back from the winner, when returning from an 11 week rest. She raced three wide throughout in that event and then came four wide into the home straight, so that effort was encouraging. The filly will have to negotiate a wide draw ten, but she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.

Race 8

MAJOR BEEL was crowded at the start, came four wide into the home straight, before not getting the clearest of passages in the home stretch to end up in tenth place last time out over 1800M, 3.7L behind the winner, so he had his excuses. The gelding returns from a 24 week break, but has had two barrier trials, finishing second in the latest and he should put his pole position to good use.

DUCASSE won over 1400M three runs back, finished fifth in his penultimate start over 1500M and then third in his latest outing over the same c&d, 1.8L behind the winner, but it should be noted that he was bumped at the start on that occasion, finding himself at the back of the field, before delivering a powerful finish over the closing stages. The gelding jumps from gate six and will have 2kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice.

PUNCH LANE came four wide into the home stretch, but made good late progress over the latter stages to end up in fourth spot last time out over 1400M, just under a length and a half back from the victor. The gelding is drawn the widest of them all in gate nineteen, but he has his peak run after returning from a 22 week break and he should be doing his best work late.

Race 9

The day’s value bet, ISTOLEA MERC has won three of his last four starts, the latest over 1300M by 2.3L, despite jumping awkwardly. He recovered quickly to take up the lead and then raced clear of the opposition at the 300M mark to record a comfortable victory. He faces a wide draw eleven, but he is a speedy sort who should be able to work his way across without too much effort.

COLOPHON went from gun to tape when putting five and a half lengths between himself and the balance of the field to win his last start over 1400M. The gelding is drawn wide in gate twelve, but he could prove hard to reel in over the closing stages.

YANKEE ONE is the stable companion of the top choice and a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she has won two of her last three outings, the latest over 1400M by just under a length and a half and the form of that race has been franked. She hit the front at the top of the home straight and then kept on going strongly all the way down to the line. She on the other hand has secured pole position and she makes a solid back-up for the yard.

Race 10

KNOW THYSELF has his hat-trick run after two wins over 1400M, albeit the last by just a short-head. He raced three wide throughout on that occasion and came five wide into the home straight, before finishing strongly. His jockey put up 0.5kgs overweight that day and from gate six, he is made the best bet on the day’s card.

FUKUBANA is seldom too far off the action, finishing third last time out over 1400M, just under a length and a half back from the winner, this after racing three wide throughout. The gelding has pulled a useful gate three and should be right up there when they hit the line.

KIND WORDS is a 4yr old filly bumping males. She did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight, only seeing daylight at the 200M mark, before finishing off her race well to end up in second spot last time out over 1300M, three lengths behind the winner. She will have to deal with a wide draw nineteen, but nevertheless, she should still be involved in the finish.