Chris Nelson’s Saturday Randwick Preview

Posted on February 13, 2025February 13, 2025 | Posted by Chris Nelson

RACE 1

We race at Randwick in Sydney on Saturday with plenty of Group racing on the card. Suggest we likely go around on a soft rated surface with showers forecast all the way through the weekend. The day kicks off with a Midway where there’s no standout, they do look an even bunch. The barrier gods haven’t been kind to ALL TOO LUCKY however the tempo should be solid here & she settles off speed/rearward anyway. Down in weight look for her to come with a rush late. RUSH HOUR placed last start, consistent around this level should figure in the placings. The lightly raced CATCH THE GLORY won fresh, can improve further with that run under the belt.

Numbers: 12 – 1 – 11 – 4

Suggested Bet: Box up top 4 selections in exotics.

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RACE 2

We stretch out to 1800m for this week’s Highway. I’ll side with the third-up TAPA KICK who although never looking the winner last start did keep finding the line, he drops a kilo, should be right at his peak & will appreciate the step up in distance. ADOLPHUS hasn’t been far away his past couple, will likely push on from the awkward draw & look for a prominent spot early. ASSOCIATE may be looking for the step up in trip, gets that today.

Numbers: 3 – 2 – 1 – 4

Suggested Bet: TAPA KICK EACH-WAY.

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RACE 3

Wow, here’s a race for the 2yo’s with plenty of interest, some real quality going around in this. I’m with the unbeaten PALLATON who created a very big impression back in December when charging away to score here over 1000m. Liked the way he closed out his recent trial which should have him ready to fire fresh. No doubting the run handed in by UNITED STATES at his debut was a cracker, he gets an additional 100m now, will that be far enough at this stage? HILLIER hit the line strongly on debut in a race not run to suit, must include. No knock COMEDY.

Numbers: 2 – 5 – 4 – 1

Suggested Bet: PALLATON TO WIN.

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RACE 4

YORKSHIRE beat home SANDPAPER at Rosehill 2 weeks ago in what I had as the fastest run race of the day. That overall time was set up by a strong early speed of which SANDPAPER raced right up on, his effort to give YORKSHIRE something to run down was a very good one. YORKSHIRE needs the additional trip (100m), there’s nothing really between them at the weights, the barriers do favour YORKSHIRE though & I’ll lean his way however you just have to have a saver on SANDPAPER. VEGA MAGNIFICO didn’t get much of a crack at them last start after winning well fresh, can figure here.

Numbers: 1 – 7 – 15 – 12

Suggested Bet: YORKSHIRE TO WIN/Saver SANDPAPER.

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RACE 5

Very small field to go around in the Group 2 Expressway however there’s no lack of quality! Chris Waller produces his crack mares JOLIESTAR & OLENTIA fresh, the latter is a first up specialist being defeated only once in 5 attempts & she was desperately unlucky on that occasion. JOLIESTAR is 3 from 4 fresh & in my opinion a touch classier, both have trialled well however I’ll lean to JOLIESTAR. AIRMAN should be ready to fire, yet another with an impressive fresh record.  IOWNA MERC is hard fit.

Numbers: 5 – 6 – 1 – 4

Suggested Bet: JOLIESTAR TO WIN.

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RACE 6

Good field of mares to face off at Group 3 level. Leaning to COMMEMORATIVE who beat all bar the now Group 1 winning Kimochi first up last prep, she’d won 2 of her 3 previous fresh attempts & I did like her recent trial just tucked in behind the first couple. Any give in the track certainly won’t be of concern to her, she’s 3 from 3 on soft. I’ve got SPRING LEE firmly in the blackbook off her second up effort, no weight here however I’m well aware she rises plenty in grade, can’t overlook though. KUNDALINI has trialled well whilst the unbeaten CLEAR THINKING goes from a Highway to a Group 3, monster class rise, big weight drop helps.

Numbers: 2 – 8 – 4 – 10

Suggested Bet: Box up top 4 selections in exotics.

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RACE 7

Cracking Group 2 Light Fingers! Many will be riding home LADY OF CAMELOT who is looking for her first win since the Slipper of last year, she’ll get her chance here no doubt. I’m happy to take her on though & go with another of the Group 1 winners in the field being LADY SHENANDOAH who really hit her straps last prep having only the 2 starts for as many wins running away with the Flight before being tipped out. I’ve loved her two trials & suggest she’s ready to return in a big way. MANAAL has to deal with an awkward draw, she’ll be doing her best work late.

Numbers: 3 – 1 – 2 – 12

Suggested Bet: LADY SHENANDOAH TO WIN.

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RACE 8

The Group 2 Apollo sees the return of the best horse in the country VIA SISTINA who will go around at a short quote, hopefully just in black figures. She won 4 of her 5 starts last prep which included the Winx first up, the only failure came about on heavy ground & all were at Group 1 level. Trialled well, cannot tip against her. I’m convinced CEOLWULF is in for a huge autumn, of course I’m not on my own there however he was just outstanding in the spring, would have likely run second in the Cox Plate behind Via Sistina had he made it to that race. Certainly no knock FANGIRL who needs good/soft nothing worse.

Numbers: 5 – 1 – 6 – 7

Suggested Bet: VIA SISTINA TO WIN.

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RACE 9

Get the feeling DISNECK will go around overs here & I’m not really sure why. Perhaps due to his defeat last start? Well, there was nothing wrong with that run stepping up to Group 3 company & for the fourth successive occasion clocking the slickest final 200m of the race. He drops back to Benchmark company, gets 3kg off for Anna Roper & loves this track. Plenty of hype around SUNSHINEINMYPOCKET who resumed with a fast-finishing fresh win, in the right yard, big chance. BUNKER HUT always goes in, finally broke through last start & did so in impressive fashion.

Numbers: 1 – 14 – 7 – 3

Suggested Bet: DISNECK EACH-WAY.

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RACE 10

PERFUMIST will likely be all the rage in this race, hopefully ‘black figures’ will be available. She’s lining up for her fifth consecutive win & based on the time she ran last start there’s little hope of her being beaten barring incidents & accidents. That last start race has already seen 2^nd & 4^th subsequently winning & 3^rd finishing runner-up. PANIC nest best, to be honest I can’t find anything in this race likely to get near the top pick!

Numbers: 7 – 6 – 5 – 9

Suggested Bet: PERFUMIST TO WIN.

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