Races

Chris Nelson’s Saturday Randwick Preview

Posted on | Posted by Chris Nelson

RACE 1

Racing in Sydney returns to Randwick on Saturday with the 2-million-dollar Group 2 The Ingham (once known as the Villiers) our feature. Showers late in the week with somewhere between 2-27mm forecast Friday/Saturday, that’s not a lot of help… Leaning to last start winner (4) HYPERBOLIC in the opener who gave away too much start first up when never a hope before a lot closer in the run last time pulling clear to win well. Lightly raced with upside she’ll handle any give in the ground. (1) FEAR NO EVIL looms as the leader & may get a soft run, trialled successfully since missing out last start. (2) BELLA MONTAGNA the ‘wildcard’, placed in Group 2 company in New Zealand (2000m), fitter second-up & the additional 200m a definite plus.

Tips: 4 – 1 – 2 – 9

Suggested Bet: Box up top 4 selections in exotics.

RACE 2

No shortage of runners in this week’s Highway! (15) MADRINA beat all bar the winner at this level two starts back at Rosehill, she was then asked to tackle something tougher at Kembla on ‘Gong’ Day when just even. Drawn well she drops 6kg from the run two back, looks very well placed. (17) LADY OLENNA is only lightly raced showing plenty of promise, rattled home fresh having drawn wide & going back, draws the pole gate today, won’t be anywhere near as far back. (2) ACTION KING in the mix also.

Tips: 15 – 17 – 2 – 10

Suggested Bet: MADRINA & LADY OLENNA TO WIN.

RACE 3

Big numbers in this week’s Midway which will be cut to a max of 18 post scratchings. I’m heading wide putting the roughie (19) ART VOLANT on top who will need one scratching to squeeze her way into the field as an emergency. She’s won 2 of 4 fresh, trialled well & was very consistent last prep until her last run which was in a million-dollar race here during the autumn carnival. (4) ZARAGOZA disappointed at Kemble, first up run here was a good one running on against the tempo, rise in distance suits. (2) ALABAMA STATE looks close, fourth run back today once again aided by the claim & drawn to get the right run. (15) FIORENZA has the form however not the gate.

Tips: 19 – 4 – 2 – 15

Suggested Bet:  Box up top 4 selections in exotics.

RACE 4

Having a throw at the stumps here with the third-up (1) BUNDEENA who just couldn’t quite sprint when needing to last start over the 1000m trip. A winner up to 1300m the additional 200m today is going to suit & he should tuck in & land a good run for comeback jockey Sam Clipperton. (2) AXIUS appears very well-placed resuming, good fresh record, favourable alley, right trainer & jockey, big market watch. (4) SNACK BAR is far from a punters pal, protested unsuccessfully last start, some say he should have won the race however in my opinion he had the entire straight to do so & couldn’t get past the winner who carried a kilo more.

Tips: 1 – 2 – 4 – 10

Suggested Bet:  BUNDEENA EACH-WAY (small bet).

RACE 5

Inglis nursery for the youngsters. Good bunch of debutants from strong yards taking on the experienced runners, market moves all important. Bit of a guess here however the highly priced (5) VATICAN for Chris Waller has been given a very easy time in both lead-up trials going to the line under a decent grip, get the feeling there’s plenty under the bonnet of this one & should he not drift I’ll be having something on. (1) BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY will have plenty of admirers, only outing was a third at Flemington on Oaks Day, in the right hands & drawn well. (3) INTERNAL AFFAIRS an improver, (4) STAR OF JAMAICA a market watch.

Tips: 5 – 1 – 3 – 4

Suggested Bet: Follow any market support for VATICAN.

RACE 6

Winning form is the best form & the Ciaron Maher trained (8) MR BUSTER certainly has plenty of it of late. All wins have been north of the border however they have been impressive & I’d be surprised should he not measure up at this level. (9) ROTAGILLA is flying this prep, beaten by Meridiana two back he turned the tables on that mare at Rosehill when meeting her worse off, record at this track is a good one. (4) SUN GOD has hit form now & may be able to go right on with it.

Tips: 8 – 9 – 4 – 1

Suggested Bet: MR BUSTER EACH-WAY.

RACE 7

2400m is the distance of the Listed Christmas Cup, there’s a few here who are very hard to catch on their day! (2) HEUTOR needs give in the ground, the weather forecast suggests he’s a chance of getting just that. His only half decent run this prep was two back in the Rosehill Cup running on behind the smart Wootton Verni, that was on a soft (7) all others were on dry surfaces. (10) HOLLYWOOD HERO is racing well this prep, 2400m the unknown though, whilst he didn’t attack the line at the end of 2000m last start he held his ground well. (1) ASTERIX has the big weight & wide gate, decent form last couple though.

Tips: 2 – 10 – 1 – 12

Suggested Bet: Box up top 4 selections in exotics.

RACE 8

The rich Group 2 Villiers as per usual brings together a very competitive bunch. (1) GRINGOTTS will be well fancied once again coming off wins in the Big Dance & Gong however the wide draw with 61kg has to be of concern. (3) ESTADIO MESTALLA hasn’t put in a subpar run for some time & the stable, well we all know how well they are going; he’ll handle any ground & races well here, I’ll lean his way. (4) ROBUSTO should be ready third-up, highly likely this has been his aim all along. No knock (13) YORKSHIRE other than the gate whilst should things get quite wet look for (12) LOCH EAGLE to improve many lengths.

Tips: 3 – 1 – 4 – 13

Suggested Bet: ESTADIO MESTALLA EACH-WAY.

RACE 9

(3) BARBER ran out of puff late when resuming at Kembla however I doubt the heavy track did him any favours there. Second up back to a dry deck he motored home in a fast run race overall beating all bar the winner. 1200m won’t be of any concern & as long as we don’t get to any worse than soft he should run well. (12) WEEPING WOMAN is flying & gets the big weight drop rising plenty in grade, can she measure up? We’ll soon find out. (1) COAL CRUSHER is not a horse I can catch however should he run up to his Hunter win at Newcastle he’s going to take plenty of running down.

Tips: 3 – 12 – 1 – 4

Suggested Bet: BARBER EACH-WAY (no worse than soft).

RACE 10

Nice tough BM78 to wind up the day. (3) YES LULU may need a little more speed in the race than appears at this early stage however should they be running on down the outside she’s going to be well placed either way. Very good running on to win at Rosehill she made plenty of ground at Kembla also. (12) THE BLADE is back in form & a chance once again whilst (14) AMREEKIYAH ran well first up in a race which didn’t suit, wide gate no help though. Could have easily missed the winner.

Tips: 3 – 12 – 14 – 2

Suggested Bet: Box up top 4 selections in exotics.

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