logo
Race-by-race tips and preview for Randwick on Saturday

Race-by-race tips and preview for Randwick on Saturday

The wide barrier might be a blessing for 2. Piggyback, which has likely been a victim of barrier one in her two defeats since she charged down the middle to win first up. Could arguably have won both those races, but either way, she's run very well without having things fall in her favour. Can be the master of her own destiny now and should take beating. 3. Federer was only second up when finishing not far off his stablemate at Rosehill two weeks ago, and he has the right set-up to produce his best run for the preparation so far. He's 1.5kg worse off for finishing behind Piggyback, but does look a danger. 4. Misterkipchoge brought up his long-awaited second win by claiming that race at Rosehill with a positive ride. He just got there and has to carry 3kg more, but in the small field he will get his chance to repeat. 6. Natural Deduction was scratched from Wednesday to run here and he bounced back to his best third up with a solid win at Canterbury. Comes back 100m, but capable of taking up a position and is in the mix.
How to play it: Piggyback to win.
Race 6 – 2.05PM EREMEIN HANDICAP (1800 METRES)
10. Pippie Beach must be the starting point in a race that really could be anyone's under the right circumstances. She's run well in all three starts this time in, including a first-up win, but the way the race was run last time out didn't give her any chance and she was outsprinted when running third behind She's Unusual. Gets a 4kg weight drop, a nice soft gate and the edge off the track is what she likes. 4. Zaphod sat up handy and had his chance when a fading fourth behind Quantum Cat over this course three weeks ago. Can't see any excuses there, but finds a similar set-up where he should be handy, and now he's fourth up he should be peaking fitness wise. 3. Salt Lake City was expected to run well last time in the same race, and he was fair in finishing just over two lengths off the winner. Again, he was third up and off a big second-up run, so perhaps an excuse there, and he could produce something. 9. Morning Sun won at 1800m first up last prep in midweek benchmark 72 company and there wasn't anything wrong with his latest trial. Can race on the handy side and a cheeky fresh effort wouldn't surprise.
How to play it: Pippie Beach to win.
Race 7 – 2.40PM THE AGENCY REAL ESTATE HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
2. Yiska can be a bit hit and miss – his record tells you that – but he races well fresh and seems to race best when allowed to find his feet and swoop. That's what happened first up last time in when he beat – an admittedly very unlucky – Accredited at Canterbury. He can balance up from the wide gate, and while you're banking on some early pace bringing him into it, he's an each-way chance. 3. Lulumon is another swooper that won a very good form race when she claimed Storm The Ramparts and Hi Dubai to win over the 1000m three weeks ago. Up 2.5kg, but if they are charging home from the back, it'll bring her right into the race. 8. Cassiel is an up-and-comer that has put two wins at benchmark 64 level together this time in. Races handy and while up in class he is down 5kg and that gives him the chance to be competitive. 1. Katsu is a noted on-pacer, and he'll have to carry 64kg after the claim. He was solid first up for the new stable under 60kg at Sandown a month ago and has had a jump out since. Lost his way last prep, so the fresh run is encouraging, and he stays in the mix.
How to play it: Yiska each way.
Race 8 – 3.20PM ASAHI SUPER DRY HANDICAP (1600 METRES)
8. Puntin looks a progressive type, and he was able to get control and hold them off to score second up at Rosehill. Steps out to the mile now, which he'll relish. He's drawn to land right there in the lead or on the pace again, and he's the one horse in this race that's very likely not reached anywhere near his ceiling just yet. Bit of a moment of truth for him, but he looks hard to beat. 12. Fiddlers Green caught everyone's eye when storming home for fourth behind Puntin after winning first up at the midweeks. Drew the outside there and went back, but you'd imagine from a kinder gate he can be that little bit closer. Yet to win beyond 1400m, but looks set to run a big race. 16. Sly Boots is another that comes through that race, and in his case, it was an excellent return after more than a year off the scene as he was beaten less than a length running on nicely. Has to be fitter, and he is not to be left out of calculations. 4. Oh Diamond Lil returned to form with a handy second behind runaway winner It's A Knockout third up and draws to get a nice run around the speed. Is a winner at this track and over this distance in Midway company earlier this year. 7. Don't Forget Jack was runner-up to Puntin and has to be thereabouts, and 11. King Ratel is getting fitter after two good runs from a two-year absence.
How to play it: Puntin to win.
Race 9 – 4PM TAB HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
10. It's A Knockout was awesome in winning first up at the same track and over the same distance last month. She landed in a great spot from a wide gate and simply powered away. It's a rise in class now for her to benchmark 88, but she gets a 1.5kg weight drop and a barrier perfect for her style. She's already been placed in a group 3 in mares company, so it's not foreign waters she's stepping into, and if she's anything like the horse that turned up three weeks ago, she'll be difficult to stop. The same can be said for 16. Getafix after his demolition job in midweek company at Kensington carrying 61.5kg. He enjoyed being covered up and exploded away for almost a six-length margin on the line. This is a sharper step in class, but he did start $15 in a Hawkesbury Guineas prior. 11. Mickey's Medal found himself last and facing a big task in a race run strongly up front, which likely took the finish out of him. Still did a good job to run fourth. Up in weight as he loses the claim, but has to be included. 7. Razors made an acceptable return from a year off the scene when close up behind Accredited in benchmark 94 grade. He'll be fitter for that, down a notch in class and was stakes placed at this track and trip. Keep in mind.
How to play it: It's A Knockout to win.
Race 10 – 4.35PM PRECISE AIR HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
5. Changing Colours was particularly dominant coming to Sydney off a month between runs and overcoming trouble to score an easy win at Rosehill two weeks ago. While she is up in the weights, she's meeting a largely similar group and, if anything, she's drawn a lot better. It's up to her to repeat that performance, but nothing is saying she can't. 15. Fairway Star could not quite match her turn of foot late, but did a good job to run second having returned with a handy effort behind Sacred Rocks. One of the each-way chances again. 10. Slinky is not too far off a win looking at her two runs back from a spell over shorter trips. Ran on strongly from last behind Lady Extreme last time out and with a big turnaround at the barriers she could be dangerous. 3. Liberty State was awesome winning first up from back and wide on a heavy track before an even effort in the same race as Slinky, finishing just ahead of her. In the conversation again.
How to play it: Changing Colours to win.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

‘We are looking to go 50-50': Ciaron Maher eyes bigger slice of Sydney riches
‘We are looking to go 50-50': Ciaron Maher eyes bigger slice of Sydney riches

Sydney Morning Herald

time4 days ago

  • Sydney Morning Herald

‘We are looking to go 50-50': Ciaron Maher eyes bigger slice of Sydney riches

Ciaron Maher will aim to split his massive team more evenly across Victoria and NSW next season as he chases more wins in the rich Sydney racing scene. And he hopes the likes of Sacred Rocks and Hi Dubai, which race at Randwick on Saturday, can lead the early charge. Maher's stable last week became the first to win more than $60 million in prizemoney in a season and is closing out a third consecutive Australian trainers' premiership, with 322.5 winners before Thursday's meetings. Chris Waller was second on 270. The Victorian has built the amazing success largely on performances in his home state, but his reach in NSW is set to grow with the move of his Sydney stable from Warwick Farm to Leilani Lodge at Randwick. The larger stable, together with existing arms of his operation at Bong Bong Farm in the Southern Highland and Bobs Farm in the Hunter, are part of Maher's ambition to expand and increase his winning totals in NSW. 'There's about 20 extra stables, but we sort of alternate,' Maher said of the difference between his Warwick Farm stables and Leilani Lodge, which is still being renovated. 'We have up to 200 at Ballarat but that fluctuates, and all the other stables stay full. But we own that joint, so that's why we can do that. We haven't sort of changed for about two or three seasons now, so it's always just consolidate. 'We are looking to go 50-50. We are sort of 60-40 with Victoria at the moment, but 50-50 with Sydney has been the aim for a couple of years.' Maher has 84.5 winners in NSW, with 48 in town, this season. Those numbers are dwarfed by Waller's. The Rosehill trainer, who is upgrading his Flemington operation with a move into Godolphin's Carbine Lodge, has 182 and 140 wins respectively in NSW and metro will secure a 15th consecutive Sydney trainers' premiership. The expansion of Maher's operations, though, raises the question of whether he can one day challenge Waller's reign in Sydney.

‘We are looking to go 50-50': Ciaron Maher eyes bigger slice of Sydney riches
‘We are looking to go 50-50': Ciaron Maher eyes bigger slice of Sydney riches

The Age

time4 days ago

  • The Age

‘We are looking to go 50-50': Ciaron Maher eyes bigger slice of Sydney riches

Ciaron Maher will aim to split his massive team more evenly across Victoria and NSW next season as he chases more wins in the rich Sydney racing scene. And he hopes the likes of Sacred Rocks and Hi Dubai, which race at Randwick on Saturday, can lead the early charge. Maher's stable last week became the first to win more than $60 million in prizemoney in a season and is closing out a third consecutive Australian trainers' premiership, with 322.5 winners before Thursday's meetings. Chris Waller was second on 270. The Victorian has built the amazing success largely on performances in his home state, but his reach in NSW is set to grow with the move of his Sydney stable from Warwick Farm to Leilani Lodge at Randwick. The larger stable, together with existing arms of his operation at Bong Bong Farm in the Southern Highland and Bobs Farm in the Hunter, are part of Maher's ambition to expand and increase his winning totals in NSW. 'There's about 20 extra stables, but we sort of alternate,' Maher said of the difference between his Warwick Farm stables and Leilani Lodge, which is still being renovated. 'We have up to 200 at Ballarat but that fluctuates, and all the other stables stay full. But we own that joint, so that's why we can do that. We haven't sort of changed for about two or three seasons now, so it's always just consolidate. 'We are looking to go 50-50. We are sort of 60-40 with Victoria at the moment, but 50-50 with Sydney has been the aim for a couple of years.' Maher has 84.5 winners in NSW, with 48 in town, this season. Those numbers are dwarfed by Waller's. The Rosehill trainer, who is upgrading his Flemington operation with a move into Godolphin's Carbine Lodge, has 182 and 140 wins respectively in NSW and metro will secure a 15th consecutive Sydney trainers' premiership. The expansion of Maher's operations, though, raises the question of whether he can one day challenge Waller's reign in Sydney.

Baker looks to spring targets after Robusto rises to Winter Challenge
Baker looks to spring targets after Robusto rises to Winter Challenge

Sydney Morning Herald

time19-07-2025

  • Sydney Morning Herald

Baker looks to spring targets after Robusto rises to Winter Challenge

The $12 Sportsbet chance overcame the consistent Joe Pride-trained sprinter, which made life difficult for him and jockey Tom Sherry in a messy finish. It followed a heavy track win at Warwick Farm carrying 61 kilograms when first up off a 17-week spell and one trial. The five-year-old now has seven wins and 15 placings from 36 starts. 'He's not one of these million-dollar horses, he was just bred in a back paddock with the owners, and it's just wonderful for them and that these stories can happen,' Litt said. 'He'll go on with this, and I'm hoping there's a couple of races coming up, maybe in listed grade, that he can be competitive in.' It was part of a treble for Sherry, who earlier won on Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Yoshinobu, which was first-up off a gelding operation. Sherry finished the day with victory on Peter Snowden-trained King Of Roseau. Storm The Ramparts' jockey Reece Jones was fined $400 for an audible obscenity in the scales area after the defeat. He said his frustrations had boiled over, and the breach was out of character. He said he had been 'absolutely hammered' by race goers on the way in. Roper lucky to walk away Jockey Josh Parr labelled wayward country galloper Highway Strip 'dangerous' after its part in the fall of apprentice Anna Roper and Rob Agnew-trained Pony Soprano at Rosehill. Roper, who was stood down by the club doctor from the rest of the day, was fortunate to walk away from the fall. Pony Soprano appeared to escape serious injury. The pair fell near the 750m mark of the 1100m Highway Handicap when Danny Williams-trained Highway Strip shifted out, forcing Roper's mount onto the heels of Never Fails. Roper said Highway Strip was racing ungenerously on her inside, and she believed the fall came from a combination of him hanging out and Never Fails cutting across. Parr told stewards he expressed his disappointment to the stable about the horse's poor racing manners and said 'at no point did I feel I had control of that horse'. 'There was no response from the horse from any command that I gave him, and I'd go as far as to say it's a dangerous horse,' Parr said. Highway Strip, the race favourite, hung out on the turn but finished strongly for fourth. Highway Strip had been sent back to the trials previously for its poor racing manners, and Williams told stewards the horse had worked and trialled well since his last-start second at Randwick on January 25. Stewards ordered that Highway Strip trial twice to their satisfaction before being allowed to race again. Three-year-old Shropshire Lad ($8.50) won the race, breaking through for his first Highway win. Knights Armour Knights Armour provided a career highlight for Braidwood cattle farmer and hobby trainer Ross Lavis and Swedish apprentice Rebecca Bronett Prag when the six-year-old gave both a first Saturday city win. Bronett Prag raced Knights Armour ($12) into second-last spot in the 2400m benchmark 78 handicap before cutting the corner with an inside run on the home bend. Knights Armour, the only horse Lavis trains, made the most of the economical trip to land a half-length victory over Good Banter. 'He tries his heart out, and I knew the 2400, he was going to see it out no worries at all,' Lavis said. Bronett Prag, who came to Australia as a teenager, also scored her first metro midweek win with Knights Armour. Maher 2YO scores surprise win Ciaron Maher-trained Without Peer will race into the spring after scoring a surprise win on debut at Rosehill on Saturday. Coming off two unplaced trials, the Pierata gelding was a $12 Sportsbet chance and near last in the 1200m two-year-old handicap before storming down the centre of the track for jockey Chad Schofield to hold off Spice Prawn by a short neck. Maher assistant trainer Johann Gerard-Dubord said the win 'surprised us a bit'. 'He's a gelding, so we will just go through the grades with him and space his runs heading into the spring,' Gerard-Dubord said. 'He's got a lot of talent, but he's still very raw, and we saw that in both of his trials, especially his first one. 'I don't think it was the deepest two-year-old Saturday race, which is why he ran today. 'We just felt 1200 around Rosehill would be a very good starting point. We just wanted him to have a good experience. 'He's still doing a few things wrong, so I think there's a lot more to come.' Loading Big talent on way to success Premier trainer Chris Waller expects Useapin to kick on after she was strong late to win second up at Rosehill on Saturday. The three-year-old daughter of Waller's Everest winner, Yes Yes Yes, fought off Scott Singleton-trained Dollar Magic to claim the benchmark 78 handicap over 1200m for fillies and mares. It was a 14th runner-up effort from Dollar Magic. Waller expected more success after Useapin's fourth victory in 11 starts. 'It was a long straight and Zac [Lloyd] got her out into plenty of air, but she looked like she was going to be vulnerable with 200 to go, but she did enough and she was brave the last bit,' Waller said. 'She's a big girl and she's always shown us promise, but through that big size has struggled to put it together every start, but she's on her way and she should have a good six months.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store