Randwick Review.

Randwick Meeting Review

Date: 06/04/24

Track: Heavy 9

Rail: True

Race 1: Kindergarten Stakes – 1100m

Tempo: Moderate early tempo.

Race Overview: Scooted home well off a moderate tempo. Ran good time and there were good margins. First 2 home are nice horses.

Espionage ($2.35) – Rock solid in the betting. Was coming through legitimate Slipper lead up races. Good horse.

Roselyn’s Star ($3.7) – Thought the market would go in his direction but it spat it out. Nash had the option to lead but opted to sit wide. Made no difference. Nice horse but maybe not as nice as I thought leading into the race.

Last Word: Happy to follow first 2 home.

ESPIONAGE  Good Horse.

Race 2: Chairman’s Quality – 2600m

Tempo: Moderate early tempo.

Race Overview: Big margin from 3^rd to 4^th but time was outside standard.

Circle Of Fire ($3.60) – Race only rated fairly but he took off a long way from home and just kept finding the line. Looks like the further the better for this horse. Legitimate Sydney Cup horse on the back.

Hopeful ($8.50) – Loves the slop. Would forget about it on a dry surface.

Last Word: Impressed by the winner.

CIRCLE OF FIRE  impressive.

Race 3: Carbine Club Stakes – 1600m

Tempo: Fast early tempo.

Race Overview: Was not a race for the feint hearted. Any horses that were exposed early struggled to finish the race off.

Ducasse ($6) – Given a peach by Shinn and he was coming out of legitimate G1 races. I don’t think there is another level in this horse.

Last Word: Don’t think there is any horses in this race that are destined for greatness.

Race 4: Adrian Knox Stakes – 2000m

Tempo: Moderate tempo.

Race Overview: They have run home very quickly here and I have the race rating well for this class. 3.5 lengths above the average.

Good Banter ( $4.60 ) – Relished the distance and also being on the minimum weight over this trip. Won’t beat Autumn Angel again.

Autumn Angel ($5.50) – Enormous run. Gave 8kg to the winner on an unforgiving track. Sprinted quickly and can cause a boilover in the Oaks.

Last Word: I’m backing Autumn Angel in the Oaks.

AUTUMN ANGEL  is my Oaks bet.

Race 5: Country Championship Stakes – 1400m

Tempo: Strong.

Race Overview: SP of the winner probably a drag on this race. Given how fast they went out I thought they were entitled to break the standard time by more.

Asgarda ($26) – Think they got the prep right with a little bowl around a couple of weeks prior. There were a lot of horses who were 3+ weeks between runs going into this race.

Bandi Boy ($2.2) – Never in the right part of the track but still disappointing. Market was very solid and no doubting he’s best horse in the race but probably goes to the paddock.

Last Word: These Country Championship races can be absolute lotteries.

Race 6: Sires – 1400m

Tempo: Solid enough.

Race Overview: Rated a length below average for a race of this class.

Manaal ($5.5) – Barely put a foot wrong and was ridden perfectly whilst other chances in the race had their own battles. Nice filly. Not sure they press onto the Champagne?

Traffic Warden ($7.5) – Sitting shot and fought well. Getting better every run.

Storm Boy ($2.05) – Solid in the market but was awfully disappointing. The biggest worry about him was his lack of speed to get up on the pace. Back to the drawing board.

Last Word: My faith in Storm Boy is wavering.

STORM BOY  is back to the drawing board.

 Race 7: T J Smith Stakes – 1200m

Tempo: Slow tempo for a T J Smith.

Race Overview: Sprint home with no margins. Not a vintage T J.

Chain Of Lightning ($21) – Just given an absolute peach by Damian Lane. It was the only way she was going to win a race of this standard. Hard to place from here.

I Wish I Win ($4) – Probably wins if it’s a dry track. Best horse in the race but looks like the wet track dampened his sprint.

Imperatriz ($3.5) – There has been signs all prep that she was probably 1-2 lengths before last preparation. Ran well but she’s not invincible.

Espiona ($17) – Probably should have won.

Last Word: Follow I Wish I Win if he goes to Brisbane.

CHAIN OF LIGHTNING  peach of a ride by Damian.

Race 8: Doncaster Mile – 1600m

Tempo: Very fast.

Race Overview: Run to suit horses with cover being cuddled up with as softest run as possible.

Celestial Legend ($6.5) – I have been very negative on the 3yo form thinking they aren’t much chop. Great effort to win but can’t help but feel that everything fell into place. 49kg on a wet track and only being exposed late. I’m not convinced he is a world-beater.

Pericles ($41) – As good as he goes.

Militarize ($11) – Great effort. I don’t really rate him but he was harshly weighted and gave a big kick.

Another Wil ( $3.6) – Just forget this run. I thought he was massive exposed to that savage tempo. Still there with 100m to go. He’s a star, it just didn’t work out in this race and check out the markets opinion of him.

Last Word: Don’t jump off Another Wil.

ANOTHER WIL  still keen.

Race 9: Australian Derby – 2400m

Tempo: Solid tempo.

Race Overview: Came home poorly. Good margin to 3^rd but the race has rated poorly overall. 3 lengths below average.

Riff Rocket ($2.2) – Connections have been saying this trip is too far for him but his class shown through here. He is good enough to become a WFA horse next prep.

Ceolwulf ($7) – Visually the run of a horse you want to follow but the overall time worries me. Would be hard to beat in a Qld Derby but I’m not sold beyond that.

Last Word: Riff Rocket is a legitimate star but it might have to be at 2000m going forward.

RIFF ROCKET is a star.

Race 10: P J Bell Stakes – 1200m

Tempo: Below average.

Race Overview: Race has rated fairly.

Facile ($11) – Only leader to win all day. This is her level.

Miraval Rose ($4.20) –  Is better than what she showed here. Don’t drop off.

Commemorative ($3.90) – Is not better than what she showed here. Drop off.

Last Word: Average bunch bar Miraval Rose.

Horses to Follow

• Espionage
• Roselyn’s Star
• Circle Of Fire
• Autumn Angel
• Another Wil