The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Opinion

The Mounting Yard: All Aged Stakes Day at Randwick preview

Autoplay in... 6 (Cancel)
Up Next No more videos! Playlist is empty -
Replay
Cancel
Next
Roar Guru
16th April, 2020
13

The Mounting Yard is jumping back to Randwick this weekend for All Aged Stakes Day.

Race 1: Highway Handicap

Class 3, handicap, 1200 metres

We’re back to the highways for the first time in a while! As always, it’s a pretty open race here, but I’m prepared to be on the favourite, Hellenism. This lightly raced four-year-old mare is putting together a good record, winning three from five. She did a lot wrong during the run two back at Coffs Harbour in a class 1 race, but her pure ability got her over the line when flashing home to grab the leader in the shadows of the post. She then went to a highway race at this track a few months back and won well after again coming from practically last on the turn to make up nearly seven lengths in the straight. She has had three months between runs but trialled well at Ballina, which tells me she is ready to go for this. They’ll go at a quick enough tempo early for the backmarkers to swoop, and she looks very hard to hold out.

Luna Mia is one of the two dangers. She’s fourth up now so should be rock-hard fit. Her run two back behind Ligulate was okay, but she did have some excuses in the run, while her run in the Championship wildcard race at Muswellbrook behind Two Big Fari when running half a length away reads well for this. She has to lug around a big weight and have luck from the wide gate, though (14).

Toro Toro has won three from four and looks to have the ability. It’s hard to knock winning form, and he will potentially get the run of the race from a good draw (7) with James McDonald taking the ride.

Recommended bet: win bet on No. 10 Hellenism at $3.60.

Race 2

Advertisement

Three-year-old and up, benchmark 88, handicap, 1200 metres

One of the more open races you’ll find anywhere in Australia on Saturday and I’m not keen to invest in it. Catch Me isn’t the worst at double-figure odds. The Snowden camp clearly think she has a fair bit of ability when racing her against Bivouac and Exceedance last preparation. Her run two back was pretty impressive when she clocked the best overall sectionals before running three lengths off Cosmic Force and Standout. She resumes today and has a good first-up record, which bodes well.

Outrageous can run a good race. He was extremely unlucky two back at Newcastle when a certainty, beaten behind Into the Abyss, before bleeding at his last start. He goes well first up and can’t be discounted.

Snitz, Miss Invincible and Groundswell are all contenders in what is an open race.

Recommended bet: I’m leaving this one alone. Go very wide/field in early quaddies.

Avilius.

(Mark Evans/Getty Images)

Race 3: James Carr Stakes

Advertisement

Group 3, three-year-old, fillies, set weights, 1400 metres

I’m not going to make her the best of the meeting, because I don’t like tipping them so short, but I think we are getting a fair price for Rubisaki. Her record speaks for itself at this stage, with seven wins from nine starts, and her last couple have been her best. She stepped up to group level at Flemington two back and made some good horses look below average with the way she won when clocking the best overall race sectionals. She then came up to Randwick and won with ease over a couple of horses she faces again here. The only thing that will beat her is some bad luck from the low draw (2).

I don’t really think there is a danger, but Mirra Vision is the next best. She’s won three from four and has been good again this time in. She was an impressive winner resuming at the Kensington track over Avon River and Perfect Pitch before battling on steadily behind California Zimbol in the Darby Munro. She should be ready to peak third up and draws perfectly (5).

Akari is a contender to run third, like she did last start behind Rubisaki, but it’s very hard to see her turning the tables.

Recommended bet: win bet on No. 2 Rubisaki at $1.70.

Race 4: Frank Packer Plate

Group 3, three-year-old, set weights, 2000 metres

Advertisement

One of the better and more intriguing races on the program arrives in the fourth. I’m prepared to take a set against Quick Thinker at the $2 quote and back two other runners at a double-figure quote. Chuck a Luck has been super since crossing the ditch and gets his chance to win a relatively big race here. He was given no chance resuming when being four wide and without cover but held on bravely second up at Mornington over a mile to win by a nose over Power Scheme. He stayed at the mile at Caulfield and put in an impressive performance when flashing home for second when running the best last 400 metres of the meeting. He draws perfectly (5) and only needs to see out the 2000 metres to be right in it.

I want to have something on Kinane as well. He has had only the three starts but looks very progressive. He resumed over 1400 metres at Warwick Farm without a lot of luck when running home for second in what was the best last 800-metre sectional of the day. He then went to Wyong and won with complete ease to break his maiden. He’s rising in grade today but he will definitely get the 2000 metres.

Quick Thinker has done the Tulloch Stakes/Australian Derby in his last two starts and has to be respected as a winning chance, while Get the Idea is progressive and could be the blow out chance.

Recommended bet: each-way plays on No. 6 Chuck a Luck at $12 and No. 12 Kinane at $11.

Sports opinion delivered daily 

   

Race 5: Champagne Stakes

Advertisement

Group 1, two-year-old, set weights, 1600 metres

The first of the Group 1s arrive here and this one is for the juveniles. It’s not a big field in this edition but there are a stack of chances and I’m keen to back the two that came out of the Baillieu Handicap. Holyfield won that race in fine fashion after essentially leading all the way, and he strikes another race here where he can dictate the speed. I liked his win three back at Sandown when extending away over 1400 metres, and that race shows me that he shouldn’t have any issue getting out to the mile. He draws well (5) and might be able to pinch that golden Group 1.

Untamed ran second in the Baillieu after running on strongly but was fantastic last start in the Fernhill when defying a big drift. He showed good versatility there when getting back in the field and flashing home to win when clocking the best overall race sectionals. I think he will sit closer today and sit on the back of Holyfield, which will bring him right into the race rounding into the straight.

King’s Legacy was a brilliant winner of the Sires Produce last start and is a major contender, while Ole Kirk gets back on good ground and was an eye-catcher when running on in the Sires Produce. Think they’re both very well found in the market, though.

Recommended bet: each-way plays on No. 4 Holyfield at $7.50 and No. 5 Untamed at $11.

Race 6: JRA Plate

Group 3, three-year-old and up, quality, 2000 metres

Advertisement

Another open race which seems to be on the common trend of the day. It’s not a race I’m overly keen to invest in, but I think Night’s Watch can run a good race at a double-figure quote. He was brilliant two back in the Neville Selwood when coming from near last to beat Aliferous when recording the best last 800-metre sectional of the day at the distance before backing up in the Doncaster, when he never saw daylight until the last 250 metres, when it was too late. He draws well (5), should sit closer to the speed in a race devoid of any and has a good sharp sprint, which could overpower them late here.

Shared Ambition is too short for me to back at the current price, but he’s a good winning chance. He was brilliant in the Melbourne Spring when winning three on the trot before spelling. He resumed when savaging the line behind Gaulois before stepping out to 2000 metres and winning with ease over Youngstar. He went back in trip to the Doncaster and just never looked likely. He gets back out to 2000 metres today and back on top of the ground, which is a positive, but he’s going to need a lot of luck from the wide gate (15).

Greysful Glamour will get her own way out in front and could prove hard to run down, while Yulong Prince is racing well and just needs some luck from the wide draw (14).

Recommended bet: something small each-way on No. 6 Night’s Watch at $10.

Jockey Glyn Schofield rides Avilius

(AAP Image/Simon Bullard)

Race 7: All Aged Stakes

Group 1, weight for age, 1400 metres

Advertisement

It’s a ripping edition of the All Aged Stakes this year and I’m keen to back two of them. Bivouac draws all the favours today from the good barrier (4), and if he’s ever going to fire up and win another big race, this is the time. He was brilliant when destroying them in the Newmarket three back when winning by 2.5 lengths over Loving Gaby, Nature Strip and Gytrash before being ridden too far forward in the William Reid Stakes at the Valley. He just got too far back in the TJ last start but did make up plenty of ground late. From the good draw (4), Hugh Bowman should put him just behind the speed, and if he does, he will be hard to beat.

I want to save on Tofane. She’s been racing better with each start this preparation and gets to this race fourth up after narrowly missing in the Galaxy two back and running the best last 400 metres of the race in the TJ, which is no mean feat when Santa Ana Lane is in the race. She draws perfectly (5) to settle somewhere in midfield and should be flashing home late.

Santa Ana Lane and Pierata are the proven performers in the field and can’t be discounted.

Recommended bet: each-way plays on No. 11 Bivouac at $5.50 and No. 9 Tofane at $11.

Race 8: Hall Mark Stakes

Group 3, three-year-old and up, set weights, 1200 metres

This is better than some of the average Group 1s we see around the place and it’s a Group 3! I’m pretty keen to back Deprive here and I had him at a shorter quote than is currently on offer. He was excellent last preparation when beating Champagne Cuddles and Brutal in the Sydney Stakes before flashing home to run fourth and a length off Pierata in the Redzel. He resumed after an 18-week break in the Challenge and flashed home late when finishing off better than Santa Ana Lane and running the best last 800-metre sectional of the day. He then went to the Galaxy, when he came home steadily on inferior ground (inside) to run two lengths off I am Excited. He draws awkwardly (10), but there should be a genuine tempo and he will be rattling home late.

Advertisement

Deep Image is the main danger on my ratings at a big quote. He’s as tough as they come, and I thought the form line from last preparation when beating Miss Fabulass and Looks Like Elvis reads well for this race. He draws perfectly (6) to get a lovely run on the speed.

Kementari and Trekking both have the class edge on most other runners and can’t be discounted.

Recommended bet: win bet on No. 5 Deprive at $4.40.

Race 9: Randwick Handicap

Three-year-old and up, benchmark 100, handicap, 1400 metres

It’s a pretty open race to end the championships. I’ve fell into Lanciato a few times and I’m going to give him one more chance here. He was racing against proper Group 1 horses in Pierata and Osborne Bulls last preparation before running five lengths off Trekking, which also reads well now. He resumed in the Liverpool City Cup when running home well and finishing two lengths off Quackerjack and Vegadaze, which isn’t a bad form line for this, and he has a brilliant second-up record, winning three from five. He trialled up well leading into this race and should get a good run behind a genuine tempo.

Advertisement

Phaistos has to be the main danger. He was very good last preparation in similar grade, has had two trials leading into this and has won two from three first up.

Dr Drill and Chief Ironside are probably the class horses in the race, and neither of them should be discounted.

Recommended bet: No. 4 Lanciato each way at $16.

Summary

Best bet: Race 1, No. 10 Hellenism.
Next-best bet: Race 8, No. 5 Deprive.
Best value: Race 4, No. 6 Chuck a Luck.

close