Royal Randwick kicks off the spring pattern season with the Group 1 Winx Stakes on a track expected to play Soft 6 to Soft 7. The rail is in the True position, which should reward horses landing off the fence and working into lanes four to eight in the straight - worth keeping in mind across the entire card.
Race 1 - Midway Handicap
Selection: Clear Proof Current odds: TBC (odds subject to change)
Clear Proof scored a smart last-start win with genuine tactical speed and looks capable of getting to the front more easily this time. Isawyou is up and about third-up off her own smart last-start win and still has more to give, while Long Legs has been sharp at the trials and backed it up with a dynamic fresh win. Let’s Go Again gets in light with the claim and the wet deck is a plus, but barrier one is a query third-up.
Selections:
- Clear Proof
- Isawyou
- Long Legs
- Let’s Go Again
Race 2 - Highway Handicap
Selection: Lovecats
Lovecats has caught the eye across her past three runs and brings competitive Queensland form into a wide-open Highway, with the map working in her favour. Mrs Goldberg has trialled well enough to be involved, though her position near the top of the market looks tight enough. Romanticism rounds out the each-way chances in a race that looks there for the taking.
Selections:
- Lovecats
- Mrs Goldberg
- Romanticism
Race 3 - BM78 Handicap (2400m)
Selection: Le Troisir
Le Troisir gets conditions to suit with the give in the ground and a positive jockey change, and barrier one opens up options in a race with little genuine speed over the 2400m trip. I Park beat him last start and gets a shrewd rider from gate seven, though he does carry a weight rise. Trapalanda should get every chance from the front given the lack of speed on paper, while Foire De Trone arrives as the Melbourne visitor to round out the picture.
Selections:
- Le Troisir
- I Park
- Trapalanda
- Foire De Trone
Race 4 - 1600m Handicap
Selection: King Of The Sea
King Of The Sea should benefit from the long run to the first turn after drawing out, and the progressive stayer has looked on song across two trials back for his second Australian prep. His form around subsequent winners stacks up, and the scratching of both market rivals only strengthens his claims. Puntin is working towards a peak run at his pet 1600m and maps well, while The Creator has race fitness and soft ground on his side in a race that has shrunk in numbers.
Selections:
- King Of The Sea
- Puntin
- The Creator
- Montpellier
Race 5 - 2000m Handicap
Selection: Boniface
Boniface was a moral beat last start when caught wide throughout the concluding stages, and he steps up to his preferred 2000m on ground he’ll appreciate. Thebudgiesmugla arrives off a strong Brisbane winter carnival and a solitary trial after 49 days away, with the extra distance expected to suit. So You Are brings similar recent form and draws to get every chance, while Matusalem is edging towards his peak but may need this run under his belt.
Selections:
- Boniface
- Thebudgiesmugla
- So You Are
- Matusalem
Race 6 - Toy Show Quality (Group 3)
Selection: Apocalyptic
Apocalyptic was a smart three-year-old filly in the spring who didn’t back it up in the autumn, but a fresh break and eye-catching trials point to a filly ready to fire back in sprinting company. Savvy Hallie holds a 2-1 head-to-head edge over her in three career meetings and will get across to lead for a long way, even if 1100m is short of her ideal. Prima Bella is a mare on the rise with a genuine turn of foot, while Karinska has been sneaky good at the trials and looks well placed in a smaller field.
Selections:
- Apocalyptic
- Savvy Hallie
- Prima Bella
- Karinska
Race 7 - Silver Shadow (Group 2)
Selection: Pembrey
Pembrey opens the Princess Series favourite off a taking 1050m trial win where she was held together before letting down late, and she maps to slide across and get the run of the race off the rail. Cherry Bomshell has come back in good order across back-to-back trials but will need luck from a sticky gate. Bangkok Hottie is fresh off a missed trial but owns smart form lines, while Agrarian Girl has drifted out to a fairer price after an up-and-down trial campaign and should get across to find the speed.
Selections:
- Pembrey
- Cherry Bomshell
- Bangkok Hottie
- Agrarian Girl
Race 8 - Show County Stakes (Listed)
Selection: Enriched
Enriched is the big market watch after a mixed prep coming off a lengthy break, and his recent trials suggest he’s arrived back in genuine order to take on the older brigade. Soothsayer gets a setup to like for Michael Freedman’s stable, with residual fitness from time off and a tidy trial in a small field. Campione D’Italia has been kept under wraps at the trials and looks the right, fresh type to take on older rivals, while Matcha Latte has trialled up nicely and draws to get the run of the race.
Selections:
- Enriched
- Soothsayer
- Campione D’Italia
- Matcha Latte
Race 9 - Winx Stakes (Group 1)
Selection: Autumn Glow
This is the clash punters have circled all winter: Autumn Glow against the Victorian raider Sheza Alibi, with genuine depth around them. Autumn Glow gets the tactical edge straight off the speed map, with little genuine speed drawn to worry her, and she looks the type to land off the fence in the run - exactly where the True rail rewards runners today. Add in her superior first-up form over 1400m and a ceiling she’s still yet to show, and she’s the one to beat.
Sheza Alibi travelled up from Victoria off the back of an emphatic Doncaster win under 49.5kg and looks even more forward this time judged on her recent jump-outs. The query is her map - she looks shuffled towards the rail and will want luck to get out, though a switched-on rider sitting off Autumn Glow’s back would help her cause. Lindermann is the genuine leader and has trialled nicely enough to get away with things in front, more so if the track dries out through the day.
Selections:
- Autumn Glow
- Sheza Alibi
- Gringotts
- Lindermann
Race 10 - 1000m Handicap
Selection: Call Me Gorgeous
Call Me Gorgeous flashed home fresh unsuited over 1000m and was a sectional standout behind the Race 6 runner Prima Bella - she just needs the day to unfold from a testing gate, with plenty of speed on to help her get across into the productive lanes. Columbia Blue is in career-best form for Joe Pride’s stable and maps well with race fitness on side. Ernaux brings the same strong recent formline and gets across nicely, while Annie’s Rose arrives off a smart fresh win to round out the four.
Selections:
- Call Me Gorgeous
- Columbia Blue
- Ernaux
- Annie’s Rose
