Royal Randwick runs ten races on Saturday, headed by the Epsom Handicap (1600m), The Metropolitan (2400m) and the Flight Stakes, with the Breeders’ Plate and Gimcrack Stakes opening the two-year-old season. The first race is at 12:05pm. Rain is forecast for Friday and Saturday, so expect a rain-affected track and check the rating and scratchings on the morning.
Our main play is Attica in the Epsom. It is a big handicap, so treat it as a solid value opinion rather than a standout. Tempted in the Premiere Stakes is the most likely winner on the card, but at her price she is a multi leg only.
One field note: Aethelwulf and Juja Kibo were still listed in both The Metropolitan and the Bart Cummings at Flemington when we wrote this. Confirm where each one is running before you bet on Race 7.
Race 1 - Midway Handicap (1800m)
Selection: Doradus Current odds: $4.00
Doradus led and kept going to win by more than a length at Canterbury last start, and he has a good draw to do the same thing here. On a wet track the horse controlling the speed is hard to run down. Columbus is the favourite after winning at Randwick Kensington, and with James McDonald booked he is the main danger. Philatelic won well at Hawkesbury and Cabbucio has placed at both runs this campaign.
Selections:
- Doradus - $4.00
- Columbus - $2.90
- Philatelic - $7.50
- Cabbucio - $12.00
Race 2 - Breeders’ Plate (1000m)
Selection: Nonu Current odds: $2.10
Every runner is having its first start, so trials and the betting are all we have. Nonu, trained by Bjorn Baker, won his trial at Kensington on 21 September and is the clear favourite. Capitano, from the Michael Freedman stable with Zac Lloyd on, placed in a trial on the same morning and is the obvious danger. Flying Houdini should find a handy spot from his draw. First starters are always a risk at short odds, so keep stakes modest.
Selections:
- Nonu - $2.10
- Capitano - $3.40
- Flying Houdini - $5.00
- Stasis - $9.50
Race 3 - Gimcrack Stakes (1000m)
Selection: Shraddha Current odds: $6.50
Another race for debut two-year-olds, this time fillies. Shraddha is by Ole Kirk, trained by Michael Freedman, and won her trial at Kensington on 21 September. Bourbon Beat wears blinkers for the first time for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, which suggests the stable expects her to be sharp early. Rhythm placed in her trial. This is a speculative race, so small stakes only.
Selections:
- Shraddha - $6.50
- Bourbon Beat - $8.50
- Rhythm - $15.00
- Outback Affair - $15.00
Race 4 - Dulcify Stakes (1600m)
Selection: Genesis Runner Current odds: $2.10
Genesis Runner closed off well for fourth at Rosehill and has blinkers on for the first time, which should sharpen him up. He goes up in weight, which is the knock at the price. Savagram was below his best at Rosehill but should be ridden more positively, and Vallice picked up ground late for fifth at Caulfield.
Selections:
- Genesis Runner - $2.10
- Savagram - $6.50
- Vallice - $6.00
- Leopard Shark - $71.00
Race 5 - Benchmark 94 Handicap (1600m)
Selection: Knobelas Current odds: $7.00
Unleeshing is the $1.95 favourite and has placed at every start this campaign, but he steps up in grade here. Knobelas ran second here last start, has drawn the inside and has won twice on rain-affected ground. If the track is as wet as forecast, he is the better value. Polymnia ran on for third at Newcastle and is the other one to include.
Selections:
- Knobelas - $7.00
- Unleeshing - $1.95
- Polymnia - $7.00
- Rock Empire - $23.00
Race 6 - Flight Stakes (1600m)
Selection: Bangkok Hottie Current odds: $3.20
Bangkok Hottie is unbeaten in her last two, including a strong finish to win her last start on this track. She steps up in class here, but she is still improving. Striking Alibi is the favourite and ran a close second here last start, so she is the main danger. Queen’s Gamble is a place chance if the ground is soft.
Selections:
- Bangkok Hottie - $3.20
- Striking Alibi - $2.60
- Queen’s Gamble - $13.00
- De Armas - $13.00
Race 7 - The Metropolitan (2400m)
Selection: The Euphrates Current odds: $4.40
The Euphrates led and won by three-quarters of a length here last start and has a good draw, so he can set his own pace again. The step up to 2400m should suit a horse who keeps up the same speed for a long way. Aethelwulf is the $2.25 favourite on four straight wins, but he is also entered in the Bart Cummings, so check that he is running here. Juja Kibo has the same dual entry. Deakin is a longshot each-way option.
Selections:
- The Euphrates - $4.40
- Aethelwulf - $2.25
- Juja Kibo - $8.50
- Deakin - $13.00
Race 8 - Epsom Handicap (1600m)
Selection: Attica Current odds: $5.00
Attica drops from 58kg to 51.5kg, gets the blinkers back on for Joe Pride and has trialled well since the Tramway. He has placed at both runs this campaign, including a third here, and this has been his target. Fully Lit should lead and there is plenty of speed drawn wide, so a horse that can settle handy from a good draw has a real advantage. Recent Epsoms have not been kind to horses carrying big weights. That is the concern for Well Written, the favourite after an unbeaten New Zealand career, and for Autumn Boy, who ran second at Flemington and needs a clean run from barrier one. Lady Shenandoah is the each-way roughie.
Selections:
- Attica - $5.00
- Well Written - $3.90
- Autumn Boy - $4.20
- Lady Shenandoah - $12.00
Race 9 - Premiere Stakes (1200m)
Selection: Tempted Current odds: $1.55
Tempted won her last start here and is three from three on soft ground, so the forecast rain helps her. She is the shortest favourite on the card, and there is no value in a straight win bet at $1.55. Use her as the banker in a quaddie or as a multi leg. Headwall finished well for fifth here and has drawn well.
Selections:
- Tempted - $1.55
- Headwall - $11.00
- Marhoona - $19.00
- Mazu - $26.00
Race 10 - Benchmark 94 Handicap (1200m)
Selection: Theblade Current odds: $4.40
Theblade won last start at Rosehill and races on the speed, which should help on a wet track late in the day. Amazing Eagle was sixth here last start and can improve. Captain Furai is first up after 20 weeks but ran third first up last preparation and has trialled, so he is worth a small each-way bet at a big price.
Selections:
- Theblade - $4.40
- Amazing Eagle - $11.00
- Navy Pilot - $19.00
- Captain Furai - $34.00
