The Autumn Carnival has finished but there is still some quality racing taking place at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Our full Randwick, Saturday 23rd April Tips & Preview can be found below.
Preview brought to you by Neds. Learn more about Neds HERE.
Race 1: Schweppes Handicap (1100m) 11:20am
Tip: No. 5 Zougotcha
The opening race of the afternoon at Royal Randwick is a tricky one with not a lot of exposed form to go on.
Chris Waller’s two year old filly was excellent when winning by over three lengths on the heavy track at Canterbury when making her racing debut.
She has drawn a tricky gate in 14 but has James McDonald steering.
Race 2: Benchmark 72 Handicap (1100m) 11:55am
Tip: No. 4 Pleading
Pleading ran into one better at Newcastle first up but was only a length away last time out over 1200m.
The four year old mare has been consistent throughout her short seven race career and is yet to miss a place and has four wins to her name.
This looks a very winnable race.
Race 3: Highway Handicap (1400m) 12:30pm
Tip: TBA
These Highway races are usually won by a progressive type of horse and that is who are with on Saturday.
Fourmadec is yet to miss a place in six career starts which has netted her four wins to date including her last two in a row at Canberra.
She is the first emergency but if she gets a run she is every chance.
Race 4: Benchmark 88 Handicap (1800m) 1:05pm
Tip: No. 6 Irish Sequel
Irish Sequel put together back to back wins during his last campaign and closed out the prep with a second at benchmark 90 level at Doomben.
The lightly raced six year old son of Invincible Spirit has been placed in nine of his 19 career starts and was only three lengths from the winner first up at Newcastle.
William Pike steers from barrier three.
Race 5: Benchmark 72 Handicap (1200m) 1:40pm
Tip: No. 2 Zarastro
I have a bit of an opinion of Zarastro and while he is yet to place in both of his starts so far this prep, he drops considerably in grade for this assignment.
The Chris Waller trained colt was beaten just over two lengths when resuming at Flemington in the Listed Moomba Plate behind Glistening and he will be ready t peak now at his third run in.
He will get a nice run in transit from barrier five.
Race 6: Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m) 2:20pm
Tip: No. 3 Quintello
Quintello is only a lightly raced five year old mare but she has been progressing through the grades really well.
She couldn’t have been much more impressive when winning first up at Mornington, scoring by four lengths over 1200m.
That was her third win in just seven starts and she again looks well placed in this event.
Race 7: Benchmark 94 Handicap (1100m) 3:00pm
Tip: No. 2 Andermatt
The Godolphin gelding Andermatt demolished his opponents at Canterbury first up on the heavy 10 when scoring by over six lengths.
The son of Snitzel settled near the tail of the field in that benchmark 88 and put his rivals away in just a few short strides.
This is another step up in class but he does look to have a class advantage over most of these.
Race 8: Benchmark 78 Handicap (1600m) 3:40pm
Tip: No. 3 Diamil
Diamil is an exciting English import who finished second in his Australian racing debut at Canterbury on the 10th of March.
The step up in distance from 1250m to 1600m did the trick at Warwick Farm at his next start where he won in dominant fashion by 2.4 lengths.
He proved the heavy track is no issue in both those starts and he again looks really well placed in this contest.
Race 9: Benchmark 88 Handicap (1300m) 4:20pm
Tip: No. 7 Taksu
Six year old gelding Taksu is racing very consistently right at the minute and he has not finished outside the top two in three runs so far this prep.
His 3.7 length win on the heavy track at Rosehill two back was excellent and he wasn’t beaten far behind the smart O’president last time out at Newcastle.
This race doens’t look much harder than those he has been competing in recently and he is the horse to beat.
Race 10: Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m) 4:55pm
Tip: Boxed Trifecta 1/7/9/11/13
You know the drill.
Box em’ up in the last and finish on a good note.