There is no better way to finish 2023 than with an interesting meeting at Randwick!
10 races will be run or won on Saturday and every single one of them is an interesting betting affair.
We’ve done the form for each race on the card and our betting plays for every race on the card can be found below.
There are a number of horses in this field that will be making their racing debuts and that makes this a tricky contest from a betting standpoint.
Sacred Font is the horse with past experience that does look like the value runner.
He got too far back in the Inglis Nursey at Randwick last start, but he did show a nice turn-of-foot and he gives the impression that the rise in trip will suit.
1 Unit – Sacred Font
It is rare that I got into the Highway Handicap with any degree of confidence, but Bomarea is going to be very tough to beat in this contest.
The Dissident filly has scored three wins from her four race starts and she started her campaign with a classy win in the Highway Plate at Randwick a fortnight ago.
She still has a stack of upside and she makes her own luck right on the speed.
2.5 Unis – Bomarea
This is one of the most open races of the day and not one that I will be betting into with a great deal of confidence.
It has been a while between race wins for Toronomica, but he does appeal as the value runner.
He wasn’t beaten far at Randwick last start and he was held up for a run at a crucial moment.
The Toronado gelding has drawn ideally in barrier four and gets his chance to return to winning form.
1 Unit – Toronomica
This is another very open betting race with a stack of winning chances.
Keenan is a lightly-raced galloper that looks to have plenty of upside and his recent trial suggests that he will be fairly forward for his return to the races.
He wasn’t beaten far in the Brian Crowley Stakes in the Spring and this race is no tougher.
Adam Hyeronimus will ride him aggressively from the wide barrier draw and he will give his rivals something to catch.
1 Unit – Keenan
It doesn’t surprise that there has been early support in betting for Touristic.
He isn’t a horse that wins out of turn, but he has improved every time that he has been seen at the races this campaign and he finds himself in a winnable contest.
The Frankel gelding is a fit horse and he may never have a better chance to score another race win.
2 Units – Touristic
Stonecoat looks like a speed map special.
There is very little speed in this field and Adam Hyeronimus should be able to hold the rail comfortably from the inside barrier draw.
He has trialed nicely ahead of his return to the races and will give his rivals something to catch.
1.5 Units – Stonecoat
A couple of dual acceptors make what is already a tricky race, even tougher.
If Stonecoat runs in this race he is clearly the horse to beat for the reasons outlined above, but I do feel like the previous race is the better contest for him.
1.5 Units – Stonecoat
This is a very even group of horses and luck in running could prove key.
The horse that does map to get a lovely run in running is Shohei and she is a mare that is building towards a race win.
She has improved each time that she has been seen at the races this campaign and she should now be at peak fitness.
Jett Stanley can settle her right on the speed and she will be in this race for a long way.
1 Unit – Shohei
Lady Of Luxury appeals at nice odds in an open race.
She did plenty wrong when she made her return to the races a fortnight ago and there is no doubt that she is a better mare than that performance suggests.
The daughter of Criterion generally improves second-up and I expect to see a much better effort.
1 Unit – Lady Of Luxury
Invincible Legend went to another level at the end of his most recent campaign and if he brings that form to the races he will prove tough to beat.
There are definite unknowns about his fitness levels ahead of his return to the races, but there is no other horse in this field that has anywhere near as much upside.
1 Unit – Invincible Legend