Ten races make up another quality program of winter racing at Royal Randwick this Saturday, July 11th.
The inclement weather has continued in the greater Sydney metropolitan region this week and at publish, we’re faced with a track rated in the Heavy (9) range.
With that factored into the form, check out my Randwick best bets below.
DEFENSEMEN is second up and open to improvement at Randwick this week.
Defensemen stamped himself as one to follow during a credible debut preparation in featured company, while he returned to action to fill the minors in maiden company at Canterbury, beaten just over a length.
With natural improvement and drawn ideally this week under Zac Lloyd, I’m confident he can break through.
| 3. Defensemen (1) J: Zac Lloyd 56kg 5x0x3T: Chris Waller | |||
| Racing second-up today. Last start came from midfield; 3rd of 10 at Canterbury 2yo C&G Mdn on June 17 over 1250m, slow going 1.4 len behind By Napolean Hill carrying 58kg at $7. At only start last preparation got back early 11th of 16 at this track in the LR Millennium on February 7 over 1100m, 5 len behind Fireball with 56.5kg at $26. Desperate for this trip and will be tough to beat from the inside draw. | |||
MOON SWEEPER takes winning form and all the momentum into this week’s Highway race.
The son of Puissance De Lune had been knocking on the door since resuming this time before kicking clear to record a dominant victory over the likes of Hammoon Sensation in a Highway Handicap at Rosehill in late May.
While he’s six weeks between starts, he boasts a class and ability edge over most, if not all of his rivals this week, and he can go on with it.
| 1. Moon Sweeper (5) J: Jett Newman 59kg 53221T: Matthew Dunn | |||
| Racing well recently. Returns from a 42-day let-up. Most recently favourite; ran on from midfield and won by 3 len at Rosehill Highway-C3 Sw May 30 over 1500m in the wet defeating Hammoon Sensation with 57.5kg at $2.25. The start before that came from midfield; 2nd of 16 at Scone Highway-C3 on May 16 over 1600m, neck behind Autumn King carrying 62kg at $11. Hard to hold out with Newman’s claim. | |||
I’m going to give PERFECT JUSTICE one last chance at Randwick this week in the third on Saturday.
Having finished on the placegetters’ heels over 1400m at this grade when resuming, we’ve been with Perfect Justice at each of his last two starts, both near misses over 1500m and this trip, respectively.
He steps out this week in peak order, I like that they’re sticking at the mile with him, and Siena Grima’s claim is beneficial as well.
| 3. Perfect Justice (9) J: Siena Grima 58kg 2×422T: John Sargent | |||
| Racing well recently. At the latest run made some head-way from midfield; 2nd of 14 at this track Midway Bm72 on June 20 over 1600m, on a slow track; 0.9 len behind The Mona Lisa with 55.5kg at $2.60. The race before that 2nd of 12 at this track Midway Bm72 on June 6 over 1500m, slow going 1.2 len behind Is It Spectacular with 55kg at $4. Key runner with genuine top-four prospects. | |||
BENEVAC is another one I’m keen to stick with this week.
Benevac returned to action with a fine performance to finish third, beaten just over a length and a half at Rosehill in May and has since only just been denied in a further two Saturday BM78 sprints.
He steps out this week in peak order and from the low draw, and benefitting from Siena Grima’s claim, he might not get a better opportunity to win in town.
| 1. Benevac (2) J: Siena Grima 59.5kg 0x322T: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Dual acceptor. Racing well recently. At the latest run tracked the speed and boxed on steadily 2nd of 12 at Rosehill 3yo Bm72 on June 27 over 1100m, on a slow track; nose behind Lighthouse Lass with 58.5kg at $4.60. The run before that 2nd of 13 at Rosehill 3&4yo Bm72 on June 13 over 1100m, slow going nose behind Shropshire Lad carrying 57kg at $9.50. Brings the best form and ready to win with the claimer on. | |||
There’s a case to be made for a few of them in this contest, including SACRIFY.
Sacrify has won two of five starts this time in, bouncing back from a couple of misses an eye-catching performance to rail through and win a similar race at Rosehill last time.
He’s subsequently been charged with carrying topweight this week, but Aaron Bullock can employ the same tactics from Barrier 1 this week and with appropriate luck in the run, he need only hold his form to be in the finish again.
| 1. Sacrify (1) J: Aaron Bullock 60kg 31471T: Annabel & Rob Archibald | |||
| Dual acceptor. At the latest run won by 1.2 len at Rosehill Bm78 June 27 over 1800m on a soft track defeating Luskaire with 57.5kg at $13. The run before that sat behind the speed prior to fading 7th of 10 at Rosehill Bm78 on May 30 over 1800m, on heavy track; 7 len behind Sounds Unusual carrying 54.5kg at $9. Jumps in weight and can win again. | |||
PRIMA BELLA rates as a key winning chance in Randwick Race 6 third up from a spell.
She couldn’t have been a lot more impressive when hold only to score in a similar race over this route first up this time, but Prima Bella was simply too bad to be true when finishing down the order behind the likes of Ice Kool and Big Red Tequila last time.
She’s since been back to the trials, kept fresh and is drawn to receive a dream run this week under Kerrin McEvoy, and I’m more than happy to stick with her in a race of this quality.
| 4. Prima Bella (3) J: Kerrin Mcevoy 58kg 34×19T: Matthew Smith | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. Resuming won by a head at this track Bm78 May 23 over 1000m in the wet defeating Amazing Eagle with 55.5kg at $6.50. Second-up 9th of 13 at this track Bm78 on June 6 over 1000m, slow going 4.5 len behind Ice Kool with 58kg at $9.50. Kept up to the mark with a trial and can atone. | |||
There is no doubt that this is one of the strongest races on Saturday’s Randwick program, but a horse like ROTAGILLA gets plenty of ticks.
The All Too Hard gelding has continued to improve with each run back this time and steps out in peak order, while he could very well receive the run of the race under Kerrin McEvoy.
He has always been a horse of above average ability, and this represents a great opportunity for him to strike.
| 6. Rotagilla (4) J: Kerrin Mcevoy 59kg 51473T: Chris Waller | |||
| Returns from a 35-day let-up. At the latest run 3rd of 14 at Eagle Farm Bm90 on June 6 over 1810m, on a slow track; 1.75 len behind Cavalry Man carrying 58.5kg at $3.70. The run before that 7th of 12 at this track Bm88 on May 23 over 2000m, on a wet track; 5 len behind Tazima carrying 59.5kg at $6. Nice effort last time. One of the chief contenders over this track and trip. | |||
SEVEN’S doesn’t win out of turn, but I thought he looked well placed in this mile handicap at Randwick.
He was a strong and consistent performer during his first preparations in France and here in Australia, but it’s fair to say that Seven’s has mixed his form in recent preps.
That said, he’s placed in two of four back this time, finding form around some credible opposition in races not dissimilar to this one, and he kept his best work for late and through the line over 1500m last time out.
In peak order this week, the mile looks to suit, and he boasts an excellent record on soft going.
| 8. Seven’s (8) J: Sam Clipperton 58kg x4235T: Annabel & Rob Archibald | |||
| Last start 5th of 15 at Rosehill Bm88 on June 27 over 1500m, slow going 1.5 len behind Emirate with 53kg at $8.50. The start before that tracked the speed and boxed on steadily 3rd of 11 at Rosehill Bm78 on June 13 over 1500m, on a slow track; 1.75 len behind Emirate with 56.5kg at $5. Wasn’t too far off the mark last time. Deep into the prep and due for a change of luck. | |||
LUGH looks well placed to get up at Randwick in Saturday’s penultimate event.
The Snitzel gelding was a strong and consistent performer throughout his spring preparation last year, capping his campaign third in a Big Dance here at Randwick, while he returned to action we a fair effort behind some fit rivals like Cool Jakey and Midnight Dynamite last month.
He’s unbeaten at this point of his preparation and gets some relief in the weights and can return to winning form.
| 2. Lugh (8) J: Siena Grima 61kg 313×5T: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Second run back. First-up after seven months 5th of 14 at this track Bm94 on June 6 over 1300m, on a slow track; 2.75 len behind Cool Jakey carrying 58kg at $4.60. Previously second-up won by 0.8 len at this track 4yo+ Bm78 July 26 over 1300m in soft going defeating Starman carrying 56kg at $9. Rates highly and looks a strong chance with the claim. | |||
Open race to close the program again in Sydney and with a case to be made for plenty of them, I’m electing to have an each way play on BELLA CORAZON ($8.50 at publish).
Bella Corazon has returned to action in good order this time, and after striking in similar company at Rosehill two starts back, she overcame a tough run in transit to finish on the placegetters’ heels last time out, beaten a little over two lengths by Surf’s Up.
She’s fit, up to the class and represents a touch of overs in the market, in my opinion.
| 4. Bella Corazon (6) J: Alysha Collett 57.5kg 3×314T: Annabel & Rob Archibald | |||
| At the latest run 4th of 12 at Rosehill F&M Bm78 on June 27 over 1400m, slow going 2.5 len behind Surf’s Up with 54.5kg at $8. Before that raced right near the speed and boxed on; won by a nose at Rosehill F&M Bm78 June 13 over 1300m on a soft track defeating Ticklebelly carrying 52kg at $5. Place preferred. | |||