Australian racing picks for Royal Randwick

The Grand Finals of Australian racing swing into their second week, with Day 2 of The Championships from Royal Randwick in Sydney tonight. Of the 10 races on the program, nine are stakes, with four of them Group 1 contests.

The highlight of the night is the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1), the race the mighty Winx won the last three years. She’s not in the field tonight, of course, but it is still stacked with talent. Run over 1 1/4 miles, two international horses top the betting. Japanese raider, Danon Premium, is the equal 7-2 morning-line favorite with European galloper Addeybb.

Race 1 of the exciting, 10-race card is at 9:35 p.m. ET and racing will be on a soft track. Here are some picks.

Randwick, Race 6 (Australian Oaks): #4 Colette

Colette is backing up within seven days, after a scintillating win in last week’s Adrian Knox (G3) over 1 1/4 miles. She was held up a little, just after the home turn, and had to weave a passage, but when she saw daylight, she went into another gear.

This race is likely to turn into a staying test, and the distance shouldn’t pose a problem for Colette. She has been set for this race, and big-race jockey, Glen Boss, will be on her back. It’s not often you find a stayer with a turn of foot, but that’s what trainer James Cummings has on his hands.

At 3-1 on the morning line, she looks very hard to beat. If you’re playing exotics, Probabeel is going to run a big race. Game Of Thorns and Toffee Tongue should also run well at big odds.

Randwick, Race 7 (Sydney Cup): #1 Mustajeer

Two European stayers, Mustajeer and Young Rascal, top the market here, and they are certainly the class runners of the race.

Mustajeer won the Ebor H. in the UK last year, before he was beaten less than two lengths in Australia’s Caulfield Cup (G1). He has been great this preparation, and in his last run, he finished well behind Verry Elleegant over 1 1/2 miles.

I’m confident he’ll run a strong 2 miles, and even though he’s carrying the top weight, it’s really only four pounds more than Young Rascal. I like Mustajeer to upset the favorite at the morning-line odds of 4-1.

Randwick, Race 8 (Queen Elizabeth): #2 Addeybb

This race is definitely worth staying up for!

Generally, whenever a Japanese horse travels to Australia, they are a class above the rest of the field. The only question mark over Danon Premium tonight is whether he will handle the soft track. If he does, it could be curtains.

I’m happy to be on Addeybb. I loved how tenacious he was when he rallied back to beat Verry Elleegant in the Ranvet (G1) over the same 1 1/4-mile trip March 21. He has the advantage of having a run in Australia, whereas Danon Premium hasn’t raced for six months. 

Addeybb will keep the services of in-form UK jockey Tom Marquand, who knows the horse well, and the combination will be tough to beat.

If you’re playing the exotics, Danon Premium, Verry Elleegant, and Master Of Wine are all worth including.

Good luck for a what’s going to be a big night of racing Down Under!

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