Australia: Spot Plays for Day 2 of The Championships

Day two of The Championships at Randwick is upon us! We’ve got more top-tier racing action from the land Down Under coming up tonight. The 10-race card features seven Group 1 or Group 2 events, with big fields galore and plenty of opportunities to make some money.

As we did last week, we’re here with a trio of spot plays for the program, which begins at 9:45 p.m. ET. Here are some horses we think are worth your attention!

Race 2: #2 Fearless (21-1 ML)

The second race is for three-year-olds going seven furlongs, and I’ll be watching the tote board pretty carefully. If the morning line odds hold up on #2 Fearless, I think he’s worth a play for a few reasons.

Fearless spent most of 2024 going up against some of the best horses in his crop. He even ran third in a Group 1 race last April before going to the sidelines, and his first effort back in Group 2 company wasn’t awful. However, he ran a clunker in September, went to the sidelines, and probably needed his return to the races a few weeks ago.

This is his second start off the bench, so I think he’ll be a bit more ready to go here. The recent barrier trial looks pretty solid, and I think this is probably the level he wants, too. He definitely needs to improve off of his last two starts, but there’s reason to believe he might. At his morning line odds, he’s worth a play, and I’d even recommend him at as low as 12-1 or so.

Race 7: #14 Tajanis (26-1 ML)

This is the Sydney Cup (G1), and they’ll go two miles here. #8 Alalcance was a winning spot play just a week ago, and she’s back here. I respect her, and a win wouldn’t stun me, but this will be her fourth try in five weeks, and I think she’ll have some company up front. At her price, I need to find an alternative.

I landed on #14 Tajanis for a few reasons. This gelding’s found career-best form in three 2025 starts, as he’s won twice and comes in off a close second in a Group 2 at this distance. He’s a closer that needs a pace in front of him, and he should at least get some sort of tempo to rate behind. Add in his likely price, and I think there’s reason to be excited.

It’s possible Alalcance runs them off their feet again. But is that likely to happen for the fourth time in five weeks? I’m skeptical. I think it’s just as likely this race falls apart, and if Tajanis lights up the tote board, I’ll stand to benefit from it.

Race 10: #8 Austmarr (13-2 ML)

I like #8 Austmarr, a wire-to-wire Group 3 winner last out, quite a bit in the nightcap, the Sapphire S. (G2). When Austmarr gets the lead early, she’s proven to be tough to run down. That’s exactly what happened last time, when she pulled off a 14-1 upset a few weeks ago at Rosehill. 

I’ve looked at this field quite a bit, and I just don’t see much in the way of early competition for her. I think there’s a big chance she has things all her own way early, and that she’ll be the one to catch turning for home. If she gets brave, we could end The Championships with a pretty nice score.