Sydney Preview: Spot Plays for Randwick Dec 16 2022
Royal Randwick racecourse, Sydney (Courtesy of Sky Racing World)
December 15th, 2022
Racing in Sydney quietens down substantially this weekend after the roar of last week’s A$2 million Ingham (G2). There are no black type races at Randwick, and all races are worth A$150,000.
Saturday's racing doesn’t lack quality, however. The main highlights are an open handicap over about seven furlongs and two Rating 88 contests over about 1 1/4 miles and about six furlongs.
TwinSpires is offering its Rest of the World Bet Back offer on these and all other races at Randwick on Saturday, where those who opt in can get up to $10 of their win bets returned if their horse finishes second. So with that offer in mind, let’s have a look at the features.
Race 4, 10:05 p.m. Friday ET: NJT Injured and Ill Jockeys, 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles), Rating 88
A decent field of middle-distance horses face the starter here, including four last-start winners. Much of the money is set to go on #2 Zoumon, a wire-to-wire winner of his last start. From the in-form stable of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott (who also provide another horse coming off a victory in #1 Military Mission), he should be prominent throughout.
What may undo Zoumon is the fact that there is at least one other frontrunner that could be bothersome in #4 Mission Phoenix. Like Zoumon, he is looking for his third victory on end. If they get into a speed duel, it could cause both of them problems.
The most likely beneficiary of a speed duel could be #9 Secret Glamour. From the Victorian stable of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, she came from last on her Sydney debut to win a Benchmark 72 race at Rosehill over about 1 1/8 miles Dec. 3. She should appreciate both speed and an extra furlong here.
#6 Worthily and #7 Smirk look to be good contenders for lower exotic rungs.
Race 8, 12:40 a.m. Saturday ET: Ranvet Handicap, 1,400 meters (about 7 furlongs), open handicap
A decent lineup of 12 horses are due to start here, some of whom have form to back them up in graded stakes company. Heading the field is the consistent #1 Coal Crusher, a winner two starts back who followed that up with a nice sixth in the Festival S. (G3) Nov. 26. He should enjoy the drop back in class.
Also likely to be favored is #9 Cotehele, who was just run down in the last 50m at Rosehill Dec. 3. He should be on the speed and fighting strongly to the line.
My pick for the race, however, is #7 Fox Fighter. He made up a lot of ground last week in the Listed Razor Sharp S. over six furlongs, and looked like he wanted an extra furlong. He gets that chance here, and in weaker company he must be a very good chance.
- $10 win/$30 show: #7 Fox Fighter
Race 9, 1:20 a.m. Saturday ET: ATC Tree Planting for Queen's Jubilee Handicap, 1,200 (about 6 furlongs), Rating 88
An overflow field of 17 paid up for this dash, though four horses are already out, three of which had drawn unfavorable outside gates.
Generally, a race like this should be hard to pick. But the exciting four-year-old mare #5 I Am Me has picked up the ace draw, and she will be very hard to beat. She looks destined for better things and is close enough to a banker provided the track stays good.
The best options here are probably going to be exotics. #6 On The Lead, second to I Am Me at their last start Dec. 3, could well fill the same spot again; also backing up from that race is the fourth-place finisher #3 Wisdom of Water.
Ex-New Zealand galloper #10 Super Pursuit could improve in his second start this campaign, while it’s also worth considering last-start winner #15 Dehorned Unicorn and #14 Noble Soldier, who has won twice after a break.
- $30 win: #5 I Am Me
- $1 trifecta: 5 with 3, 6, 10, 14, 15 with 3, 6, 10, 14, 15
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