The $1m Randwick Guineas, is a G1 set weights mile for 3YOs, run at Royal Randwick during the Sydney Autumn Carnival. Previously known as the Canterbury Guineas, the feature is the first leg of the 3YO Triple Crown, which also includes the G1 Rosehill Guineas over 2000m, and the G1 2400m Australian Derby.
To this day five horses have completed the triple crown. Moorland was the first back in 1943, Martello Towers in 1959, Imagele in 1970, ‘The Big O’ Octagonal in 1996, and in more recent times, It’s A Dundeel in 2013. This year’s Randwick Guineas looks as though it will be run on a very heavy surface, and the race has already lost a couple of runners, namely Forgot You and Ranch Hand, who will instead contest the G1 Australian Guineas at Flemington.
Looking at the market for this year’s Guineas, Dabble has Cox Plate runner up Anamoe a red hot favourite at $1.70, ahead of Converge at $5.50 and Hilal at $6.00. No other runners are under double figures, and it seems punters are happy to take the shorts about the Godolphin colt.
However, we know with horse racing that anything can happen and a heavy track can be tough to evaluate. So, we have dissected each of the horses’ chances for you! Read on below to find our runner by runner preview of the 2022 Randwick Guineas along with The Shark’s best tips.
The Group 1 Randwick Guineas market (All In) is open and it’s set to be a cracking race! Can @JamesCummings88 trained runner and current favourite Anamoe get the job done?
Market Moves 👇
Anamoe $2 – $1.80
Hilal $7 – $5
Converge $8 – $6
Ranch Hand $11 – $15
War Eternal $26 – $15 pic.twitter.com/5Kumz8zgut— TAB (@tabcomau) February 28, 2022
1. Anamoe (9) – $1.70F
Jockey – James McDonald 56.5kg
Trainer – James Cummings
Superstar colt who was controversially nosed out in last year’s Cox Plate. He resumed this prep at Rosehill, on what looked to be a bias leaders track, and was beaten as a short priced favourite in the G2 Expressway. He then hit back hard last start claiming victory in the G2 Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill over 1400m. Hilal got within a neck of him on that occasion and meets him again here. The step up to a mile, and back to Randwick where he is unbeaten, look two big positives for him and if he can handle the slop, he should be very hard to beat again.
2. Converge (6) – $5.50
Jockey – Tim Clark 56.5kg
Trainer – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Although he hasn’t won a race this prep, this gelded son of Frankel looks to have returned in fine fettle. His first up effort in the G3 Eskimo Prince Stakes was very good, and his run behind favourite Anamoe in the Hobartville was again strong, where he made good late ground to finish 3rd. He is a Group 1 winner over the mile, and is a winner here at Randwick. Draws to get a good run behind the speed, and has raced well both times he’s been on soft ground. Could be the testing material late in the race.
3. Hilal (4) – $6.00
Jockey – William Pike 56.5kg
Trainer – Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
Bondi Stakes winner last prep here over the Randwick mile. Was given a peach of a ride by the ‘Wizard’ last start in the G2 Hobartville, and almost got the better of favourite Anamoe. He gets out to the Randwick mile now where his record is good, and if he can handle the heavy track he can certainly be breathing down the Godolphin colt’s neck again late in the race.
4. Coastwatch (11) – $21
Jockey – Nash Rawiller 56.5kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Scratched from the Australian Guineas at Flemington to run here. Resumed with a good win in the G2 Autumn Stakes at Caulfield three weeks ago. His form last prep was strong, where he finished in the money behind Anamoe and Hilal on more than one occasion. Has won 2 from 3 on soft ground, but like most of these, is untried on the heavy. If he can handle the track, there’s no reason he can’t fill a place here.
5. Forgot You (7) – Scratched
Jockey – N/A
Trainer – N/A
6. Ranch Hand (1) – Scratched
Jockey – N/A
Trainer – N/A
7. Military Expert (13) – $26
Jockey – Tommy Berry 56.5kg
Trainer – Annabel Neasham
Looked disappointing first up at Rosehill, but made amends last start when he blew his rivals away over 1500m in BM72 grade. He carried 59.5kg, and although he meets a much stronger field here, did look good winning on that occasion. Had form around Coastwatch and Lightsaber last prep, and Tommy Berry sticks. Capable of running a race at odds.
Is the Randwick Guineas Anamoe’s to lose? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/b083xFZBZR
— TAB (@tabcomau) March 2, 2022
8. Raging Bull (12) – $51
Jockey – Sam Clipperton 56.5kg
Trainer – David Payne
Wasn’t disgraced first up behind Anamoe in the Hobartville. Ran 4th in last year’s Victoria Derby and has placed on heavy ground, suggesting he will be strong at the tail end of this race. Best of the roughies here.
9. Royalzel (10) – $51
Jockey – Brenton Avdulla 56.5kg
Trainer – Gary Portelli
Has shown little in his two runs back this campaign, the latest a long last behind Anamoe in the Hobartville. Gets one thing in his favour here, and that’s the heavy track. He’s 2 for 2 in the mud, but that’s the only tick I have next to his name.
10. War Eternal (2) – $14
Jockey – Jason Collett 56.5kg
Trainer – Bjorn Baker
Looked close to a good thing last start, when he blitzed his rivals in BM78 grade. Prior to that, he made good late ground in the G3 Eskimo Prince behind Paulele. Has had one go at the mile, where he finished 2nd in the G3 Spring Stakes last prep, and has a good heavy track record. Ticks a few boxes here.
11. Sword Point (3) – $41
Jockey – Kerrin McEvoy 56.5kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Well bred colt who was a dominant winner last start in BM78 grade over 2000m. Has had a freshen up since that run, and was seen at the trials last week to prepare him for this. Would have to find a few lengths on his form to date, but can’t be completely ruled out.
12. Sinba (8) – $26
Jockey – Jay Ford 56.5kg
Trainer – Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou
Progressive 3YO who has finished with a wet sail to win both runs this prep, albeit in BM68 and BM72 grade. Steps up to the big time now, and will have to put his best foot forward to continue his unbeaten record this prep.
13. Sea Treasures (5) – $101
Jockey – Rachel King 56.5kg
Trainer – Bjorn Baker
Mudgee maiden winner who has been beaten in low benchmark grade races this prep. Step up to 1600m is ideal, and is bred to handle wet tracks, but would need to grow a leg to win this.
Final Word
Well once again this week, the weather has wreaked havoc in Sydney, and we are racing on a bottomless track. Not only is the winner of this year’s Randwick Guineas going to have to handle the bog track, they’ll also have to be rock hard fit. The Group 2 Hobartville Stakes form looks strong with winner Anamoe heading the market here ahead of placegetters Hilal and Converge.
#RoyalRandwick Racecourse Manager Michael Wood spoke to @MattJenkinsATC to give us an update on the racing surface leading into Randwick Guineas Day this Saturday.@racing_nsw @7horseracing @SkyRacingAU pic.twitter.com/px4G1zJori
— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) March 3, 2022
There is no doubt Anamoe is the best horse in the race, and he’s proven that by winning two Group 1’s and running 2nd in Australia’s premier WFA contest, the Cox Plate. In saying that, there looks to be good value around him providing he’s untried in the heavy going.
As mentioned, Hobartville placegetters Hilal and Converge are well respected in the market in this race and it’s not hard to see why. Hilal looked the winner of the Hobartville at the furlong, and was only narrowly defeated, and his record at the Randwick mile speaks for itself. Converge was good from the back on that occasion and won the G1 JJ Atkins last prep over the mile.
Of the others, War Eternal looked good winning last start on the same day as Anamoe, and clocked similar times in doing so. He has won on the heavy and has raced well at his only go at the mile. Military Expert also won well last start, and Raging Bull looks the best of the long shots after his first up effort in the Hobartville.
I’m sure no matter the result, Anamoe will be the horse to follow out of the race, especially once he gets back on top of the ground, and maybe with the addition of some headgear (i.e. blinkers), but I’m going to tip against him here at the short price.
I’ve been impressed with the two runs back from a spell from Converge. His first up run in the G2 Eskimo Prince (1200m) was very good, and his closing 3rd in the Hobartville Stakes last time out suggested the mile is now what he’s looking for. As mentioned, he’s a two time winner at the mile, and a G1 winner in doing so.
The wet track shouldn’t pose too many problems, as he’s raced well on soft ground, and is out of a Shamardal mare. The Waterhouse/Bott polish should see him present very fit at the races here, the $5.50 represents better value than that of Anamoe, and I believe he can overturn the odds on pop here.
Best Randwick Guineas Tip: 2. Converge – Win ($5.50)
If you need more news, information and tips, head over to our Randwick Guineas page for all your punting needs!
*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.
