Not only will some star three-year-olds go head-to-head at Flemington on Saturday in the Group 1 Australian Guineas, the Sydney-siders will also get a chance to strut their stuff in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas, held over a mile at Royal Randwick Racecourse.
The $1m set weights contest has brought together a quality field of fourteen gallopers, all looking for a slice of some early Autumn riches in one of Sydney’s most prestigious three-year-old events.
Looking at the market, Dabble has Godolphin colt, Aft Cabin, on top at $2.65, despite being a beaten favourite last time out. The second line of betting is being held down by Osipenko at $4.40, ahead of Zou Tiger at $6.50. Matcha Latte and Attrition are best of the rest at $10, in what looks an even contest.
So, with that in mind, we have dissected each of the horses’ chances for you and provided our horse racing tips! Read on below to find our runner by runner preview of the 2023 Randwick Guineas along with The Shark’s best tips.
1. Manzoice (14) – $34
Jockey – Tim Clark 56.5kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Victorian Derby winner who resumes here off the back of a recent Rosehill trial, where he trucked along nicely. Will more than likely be ridden cold from the outside gate, but as we see so often, these staying types can sprint well fresh. Watch for him late.
2. Osipenko (4) – $4.40
Jockey – Nash Rawiller 56.5kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Ran through the line nicely first up in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince before turning the tables on his rivals second up in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill. Went enormous in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas last prep, that being his only run at a mile. Will enjoy a nice run in transit from the good draw here and can win again.
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3. Aft Cabin (10) – $2.65F
Jockey – James McDonald 56.5kg
Trainer – James Cummings
Dominant winner first up in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince before going down last time out at a short quote. Things didn’t go his way on that occasion from the wide draw and he’s come up with another tricky alley here. Gets back to Randwick which is a plus and can hit back hard if things go his way.
4. Zou Tiger (6) – $6.50
Jockey – Brenton Avdulla 56.5kg
Trainer – John O’Shea
Ran well first up behind Aft Cabin before just being grabbed in the shadows of the post by Osipenko last time out. Gets out to the mile for the first time here, which he looks to be crying out for, and gets a tongue tie on for the first time. Will roll forward and take plenty of running down.
5. Matcha Latte (5) – $10
Jockey – Tom Sherry 56.5kg
Trainer – Mark Newnham
Ran out of his skin first up in the Group 2 Hobartville behind Osipenko and Zou Tiger. Ran some terrific races last prep, including a 0.7L fourth in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes. Should get a soft run here second up and looks a major player yet again.
6. Williamsburg (8) – $21
Jockey – Ryan Maloney 56.5kg
Trainer – Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou
Outsprinted first up over the six furlongs before an improved effort last time out in the Group 2 Hobartville. He didn’t have a lot of luck on that occasion and will appreciate the step up to 1600m here, where he has a great record. Each-way chance.
7. Promitto (9) – $71
Jockey – Christian Reith 56.5kg
Trainer – David Atkins
Newcastle trained gelding who showed plenty of promise early on but has failed to go on with things. Got back and never came into the race first up behind Osipenko. Gets blinkers applied here for the first time which may spark some improvement but others look better suited.
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8. Communist (7) – $17
Jockey – Zac Purton 56.5kg
Trainer – Michael Freedman
Ran well first up in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince behind Aft Cabin before leading them up and puncturing in the lead last time out. Not sure what the tactics will be here or how they plan about turning the tables on some key rivals, but he does have a good record at the mile and gets Purton on.
9. Lindermann (12) – $18
Jockey – Kerrin McEvoy 56.5kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Led from barrier to box last time out at Rosehill over 1400m. Despite only being BM78 level, he actually ran a quicker time than the Group 2 Hobartville and BM100 on the same day. Will be sent forward again here from the wide draw and off the strength of his last win isn’t hopeless.
10. Holymanz (11) – SCRATCHED
Jockey – N/A 56.5kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
N/A
11. The Fortune Teller (13) – SCRATCHED
Jockey – N/A 56.5kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
N/A
12. Attrition (1) – $10
Jockey – Craig Williams 56.5kg
Trainer – Mitchell Freedman
Got back and motored home in the CS Hayes Stakes last start, despite having little luck in the home straight. Looks as though he will eat up the 1600m and will use no petrol from the inside gate here. Real up and coming type who can go on with the job now.
13. Hollywood Hero (2) – $41
Jockey – Rachel King 56.5kg
Trainer – Bjorn Baker
Finally broke through for a well deserved maiden win last start at Warwick Farm over the mile. Official margin was 0.56L but could easily have been 3-4L if the young apprentice wasn’t trying to be a show pony. Will make his own luck on speed again here but faces a much tougher assignment against this lot.
There’s a huge card of feature racing from @aus_turf_club on Saturday, headlined by the Group 1 Randwick Guineas!
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14. Cut On A Dime (3) – $71
Jockey – Tyler Schiller (a) 56.5kg
Trainer – Bryce Heys
Lightly raced colt who was good winning at the midweeks last start. Like Hollywood Hero, he faces a much bigger test against this field, but looks blessed with plenty of raw ability and should get a nice cart into the race from barrier three.
Final Word
As we saw last week in the Group 1 Surround Stakes, there usually isn’t a lot between the three-year-olds at this time of the year. This race looks no different and I’m happy to look outside the favourite Aft Cabin.
Thought Zou Tiger was good in both the Eskimo Prince first up and the Hobartville last start. He’s a big striding horse who looks well suited out to a mile and will land on the speed here without doing much work from the good gate. Should take plenty of running down.
Melbourne visitor, Attrition, was terrific last start in the CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington, without much luck in the home straight. The 1600m is a big tick and he may well decide to come here and dodge Jacquinot. If he does, he’s a major player.
Osipenko is another who was very good last start when winning the Hobartville at Rosehill. He ran a slashing third in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas at his only go at 1600m and will get a good run in transit from the draw. Can win again.
Favourite Aft Cabin can hit back again but feel he’s well and truly found his price. He’s got another wide draw to contend with but the mile suits. And Matcha Latte can’t be overlooked. He was very good first up behind Osipenko and rarely runs a bad race.
Randwick Guineas Tip
4. Zou Tiger – Each-way ($6.50/$2.25)
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*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.
