We have studied the form from all races across the country for Saturday, April 1, and provided our best horse racing tips.
Day 1 of The Championships at Royal Randwick and it falls on April Fool’s Day, but the only thing funny about the program on offer is how ridiculously good the fields are.
We haven’t had to stray far from Royal Randwick where all the action is focused this week, heading to Bendigo for just the one in the first, then having a crack at some of the big features of day 1.
We have made five selections in total and are confident that we have found you some winners! So, read on below to find our best horse racing tips for this Saturday, April 1.
Randwick, Race 1 – 1. Barber ($3.50)
They’ve taken to riding him ‘cute’ trying to get him to run out 1200m.
Don’t really see why. Two of his three runs have been when he lands handy and can put a margin on them with his short sharp sprint. Too far back in The Slipper and The Blue Diamond to make an impact.
His win in The Golden Gift where he went back came about only by circumstance. That is he drew awful, missed the kick, then was given an absolute gun ride by one of the best in the business, J H Bowman.
Goes back to 1100m here and gets Bowman again. Draws a middle of the road gate of which they probably need to be assertive and command a spot early. Given this is a set weights race, and given the obvious class he has about him, I think they’ll ride him like the best horse in the race. Which is what he is. And he’ll get us paid early doors.
The Shark’s Tip
1. Barber ($3.50)
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Bendigo, Race 1 – 6. Illation ($2.50)
The list of excuses out of the Price & Kent yard is longer than the combined sum of just about any jockey’s room around the country, and is probably starting to wear thin with punters.
They offered every one under the sun in the last 7 days for I’m Thunderstruck failing in The All Star Mile, outside of the fact he had knee chips, which in a cruel twist of fate, is ironically what ultimately led to his unfortunate demise during the week.
The expectations for this fellow were certainly on par with their ill fated star galloper when they both kicked off their Spring campaigns together in The Memsie, however things went awry there for the up and coming 4yo and he was tipped straight out.
Typical vagaries out of the barn as to what actually happened there. But he only had a short break. Was treated with kid gloves in a number of jump outs, before being opened up in a recent hit out which looked as though he was back on point.
If that’s the case, here, in a Bm race with just 53kg on his back, he will be far too good.
His wins to date have either been devastating or remarkable, and he has the makings of a top line galloper.
Punters are treading with caution around the early price, but anything better than even money does look a good bet.
The Shark’s Tip
6. Illation ($2.50)
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Randwick, Race 3 – 7. Benaud ($6.50/$2.40)
Former ATC Derby and Kingston Town runner up over a trip here at Randwick.
Just the winner of one race, he can get you in, but he is a genuine mile and a half plus type, at just 4yo. And he does his best racing on big tracks.
Really liked what he did first up out of a very hot Chipping Norton Stakes. Then they rode him a bit too close 2nd up and he was left scrambling when the pace was poured on at the 600m.
Back on song last start with a withering effort, 2nd go at the 2000m, 3rd up at Rosehill.
He is ready for this now. McDonald replaces Prebble. Draws perfect, and gets a bit of give in his home track.
Hard to beat, and worth a pre-post bet in The Sydney Cup if you like him here.
The Shark’s Tip
7. Benaud ($6.50/$2.40)
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Randwick, Race 7 – 4. Mazu ($14/$3.90)
Going to tip one here in close to the hardest race of the day, that is completely unwanted in betting.
Imagine the punters have taken a set against him since the track upgrade. And whilst he did win his G1 on a very heavy track, I’m of the opinion he is capable in all going and worth a ticket now he’s out to a silly price.
Certainly not disgraced first up on a firm track, first look down the straight at Flemington.
He drew the extreme outside there and after jumping brilliantly, just got lost in the middle stages without a mate to go with, with all the on pace action back towards the inside, on a day that favoured the fence.
Came again late suggesting he is looking for the 1200m. Beaten a tick over 2L.
He gets back to the 6 furlongs here, at his home track where he ran 3rd last campaign beaten less than a length in an Everest. And then finished runner up to Private Eye in a $3 million race over the same track and trip. On a good track!
Only 0.2L separated those two first up. They both draw next to each other here in 1 & 2 but the draw suits Mazu with his cruising speed and his ability to quicken on the back of a solid tempo as opposed to Private Eye who likes to wind up outside of runners.
Our best roughie.
The Shark’s Tip
4. Mazu ($14/$3.90)
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Randwick, Race 8 – 16. Zougotcha ($10/$3.30)
If the T.J. Smith was close to the hardest race of the day, then surely it was in the GF with the Doncaster Mile.
But we don’t shirk the hard tasks here at The Racing Sharks.
Absolutely love this filly. And there aren’t many better riders in big races, with big fields than K McEvoy. 3 Melbourne Cups is testament to that, and 3 Everests gives him Randwick clout., But it is his win over the mile in this race’s little sister, The Epsom Handicap, aboard Probabeel, that I’m channelling here as they are very similar sorts of horses.
Three wide running line with cover is the place to be in this race. And go for home once they negotiate the rise with no weight on your back.
She is as tough as nails. She is already a G1 winner at this track and trip. Genuine excuses first up where she had missed work. Then back to herself 2nd up with a typically gutsy win.
If she wins The Surround, she probably carries another kilo at least. And she has all that behind her now. Waller is a master at this race.
Declaring her the bet of the day.
The Shark’s Tip
16. Zougotcha ($10/$3.30)
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Best Bet – 16. Zougotcha (Randwick, Race 8)
Next Best – 1. Barber (Randwick, Race 1)
Best Roughie – 4. Mazu (Randwick, Race 7)
*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of Dabble.
