We have studied the form from all races across the country for Saturday, October 14, and provided our best horse racing tips.
Whilst Caulfield Guineas day has always been an iconic meeting on the Australian racing calendar, very few would have ever called it the pointy end of the Spring just over five years ago when a race called The Everest first appeared in form guides.
Most said that race wouldn’t last, but after a couple of heavyweights in opposing states got their heads together and passed the peace pipe around, here we are, Grand Final day for the best sprinters in the world coupled up with a time honoured stallion making Group 1s.
Plenty of racing scribes about the place want to trot out the cliche of ‘Christmas come early’, but they are forgetting that Christmas comes but once a year, and such is the modern turf landscape that we get fat off the trimmings the sport has to offer no matter which state or season you find yourself in these days.
An absolute glut of punting delights so the only Christmas crossover you’ll get out of me is that if you aren’t impressed by that, then you’d probably boo Santa Claus himself.
No need to look further afield than Caulfield or Randwick this week where they have excellent cards on show at both venues. We’ve found three in Sydney, two in Melbourne, and have made our best two of the day in both the features.
After finding double figure winners in the big races the past two Saturdays, and four from five on Wednesday, we are hitting form at the right time so if you aren’t on The Racing Sharks bandwagon already, now is a good time to be hitching a ride.
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, October 14.
Caulfield, Race 5 – 2. Uncommon James ($2.35)
Fancy he can get the better of the Henry Dwyer trained Asfoora here.
I have a healthy respect for that mare and this really does look a race in two.
The QLDer just drew a bit sticky first go around The Valley and never quite got into a rhythm. He still ran boldly but the two mares just had the cold pounce on him after he crabbed around the corners throughout before doing some nice work in the short run home.
Caulfield suits and he should be able to take a positive position if he comes out anywhere near as good as he did in the Moir.
A winner at the track, a Group 1 winner at 1100m, and undefeated 2nd up.
Plenty of ticks there.
The Shark’s Tip
2. Uncommon James ($2.35)
Get our horse racing tips delivered straight to you!
Randwick, Race 6 – 11. Airman ($7.50/$2.65)
The Sydney Stakes has proved a real hit since being moved to 1200m and added to The Everest race day program
It’s been taken out by some quality gallopers in its limited history such as In Her Time and Pierata and is a race that sets up nicely for a progressive sprinter who may well contest this race in future years.
Airman is certainly a horse on the way up who it would not at all shock to see in The Everest conversation in 12 months time.
Five wins from seven starts and only missed a placing the once, he has come back in very good order as was evident by his win leading into this.
A little wayward first up and just found them a touch nippy over 1100m at Rosehill.
No such issue coming to Randwick 2nd up where he won with a leg in the air over the smart Wategos who was looking for four on the trot before this Team Hawkes galloper gave him windburn.
That was his first start at Randwick, and he appeared to thrive on it. He’s also a winner at Flemington over the straight six which lines up well at Sydney HQ which is renowned for being the toughest six furlongs around a corner in the country.
Very talented galloper who appears destined for better honours.
The Shark’s Tip
11. Airman ($7.50/$2.65)
Get our horse racing tips delivered straight to you!
Randwick, Race 7 – 12. Cylinder ($9.00/$3.00)
I really like Cylinder in the feature.
I think this race sets up really nicely for 3YO’s (we’ve already had two win it in its short history), he was the pick of the 2YO’s for mine from last year and has always looked the one most likely, provided he came up, which he has beyond question.
The 1200m appears to be his best trip although you can make a case to say he probably should have been too far out in front of Militarize to be run down in the Golden Rose if Nash had his brain in gear that day. That would have him hitting this undefeated for the prep much the same as Giga Kick was last year.
Not sure Shinzo who defeated him in The Slipper has come up. The only other thing that pulls him up seems to be heavy tracks and he won’t get that.
A real changing of the guard in the sprinting ranks. Last year’s winner Giga Kick is not there. There’s no Eduardo, and there’s no Nature Strip for the first time in four years.
I think these sprinters are a very handy bunch, but outside of I Wish I Win, just lack the star quality of the gritty colt from Godolphin who are yet to win one, and probably still rueing their decision to send Trekking to the race and leave Bivouac at home the day Yes Yes Yes won.
I Wish I Win the big danger but he is a horse that likes to get out and build momentum as we saw in his TJ win and the runs at Flemington. And not sure where he’s at with the drop back from 1400m to 1200m, hitting this 2nd up. Don’t really think that’s the right prep for this.
Team Blue to finally climb The Everest for mine.
The Shark’s Tip
12. Cylinder ($9.00/$3.00)
Get our horse racing tips delivered straight to you!
Caulfield, Race 9 – 1. Militarize ($2.80)
The Sydney form screams out at you here.
The Golden Rose is the right race to be coming out into this.
The first three across the line are all high quality colts, and as good and tough as Steparty is, it is very hard to see him overcoming the Waller colt given the races they are both coming out of.
Bred for this and further, he looks to have a couple of Group 1’s at his mercy over the coming weeks and is going to throw plenty of interest into the Cox Plate.
Best of the day.
The Shark’s Tip
1. Militarize ($2.80)
Get our horse racing tips delivered straight to you!
Randwick, Race 9 – 12. Kovalica ($18/$4.40)
Boldly predicted he would be sharply improved 2nd up in The Epsom and we were right, nailing the Exacta there straight out after we tipped stablemate Rediener on top.
I’ve always been a huge wrap for this guy, tipping him the best of the day when he first won his maiden but I was always happy to take him on first up over 1300m.
He looks an out and out mile and half horse for mine but Chris Waller was never going to stretch him back out to that trip as a Spring 4YO against open horses, and despite the push in the early betting, I have always doubted he would go to a Cox Plate. And I still think that will be the case even if he wins here.
Allowed to stretch the legs under Quality Handicap conditions first up, then had a real fresh edge to him the way he let down at 4kgs under WFA in the Epsom handicap. Hits this hard fit staying at 1600m again 3rd up.
The tough Randwick mile is the right race for this horse at this stage of his career and I think the logical progression for him is a Queen Elizabeth in the Autumn over 2000m, and a Caulfield Cup next spring.
He’s got his work cut out, going to WFA against what could be the best miler in the southern hemisphere in Mr Brightside. His record is excellent at Randwick being a dual Doncaster winner. He makes his own luck in races and will certainly look the winner at some point. But Williams will need to time his run to perfection as I expect this horse will be driving at him hard late.
A genuine top liner of the future who has proved the knockers wrong after his Epsom run. Can give this a real shake at big odds.
The Shark’s Tip
12. Kovalica ($18/$4.40)
Get our horse racing tips delivered straight to you!
Best Bet – 1. Militarize (Caulfield, Race 9)
Next Best – 12. Cylinder (Randwick, Race 7)
Best Roughie – 12. Kovalica (Randwick, Race 9)
*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of Dabble.
