Form has been done for a good track.
Race 1 – 1:05PM 2019 MEMBERSHIP HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
12. Yitai Synergy has looked very sharp in her two trials. Id go as far as saying her trials have been as impressive as any two-year-old triallers weve seen this season. Doesnt always mean they bring that talent to the track but the Dissident filly has jumped straight to the front on both occasions, settled in the run and then ran right through the line under minimal riding. Despite that, she really gapped her rivals as she approached the line. One flick of the whip and tipping shed have been off and gone. The extra kicker is that she has Peter and Paul Snowden pulling the strings. Shell present on Saturday in outstanding order. Drawn barrier 2, Corey Brown, who rode her in her first trial, will have her parked in the first couple.
Dangers: 3. Igniting impressed in his Canterbury trial win, holding a sizable margin. He was asked to lengthen by Glyn Schofield, who sticks with the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained colt, and liked the way he responded. 10. Iconic Star is another that has caught the eye at the trials and Kris Lees kicking the Brazen Beau fillys career off in town suggests the stable rate her highly. 1. Hightail was friendless on debut at Kembla for the Snowdens but despite being $6.50 out to $9.50, proved a strong winner.
How to play it: Yitai Synergy WIN.
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There are nine races for punters at Royal Randwick today.Credit:AAP
Race 2 – 1:40PM TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
5. Risk And Reward was posted wide throughout first up in a Highway Handicap behind talented speedster Sei Stella. The four-year-old knocked up to run sixth but he can bounce back from that. Drawn 2, hell have the luxury of tucking in behind the leaders this time. He could even lead this field himself. There are options there that he didnt have first up anways. This geldings last five runs have all been in Highways and although he is yet to crack one, a couple of placings along the way suggests his time will come. Jockey Jason Collett knows the horse well now too, having ridden him in his last four outings for trainer Terry Robinson.
Dangers: 13. Andys A Star is still learning his trade but there is plenty of raw talent for Cameron Crockett to work with. He never looked likely at Mudgee last start until the final 100m when the afterburners kicked in and he surged to grab an unlikely second. The wide draw ensures hell be giving away an almighty start here though. His stablemate 2. Ori On Fire felt the pinch late at Mudgee first up after being heavily supported. Hell come on from that and can improve sharply. Its a similar case for the free rolling 11. Miss Fisher. She led and tired first up. Could nab a place.
How to play it: Risk And Reward EACH WAY.
Race 3 – 2:15PM EVENTS BY ATC HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
There is no natural leader in this which will likely see 8. Bondi go straight to the front. The three-year-old hit the line hard at Wyong first up behind Problem Solver in the Magic Millions feature, running straight past Invincible Star. With 53.5kg on Bondis back, Id imagine that Corey Brown will be keen to maximise that weight advantage by riding him aggressively early to take control. Throughout his two-year-old career he showed does possess the speed to make the running. His record of one win from nine starts doesnt really do his talent justice but this is the perfect race for him to start adding to his win tally.
Dangers: 6. Onslaught returned to form at Rosehill last start chasing home Irithea and Smartedge to run third. The five-year-old is the other likely leader in this field, so hell get every chance. 3. Sweet Deal has won two on the trot and the latest of those was zipping home off a gentle tempo so that bodes well for her chances here. Punters Intelligence reveals her 1400m race was the slowest run of the day over the early stages. 2. Redouble is humming but just doesnt win often enough.
How to play it: Bondi WIN.
Race 4 – 2:55PM VALE JOHN MARSHALL (1400 METRES)
3. Mister Songman is the banker of the day at Randwick. He should be winning this comfortably. The two runs in Sydney from this ex-Tassie galloper have been outstanding over 1100m. The four-year-old is desperate for 1400m and gets that here. Last start he was left flatfooted staying at 1100m second up but Punters Intelligence reveals he surged again running his last 200m in 11.60s to finish third to Deprive. Prior to that it was Kapajack that collared him on the line. There are plenty more wins for this son of Your Song as he moves through the grades. Blinkers go on for the first time here too. Supremely confident hell make it win number five.
Dangers: 1. Generalissimo comes out of harder races than this. He never looked likely behind Irithea last time out but he wasnt beaten far and that form will stack up here. Trainer Garry White has whacked the blinkers on for the first time to spark up the five-year-old, having been a long time between drinks. 9. Fuchu brings winning form here having won two on the bounce at the provincials. Suspect hell measure up to this level but cant see him troubling the favourite. Cant see any of them troubling the favourite to be honest though.
How to play it: Mister Songman WIN.
Race 5 – 3:35PM HYLAND BOXING DAY SALE HANDICAP (1800 METRES)
There is no speed in this race at all so advantage 2. Turnberry. What you see is what you get with this determined four-year-old. He found the right race to win at 1400m first up before being run down by Napoleon Solo at Rosehill and then collared by Reflectivity last start, again at Rosehill. In that latest run he held a slight margin over 3. Asterius but there was nothing between them. Theres a very minor 0.5kg swing in favour of Asterius here. As mentioned at the top, its the on pace favours that Turnberry looks sure to get that give him a huge edge. He is tough, fit and as honest as the day is long. Dont think he is a genuine stayer but 1800m will be fine.
Dangers: 12. Naia ran on behind Turnberry and Asterius in that same race last start with Punters Intelligence revealing her last 600m of 34.13s was the quickest in the race. She can settle a pair or two closer from the better draw here. Asterius looks desperate for this trip but wary given hell be out the back and needs time to click through his gears. Hugh Bowman will need to be at his absolute best. Another win isnt far away for 8. So You Win while 9. Zip A Dee Doo Dah will come into his own over this trip. Dont let him slip under your guard at double figure odds. He can win.
How to play it: Turnberry WIN and Zip A Dee Doo Dah WIN.
Race 6 – 4:15PM CHRISTMAS CLASSIC (1200 METRES)
Tactics will be crucial here on 1. Alizee. Its another race devoid of pressure. Alizee is a versatile mare and could settle just as comfortably outside of the leader as she would out the back. The likely leader here is 2. Fell Swoop and if he is handed the race to him from the front, he wont be easy to peg back. Weve seen enough of Alizee to know how she trends. The tank of a mare, weighing in at some 600kg, sprints well fresh before flattening off at her second and third runs before fourth and fifth up she peaks. The dual Group One winning four-year-old resumes from a bleed but her trials have been brilliant.
Dangers: Fell Swoop broke a long drought in the Razor Sharp last start but Punters Intelligence points to it being a win that is easy to poke a few holes in. Mainly it was run in slower overall time than Star Reflections 1200m race. Yes, the track had copped some rain in between races but Fell Swoop went deceptively quick in the early stages so was entitled to run faster when beating underperforming favourite Cradle Mountain. Still, we know his class and it might be the win that sparks the seven-year-old into rediscovering that TJ Smith form. 8. Problem Solver next best but should be getting more weight off Alizee.
How to play it: Alizee WIN.
Race 7 – 4:55PM TAB REWARDS HANDICAP (1600 METRES)
8. Reflectivity did an outstanding job to win last start, overcoming a bungled start. It was a calm ride from Brock Ryan, who maintains the ride, as he punched up to settle third in the run. Despite using that extra early gas the four-year-old kept finding to get past Turnberry and hold off Asterius out wider. Punters Intelligence reveals that he ran his last 200m in 11.88s, which ranked third. Not bad going given the way the race panned out. Without the same drama this week, expect a clean getaway which will see him camped outside of 10. Arraignment. Reflectivity is beautifully placed here with 50.5kg by Team Hawkes and now he has found winning form, expect him to hold it.
Dangers: 2. Sir Plush is a horse that thrives on racing and more specifically, quick back ups. Its worked plenty of times with him in the past. Be very forgiving when assessing his failure at Warwick Farm last week on a wet track. The son of Pins is much more dynamic on top of the ground. 3. Tip Top is a galloper Im loath to overlook again having beaten Organza last start. He has won three of his past six and all of those defeats were in unsuitably run races. He has never gone better. 7. Gresham will be thereabouts again but thats just him. Hard to back with any confidence.
How to play it: Reflectivity WIN.
Race 8 – 5:35PM AUSTRALIAN TURF CLUB HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
4. Deprive finally delivered on the promise we all knew he had last start with Punters Intelligence highlighting that the four-year-old clocked the fastest last 600m split of the entire day (33.76s). Well know where the form out of the race stands come this race too, with Military Zone running at Gosford on Friday and Mister Songman going around at short odds in an earlier race at Randwick. There should be enough pace out in front for Hugh Bowman to ride a very similar race to the one he rode last time out. With three wins from six starts, we still havent seen the best of this Godolphin sprinter yet.
Dangers: 5. Kapajack looked very new at Warwick Farm last week, failing to back up his big debut win at Rosehill which saw him run the quickest last 200m split of the entire day at 11.05s (Punters Intelligence). The wet track was blamed. This horse is making Team Hawkes do things you dont often see from the stable. First off debuting in a BM78 and now backing up at just start three. 5. Junglized has been given three weeks to get over a brutal first up fourth. He was brave to finish where he did given the tempo.
How to play it: Deprive WIN.
Race 9 – 6:15PM SUMMER RACING HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
Dont let the strike rate of 1. Savvan put you off, she is a mare ready to win again. The five-year-old has won three from 23 but her first up run behind Star Reflection and Seasons was a beauty. Despite having to make a wide, sustained run she was still working to the line with Punters Intelligence revealing a last 200m of 12.13s, only bettered by the winner Star Reflection (12.10s). Shell come on from that with a second up record that reads 4:1-2-1. Being the highest rated runner in this BM78, shell carry 59.5kg but she looks to have this lot covered. Especially drawn 1, which should see Christian Reith punch up to be in the first four in running.
Dangers: 3. Charlayne worked home fairly first up at Randwick in the same race as Savvan. She is better than that and will find this easier. The wide draw doesnt do her any favours though, ensuring she gets a long way back. 9. Taniko has returned in good order this time in, winning at Canterbury last start. Suspect this is about her right level which has her somewhere in the mix. 13. Zizzis is an interesting runner up from Melbourne for Patrick Payne. Looks well placed back from Listed company with 52kg after the claim.
How to play it: Savvan WIN.
Supplied by Racing NSW.
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au.
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