What | Randwick Races |
Where | Royal Randwick Racecourse – Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031 |
When | Saturday, December 24, 2022 |
First Race | 12:20pm AEDT |
Visit Ladbrokes |
Racing heads back to Royal Randwick Racecourse on Saturday afternoon for a competitive 10-race program. There are some nice types returning to the track this weekend with the two-year-olds set to prepare for a tilt for the Magic Millions races up at the Gold Coast in January. The rail has moved out +9m for the entire circuit and we currently sit on a Soft 5 surface heading into Saturday; however, we’ve got some drying weather on the way, so we could see an upgrade into the Good range for the meeting. The first race is scheduled for 12:20pm AEDT.
Best Bet: Sunshine In Paris
We have to wait for scratchings for our best bet of the afternoon as Sunshine In Paris is the first emergency in race eight; however, if she finds her way into this field, she looks very hard to beat. Her two starts this preparation have been impressive to the eye and on the clock. Her last-start effort behind Stroll at Doomben was nothing short of sensational, as she was back and squeezing between runners before finding daylight late only go down a half-length on December 3. Now she is set to race against the older horses in a BM78 over 1200m; hence we get in with just 52kg, then take two more off for the claim of gun apprentice Zac Lloyd. So if Sunshine In Paris does get a run in this field, she’s only going to carry 50kg, and from barrier 10 they’ll be looking to go back in running before unleashing down the middle of the track.
Best Bet
Race 8 – #14 Sunshine In Paris (10)
3yo Filly | T: Annabel Neasham | J: Zac Lloyd (a2)(52kg)
$2.50 with Bet365
Next Best: Green Shadows
The penultimate race on the program sees Green Shadow gets another chance after running in behind the very progressive Kovalica at Warwick Farm on November 23. He was beaten a lip on that occasion, and it seems he ran into a very smart horse who looks an early favourite for the Queensland Derby, so we’re happy to be a little more forgiving of his performance. He’s had a terrific barrier trial since that effort, so now, coming to this BM78 contest over the 1400m, he looks fresh and finds himself at the rock bottom of the weights with just 51kg on his back after the Tyler Schiller claim. While it’s been a long time between drinks for this son of Menari, we think the Ryan & Alexiou team have found a nice race for him here, and from barrier seven Green Shadows should get every opportunity to chalk up a win in what has been a luckless campaign.
Next Best
Race 9 – #12 Green Shadows (7)
3yo Colt | T: Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | J: Tyler Schiller (a1.5kg)(52.5kg)
$5 with Neds
Next Best Again: Logan Street Lion
Logan Street Lion is a five-year-old gelding trained out of the Chris Waller camp and races in Sydney for the first time this Saturday after two terrific preparations in Victoria and Queensland. He’s a consistent type with 10 starts for four wins and three minor placings to his name and comes here fourth-up after running some bold races across the border, including his latest effort at Eagle Farm on December 10 when going down a half-length to Irish Playboy. He now steps up in trip to the 1800m and gets the services of the best hoop in the country, James McDonald, so he looks a great chance to get his second win of the preparation in what looks a competitive race. The speed map looks favourable to our guy, who should get the perfect run, and from there we trust McDonald to get Logan Street Lion into clear running to score.
Next Best Again
Race 2 – #3 Logan Street Lion (1)
5yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: James McDonald (59.5kg)
$5 with Bet365
Best Value: Smirk
We’re willing to forgive Smirk on her last-start effort as it was just too bad to be true. While being wide without cover the entire trip last time out, she was very plain in dropping out of the race, yet we’re happy to put a pen through that run. We’re taking her based on her performance behind Zoumon on December 3, where Smirk hit the line well from back in the field to be beaten just 2.6 lengths. Race favourite King Of Clubs comes from that same form and only had a 0.8-length margin on our top selection, so the double-figure quote with online bookmakers makes for an obvious each-way play. Ben Coen should be able to find the one-by-one, and provided he can lob a spot, Smirk should be right around the finish.
Best Value
Race 6 – #2 Smirk (4)
4yo Mare | T: Chris Waller | J: Ben Coen (58.5kg)
$12 with PlayUp
Saturday quaddie picks for Randwick races
Randwick quadrella selections
Saturday, December 24, 2022
- 1-6-10
- 2-4-8-14
- 3-9-11-12
- 1-7-8-11-13
Investment: $240 for 100%
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