Randwick full racing preview & quaddie tips | Saturday, March 9

Race 1: Midway Handicap BM72 (1600m)

A capacity field of 20 are set to kick off proceedings at Randwick in this wide-open BM72 contest, where the David Payne-trained Mahagoni presents at a good each-way price with online bookmakers. The five-year-old gelding held his own against tougher opposition than what he faces this weekend, with his latest effort encouraging in BM88 company when beaten by 1.3 lengths on the wire. He maps well from stall one this time, and although he may need some luck when getting clear in the straight, Mahagoni is worth a throw at the stumps in a field littered with chances.

• 3
  

  MAHAGONI

• 9
  

  CUT ON A DIME

• 2
  

  INVINCIBLE LEGEND

• 4
  

  MOUNTAIN GUEST

Race 2: Group 2 Reisling Stakes (1200m)

The first two-year-old contest is for the girls in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes, where Too Darn Lizzie returns for the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott barn. The daughter of Too Darn Hot was able to rack them and stack them on the Gold Coast in her only start of the campaign, kicking clear to score by 1.5 lengths on the wire. She appears to be the only leader engaged in this field on the speed map, with most of her rivals known to be get-back and run-on types, giving jockey Tim Clark every opportunity to dictate terms up on speed. She appears wound up for this effort based on her two barrier trials in the lead-up, and provided she can check off a cheap sectional or two, Too Darn Lizzie will take plenty of catching.

• 1
  

  TOO DARN LIZZIE

• 6
  

  EXTREME DIVA

• 3
  

  CASTANYA

• 8
  

  SILMARILLION

Race 3: Listed Randwick City Stakes (2000m)

Almania continues to race ultra-consistently and looks set to peak third-up into the campaign. He looked all over a winner in his most recent start in the Listed Parramatta Cup (1900m) at Rosehill on February 24 and was only claimed in the shadows of the post by the impressive returning More Felons. He maps to gain an economical run throughout the 2000m journey on Saturday, and with the Kris Lees campaign having taken their time with this now eight-year-old gelding, the patience could well be rewarded with victory.

• 11
  

  ALMANIA

• 10
  

  CANBERRA LEGEND

• 12
  

  REDSTONE WELL

• 3
  

  BOIS D’ARGENT

Race 4: Listed Fireball Stakes (1100m)

Blanc De Blanc was too bad to be true first-up at Caulfield in the Group 3 Kevin Hayes Stakes (1100m). The daughter of I Am Invincible tailed off a long last 13 lengths away and never travelled throughout the journey. It was a bizarre result considering her two barrier trials leading into that event were outstanding, giving the impression the now three-year-old was going to resume in outstanding order despite being first-up after a 329-day spell. She heads back to her favoured clockwise way of going on Saturday, and as she looks to recapture her best two-year-old form, punters should be happy to take that chance at the price with online bookmakers.

• 6
  

  BLANC DE BLANC

• 1
  

  CORNICHE

• 2
  

  RED RESISTANCE

• 4
  

  KEENAN

Race 5: Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m)

The boys get their chance to step out next in the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m), where undefeated colt Switzerland will be searching for a hat-trick of wins. The Chris Waller-trained galloper continues to improve throughout the campaign, with his latest winning performance a tough effort when sitting outside the leader at this track on February 17. The 1200m should hold no issues for this son of Snitzel based on his two starts to date, and with a favourable speed map to find the one-one from stall four along with leading hoop James McDonald sticking aboard, Switzerland could be on his way to staking claims for the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) later in the autumn.

• 6
  

  SWITZERLAND

• 5
  

  ESPIONAGE

• 3
  

  STRAIGHT CHARGE

• 4
  

  BODYGUARD

Race 6: Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m)

Aft Cabin makes his return for Godolphin after a lengthy 273-day spell and looks to be resuming in terrific order. He has had two jump-outs to get prepared for this event and the James Cummings barns seem to have the son of Astern ready for a first-up assault after a luckless three-year-old campaign. You only need to look at his fourth-place finish in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) to see the class he can possess on his best day, where he was only beaten 1.5 lengths by some of the sprinting stars like Giga Kick and Overpass. Private Eye is undoubtedly a fair favourite in this event, but at the price, it’s worth the gamble Aft Cabin can take down the older horses over 1000m in the Challenge Stakes.

• 4
  

  AFT CABIN

• 1
  

  PRIVATE EYE

• 3
  

  REMARQUE

• 6
  

  PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE

Race 7: Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m)

The Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) has attracted a small but quality field, with Think About It making his return the track, however, it is worth making the case for Espiona. She was enormous on resumption in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) behind Imperatriz and was only getting warm in the last 200m of the Flemington straight on February 17. The Chris Waller barn had her dual accepted for the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) in Melbourne as well, but with the team confirming she is on the float back to Sydney shows strong intent from the stable to take on the short-priced commodity. She has a glowing second-up record, and with a soft run from barrier two under James McDonald, Espiona should get every chance for an upset.

• 6
  

  ESPIONA

• 1
  

  THINK ABOUT IT

• 2
  

  PERICLES

• 7
  

  LADY LAGUNA

Race 8: Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m)

The three-year-olds take centre stage in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) and has drawn a quality 11-horse field to fight it out for the $1 million prize. The Chris Waller-trained Militarize holds the call currently at $2.30 after an impressive first-up display in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) against the older horses, while the Les Bridge-trained Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) winner Celestial Legend is right behind him on the second line of betting at $4. Nine of the 11 runners engaged come through the Hobartville, so can his rivals turn the tables?

Click here for our full preview of the 2024 Randwick Guineas

Race 9: Group 3 Aspiration Quality (1600m)

Osmose gets set to kick-off her autumn charge in the Group 3 Aspiration Quality (1600m) and looks perfectly placed by the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott barn. The daughter of Zoffany was just outmatched at the end of last preparation behind Deny Knowledge in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) during the spring and was subsequently sent to the paddock. Her latest piece of work at Randwick on February 22 caught the eye when coasting through the wire under her own steam, and with an element of class on her side, watch for Tim Clark to ping the lids and attempt making every post a winner in this one.

• 3
  

  OSMOSE

• 1
  

  THALASSOPHILE

• 4
  

  LEKVARTE

• 15
  

  BLACKCOMB

Race 10: Group 3 Weona Girl Quality (1200m)

The program finishes with the Group 3 Weona Girl Quaity (1200m), where the Grahame Begg-trained C’est Magique gets her chance to repay the faith. She has been a costly commodity for backers with only one win across 10 career starts, however, she does bring some quality form to this event. Her first-up effort behind the likes of Semana and Olentia in the Group 3 Triscay Stakes (1200m) reads well for a race like this, and with a lovely run expected form gate two, C’est Magique can make her way into the winners’ enclosure for the second time in her career.

• 3
  

  C’EST MAGIQUE
  

• 5
  

  CALL DI

• 15
  

  RAINBIEL

• 1
  

  QUEEN OF THE BALL