Randwick race-by-race preview & best bets | Saturday, March 8

Race 1: BM72 Midway Handicap (1600m)

Hell’s Itch gets the nod in the opening event and represents good each-way value with horse racing bookmakers. The son of Hellbent was tradesman like through the line behind Rush Attack at Rosehill on February 22, with the five-year-old doing his best work in the final furlong. Gate one should allow Alysha Collett to take closer order, and with this guy’s best form usually coming third-up in the campaign, watch for Hell’s Itch to be rattling home at the big odds.

• 8
  

  HELL’S ITCH

• 12
  

  BERNEN WIN

• 7
  

  POCKETING

• 4
  

  RUSH ATTACK

Race 2: Listed Fireball Stakes (1100m)

The James Cummings-trained Zeitung is one of the better bets on the Randwick card as she returns from a 112-day spell. She was around the mark in all the three-year-old filly features in the spring, most notably taking out the Group 3 Vanity (1400m) at Flemington on November 2. She’s trialled like a bomb heading into this first-up target, and with the daughter of Exceed And Excel likely to have no issues with the sting out of the ground, watch for Zeitung to be flashing late at a good price with BlondeBet.

• 3
  

  ZEITUNG

• 1
  

  PERSPIRATION

• 5
  

  ENRICHED

• 4
  

  YOSHINOBU

Race 3: Group 2 Reisling Stakes (1200m)

Temtped returns to Sydney after a luckless outing in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 22. The daughter of Street Boss had zero luck throughout the journey, only seeing daylight in the final 200m when it was all over. Expect James McDonald to drag back towards the rear of the field in search of cover from barrier 11, however, with this impressive filly set to get the last crack at her rivals, Tempted may simply prove too classy for the girls in this year’s edition of the Group 2 Reisling Stakes (1200m).

• 3
  

  TEMPTED

• 2
  

  INKARUNA

• 5
  

  WISNIERSKA

• 7
  

  TUPAKARA

Race 4: Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m)

It’s the boys turn to step out in the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m), where the Chris Waller-trained Wodeton goes in search of redemption after suffering a 2.4-legnth defeat in the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on February 22. The Wootton Bassett colt had plenty of excuses on that occasion, sitting back and wide throughout the journey, and still had the audacity to lengthen in the concluding stages. Expect James McDonald to land near the one-one from gate five, and provided he can reproduce his debut peak, Wodeton should justify the short price with Picklebet.

• 5
  

  WODETON

• 6
  

  ALEPPO PINE

• 3
  

  TYCOON STAR

• 1
  

  NORTH ENGLAND

Race 5: Group 3 Aspiration Quality (1600m)

Mare Of Mt Buller got a pass mark returning at this course and distance on February 8, hitting the line well behind the in-form Point And Shoot. The effort had plenty of merit returning from a 119-day spell, with the daughter of Dundeel forced to lug top weight in BM78 company. This contest is much tougher on paper; however, with the sting out of the ground and 54kg on her back, Mare Of Mt Buller fits in nicely and appears to be a live chance in this year’s Group 3 Aspiration Quality (1600m).

• 3
  

  MARE OF MT BULLER

• 7
  

  IT’S A KNOCKOUT

• 1
  

  HINGED

• 5
  

  WINGS OF DESIRE

Race 6: Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m)

Kimochi returns after claiming the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) in the spring, and although the 1000m may be short of her best trip, she must be considered one of the major chances in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m). She has never missed the frame first-up across five starts and impressed when saluting fresh in the Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1100m) on August 24. She maps to get a stalking run from barrier five, and with her key rivals lacking consistency, Kimochi gets the verdict in the Challenge Stakes.

• 10
  

  KIMOCHI

• 3
  

  KALLOS

• 1
  

  MAZU

• 8
  

  GIVEMETHEBEATBOYS

Race 7: Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m)

The three-year-olds take centre stage in the $1 million Randwick Guineas, where it’s all one-way traffic in betting for the Godolphin colt Broadsiding. The Hobartville winner is all the rage at $1.60, while Swiftfalcon ($4.00) is the best back runner to turn the tables. Can Broadsiding justify the short quote? Or is there an upset brewing in the 2025 Randwick Guineas.

Click here for our full preview of the 2025 Randwick Guineas

Race 8: Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m)

Stefi Magnetica couldn’t have been more impressive last preparation despite failing to record a victory across her four starts. She was luckless in the Golden Eagle (1500m) before taking on the older horses in the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington on November 9, matching motors with the best middle distance horses Australia has to offer. She returns on the back of two smart barrier trials, and although the 1300m could prove testing first-up from a spell, the $8.00 available with Neds for Stefi Magnetica is too big to ignore in the 2025 Canterbury Stakes.

• 11
  

  STEFI MAGNETICA

• 9
  

  SUNSHINE IN PARIS

• 1
  

  CEOLWULF

• 12
  

  SWITZERLAND

Race 9: Listed Randwick City Stakes (2000m)

There’s a sense of timing about Kinesiology third-up into the campaign after a much-improved effort at Rosehill on February 22. The European import was doing his best work late after checking off heels at a crucial stage, with the lightly raced four-year-old slowly starting to extend in the final furlong. The extra 100m should be ideal, and provided Zac Lloyd can navigate a spot from stall 14, Kinesiology will prove hard to hold out in the Randwick City Stakes.

• 14
  

  KINESIOLOGY

• 17
  

  ALALCANCE

• 7
  

  ZECHARIAH

• 2
  

  ATHABASCAN

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

Clear Thinking produced a gallant runner-up effort at this course and distance in the Group 3 Triscay Stakes (1200m) on February 15 and is unfortunate not to remain undefeated. The Dubawi mare circled the entire field on that occasion and lost no admirers as she rounded them all up bar Inhibitions, with barrier nine of nine proving costly. Zac Lloyd will attempt to find a mid-field position with cover this time around, and provided the breaks fall her way, the $5.00 about Clear Thinking in the Group 3 Wenona Girl Quality (1200m) is a cracking bet to end proceedings on Randwick Guineas Day.

• 10
  

  CLEAR THINKING

• 4
  

  COMMEMORATIVE

• 2
  

  ARCTIC GLAMOUR

• 13
  

  OUTBACK MISS