| What | Randwick Races |
| Where | Royal Randwick Racecourse – Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031 |
| When | Monday, December 26, 2022 |
| First Race | 1:35pm AEDT |
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Boxing Day racing heads to Royal Randwick Racecourse on Monday afternoon for an eight-race program to follow up on there Christmas Eve meeting from Saturday. The Group 3 Summer Cup (2000m) is the feature race on the program with $200,000 worth of prizemoney on offer and we’ve got a strong field of 14 set to line up for this Boxing Day clash. The rail moves back to the true position as we should be racing on a fair Good 4 surface for what looks a competitive card of racing. The first race is set to get us underway from 1:35pm AEDT.
Summer Cup Best Bet: Sky Lab
The $200,000 feature over the 2000m looks a tricky one to dissect with a few form-lines converging for this Group 3 contest, however, we’re happy to be with the top bookmakers on Sky Lab. He’s now fourth up in the preparation after three solid efforts and looks to be peaking for trainer Paul Perry come Monday afternoon. Sky Lab’s run in the Group 2 Ingham Stakes on December 10 was more than satisfactory to say he’s come here in good enough form to be finding the winners enclosure for the first time since February as he was storming home from way too far back in that massive field to go down by 1.2 lengths. The 2000m looks no issue for this son of Real Impact and only gets 1kg from that effort which to us looks the best form in the race stepping up in trip. We get in form apprentice Zac Lloyd on board which can only be a positive and despite the fact he can’t claim in this race, he’s drawn beautifully to get a box-seat run from barrier five, so we expect a perfectly timed effort to see this five-year-old secure a win this preparation on Monday afternoon.
Best Bet
Race 6 – 
#2 Sky Lab (3)
5yo Gelding | T: Paul Perry | J: Zac Lloyd (a0)(56.5kg)
$5 with Bet365
Randwick Best Bet: Royal Merchant
The first leg of the Quaddie is where you’ll find our best bet and we’re very excited by the prospect of the Maher and Eustace-trained filly Royal Merchant. She’s had two starts for two wins this preparation and in both races dominated her opposition, including her last start win at Randwick (Kensington) on December 2 where she had no right to win from her position in running, after traveling wide throughout proceedings and the eventual runner-up King Of Naples pinching a break turning for home, Royal Merchant looked as though she’d run out of time over the 1250m but proved too strong in the concluding stages. Now she looks to the 1400m, and the stable have found another nice task for this daughter of Merchant Navy at BM72 level for the fillies and mares. Jason Collett rides and is looking for three on the trot for Royal Merchant and we think if they elect to run here as opposed to Gosford (as she’s dual accepted) she only needs luck mid-race to be winning again here.
Best Bet
Race 5 – 
#2 Royal Merchant (6)
3yo Filly | T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | J: Jason Collett (58.5kg)
$2.05 with Palmerbet
Randwick Next Best: Maritima
Another daughter of Merchant Navy has caught our eye as our next best bet is in the first race at Randwick with Maritima. This Chris Waller-trained three-year-old is still a maiden but looks very close to win here as she steps up to the 1600m after two forgive runs over the 1550m at Canterbury. Her last start effort behind stablemate Super Chilled on December 16 was terrific after missing the start and weaving between runners late to find the minor money in a 2-length defeat. She does seem to be making a habit of missing the kick, which is a minor concern here, but with Jason Collett on board in what looks a moderate maiden on paper, she should only need to be jumping on even terms and slotting in behind the leaders to be right in the finish here.
Next Best
Race 1 – 
#11 Maritima (4)
3yo Filly | T: Chris Waller | J: Jason Collett (55.5kg)
$2.70 with Neds
Best Value Bet: First Light
First Light returns for the Chris Waller team on Monday afternoon and looks a terrific each-way play with Bet365. This European import is first-up for his second campaign for connections after a slightly disappointing first stint here in Australia with his best performance coming on August 27 at Rosehill running into second behind stablemate Born A King at BM78 level. We think there’s some intent here from the Waller yard bringing this four-year-old back from a spell, on the back of two barrier trials and a good to firm surface expected for Monday, which this gelding never saw last preparation, we think this is set play by the stable to get a win early in the preparation under the radar of punters. His trials were strong to the eye and with conditions looking to suit on Monday afternoon, we’re willing to a take a risk on this son of Dubawi, even if we are a start or two early in the preparation. Ben Melham takes the reins and should find a lovely run-in transit, and if we’re right we should get a run for our money with First Light.
Next Best
Race 7 – 
#2 First Light (2)
4yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: Ben Melham (60.5kg)
$8 with Bet365
Monday quaddie picks for Randwick races
Randwick quadrella selections
Monday, December 26, 2022
- 2-6
- 1-2-5-6
- 1-2-9-11
- 3-5-7-15-16-17-20
Investment: $224 for 100%
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