Day 2 of the Championships is this Saturday’s racing highlight at Royal Randwick. With the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Sydney Cup, Queen Of The Turf, and Australian Oaks, the feature events on a massive card, punters will be flocking to the eastern suburbs of old Sydney town! The $1,000,000 Provincial-Midway Championships Final and a host of Group 2 events will also capture the imagination of the expected capacity crowd. In Victoria, Bendigo has its day in the sun with the running of the Listed Bendigo Guineas, Bendigo Gold Bracelet, and Golden Mile.
RANDWICK Race 6
#2 Treasurethe Moment
Treasurethe Moment is an absolute marvel. The flying Alabama Express filly has been dominant all autumn, and she meets similar opposition on Saturday. The step out to 2400m plays in her favour, and the perfect inside draw should give her rivals sleepless nights leading into the event. I expect her to receive the run of the race throughout, and if she sees clear air as they climb the famous ‘Randwick Rise’, it could be another demolition job!
Leica Lucy is the logical danger to the short-priced commodity. The New Zealand-based filly has built a picket fence next to her name, and her best performance here would see her fight out the finish. Barrier one is advantageous, and she looks the likely leader on paper. The James McDonald and Chris Waller factor must be respected, and it may pay dividends to watch for any significant market support. She will be thereabouts.
Suggested Bet: Treasurethe Moment @ $1.70
RANDWICK Race 7
#8 Alalcance
Alalcance is one serious customer. The Mastercraftsman mare has been winning for fun at present, and she thoroughly deserves her shot at Group 1 glory on Saturday. Her versatility is exceptional, and I suspect the 3200m will be ideal at this stage of her campaign. The 52kg is a luxury, and there has been a tsunami of money for her since acceptances. The five-year-old has a big future in Australia, and I suspect she will play a major role in our two cups and a plate during the spring.
Zardozi has been racing well without winning. The Kingman mare has been screaming out for the longer trip since the moon landing, and I suspect she is about to run the race of her career. The talented four-year-old is rock-hard fit, and I expect her to camp close to the speed from a perfect inside draw. She was the winner in the race that stops the nation, and she will figure in the finish with even luck in-transit here.
Suggested Bet: Alalcance @ $2.30
#12 Via Sistina
Arguably the feature race of the Sydney autumn! The W.S. Cox Plate Champion Via Sistina is out for redemption in this particular event after being embarrassed and humbled by the tearaway Pride Of Jenni in the 2024 edition. Since her defeat, the Fastnet Rock mare has become a perennial Group 1 winner, and she has stamped herself as one of the best middle-distance performers on the planet. The freakish seven-year-old obliterated Winx’s Moonee Valley track record during the spring, and she has comfortably taken the crown as Australia’s weight-for-age Queen of the turf! Her record at 2000m is scary, and I expect her to receive the run of the race from a perfect inside draw. She meets similar opposition, and the James McDonald factor will attract plenty of market support. One hoof on the till!
Dubai Honour was ultra-impressive in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes in his return to Australian racing. The well-travelled customer is undefeated in Sydney at the elite level, and he looks the obvious danger to the short-priced commodity. The Pride Of Dubai gelding won this event in a canter in 2023, and he lowered Anamoe’s colours in the process. The consistent seven-year-old is a 2000m specialist, and his jockey Tom Marquand and trainer William Haggas are aiming to win their fourth Queen Eliabeth Stakes in six years. The carpark draw is the primary concern.
Suggested Bet: Via Sistina @ $1.80
RANDWICK Race 9
#1 Fangirl
Fangirl was luckless at her latest outing. The Sebring mare covered more ground than the early settlers throughout, and her supporters headed to the bar after being tossed by the barest of margins. The classy mare defeated the world-class Via Sistina fresh, and her record at the track and distance speaks volumes. Clearly the one to beat, however; her racing pattern and style always requires an element of good fortune.
Atishu was good without threatening in the Group 1 Australian Cup. The Savabeel mare savaged the line late from a different suburb, and I suspect she entered most punters’ little black book. She loomed to win before dying on her long-sustained run inside the final furlong, and she strips fitter as a result of her eye-catching performance. The rising eight-year-old is ideally placed under the weight-for-age scale against the fillies and mares, and her record at the distances must be respected. Hard to toss!
Suggested Bet: Fangirl @ $2.00
bENDIGO Race 7
#2 Extratwo
Extratwo hit the line nicely in a hot-form race at Moonee Valley. The step out to 1400m is advantageous, and I suspect she is about to peak and explode on Saturday. The Toronado mare is a rock-hard fit, and I expect her to occupy the box seat from a perfect inside draw. The consistent five-year-old has performed well at the track and looks well-placed in this company. Each-way all day!
Zloties was an impressive last-start winner at Sandown. The Snitzel mare will be suited by the longer trip, and I suspect she has more upside and progression than the majority of the field. The exciting five-year-old has an electric turn of foot, and there is a huge engine under her bonnet. I am unsure the tight turning Bendigo circuit will suit her racing pattern and style.
Suggested Bet: Extratwo @ $10.00
BENDIGO Race 8
#7 Somewhere
Somewhere impressed punters during his debut preparation. The Puissance De Lune gelding has plenty of upside, and his recent barrier trials were ominous. Resuming over the seven-furlong trip is advantageous, and John Allen has already built a good relationship with the enigmatic three-year-old. From barrier three he will sit on the leaders’ heels, and if he can get off the dulex as they run for the doctor, he will loom to win.
Wonder Boy is knocking on the door. The Cosmic Force gelding has been racing well against quality opposition, and I suspect his next victory is just around the corner. The big boy will appreciate the significant drop in grade, and the drop back in trip could prove a training masterstroke. He tends to find one or two better at the pointy end of the contest.
Suggested Bet: Somewhere @ $8.00
