We head to Royal Randwick this Saturday for the running of the first Group 1 of the 2025/2026 racing season, the $1,000,000 Winx Stakes. With the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes also featuring, and a host of stars resuming, all roads lead to the eastern suburbs of old Sydney town! Around the grounds, Moonee Valley host a competitive and tricky meeting. Did someone say spring racing?
Royal Randwick Race 6
#4 Agarwood
Agarwood resumes with an air of expectation surrounding her. The Wootton Bassett filly oozes class, and she remains undefeated to date. Both victories during the autumn were first-class, and she looks ultra-progressive. The step up in class won’t pose any problems, and her versatility is well beyond her age and limited racing experience. Recent barrier trials put the writing on the wall for a fruitful spring campaign, and I suspect it will pay dividends to follow her moving forward, regardless of the result on Saturday.
Within The Law looks the logical danger to the short-priced commodity. The Lucky Vega filly doesn’t know how to run a bad race, and she has performed well at the top level most of her career. The talented three-year-old looked the winner in the Group 1 Champagne during the autumn, and it took a very smart galloper to grab her in the shadows. I’d prefer to support her case over further and deeper into her campaign.
Suggested Bet: Agarwood @ $2.60
Royal Randwick Race 7
#4 Autumn Glow
Autumn Glow is a beauty! The Autumn Sun mare has turned heads at each career start, and I suspect she will be a Group 1 winner before the conclusion of the spring. Her recent jump-outs scorched the turf, and if she is fully fit for her first-up mission, I expect her to put the opposition to the sword. Her history of setbacks and injuries are the primary concern.
Manaal is racing better than it suggests in the bible. The Tassort mare resumes after a luckless autumn campaign, and her best performance here would see her figure in the finish. The inside draw will allow her to camp on the leaders’ back, and if she sees clear air before they climb the famous Randwick rise, she can loom to win! I suspect a change in fortune would be a welcome sight for her camp.
Suggested Bet: Autumn Glow @ $2.00
#9 Via Sistina
Via Sistina is world-class. Her victory in the W.S. Cox plate was a performance for the ages, and I suspect she is on target to defend her title. The 2024-2025 Horse of the Year always runs well fresh, and she loves Randwick more than Gai Waterhouse. I expect her to remain undefeated during the campaign, and I am looking forward to seeing her finish her career with a romp in the weight-for-age championships of Australasia. Too classy to pot wherever she goes!
War Eternal is over the odds. The Pierro gelding was a brilliant last-start winner on a bottomless track, and I suspect he can catch out several ‘A graders’ resuming on the quick back-up. The consistent seven-year-old will again find his ideal wet conditions, and I suspect he is rock-hard fit after a lengthy and successful preparation. The significant step up in grade is his biggest challenge.
Suggested Bet: Via Sistina @ $3.00
royal randwick Race 9
#1 Yellow Brick
Yellow Brick arrives in a very wet Sydney after producing a stunning performance in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap. However, he was no match for the progressive winner; he savaged the line from another suburb to finish a gallant second. The pool-like conditions will suit the flashy six-year-old, and his record over 1200m is too consistent to dismiss. A string of recent barrier trials caught the eyes of punters, and he has been well supported since fields were finalised. He represents great each way value as the class runner of the field.
Corniche was good without winning fresh for his new stable. The ex-Cummings runner will appreciate the step out in trip and traditionally performs well second-up. The Fastnet Rock gelding is a six-furlong specialist, and he is a genuine swimmer. The 54kg is luxurious, and I suspect his quote will continue to shorten before the barriers open. The class rise is the primary concern.
Suggested Bet: Yellow Brick @ $7.50
The Valley Race 6
#3 Reset The Jazz
Reset The Jazz is racing well at present. The Reset gelding has won two of his previous three outings and meets the usual suspects here. His record at the trip must be respected, and he recently performed extremely well in his Moonee Valley debut. Barrier four will allow him to occupy the box-seat throughout, and if he sees clear air as they fly pass the school, he will figure in the finish. Hard to toss!
Shoeless is winning for fun at present. The Shooting To Win gelding is chasing a hat-trick of victories and looks well placed in this company. The form has stood up around him time and again, and I suspect he has the fitness edge on the majority of his rivals after a producing a career best campaign. He will be there when the whips are cracking.
Suggested Bet: Reset The Jazz @ $6.00
The Valley Race 7
#1 Baraqiel
Mornington Glory was ok without threatening first-up from a spell. The Shalaa gelding finds his pet track and trip, and he looks the likely leader on paper. The big boy was unsighted during the autumn due to a setback, and the Group 1 winner is now entering into the twilight of his career. A valley specialist who will look the winner as they run for the doctor. Take on trust.
Suggested Bet: Baraqiel @ $4.50
