Australia Racing Preview for 3/14/2014
Big Saturday at Royal Randwick! Seven graded stakes races highlighted by the two grade 1’s. The $500,000 GUINNESS CANTERBURY STAKES and the $600,000 ROYAL RANDWICK GUINEAS! Both will be fantastic races and let’s make sure we are right in the finish!
RANDWICK – AUS A
RACE 2 – GRADE 2 LES JOHNSON MEMORIAL SWEET EMBRACE STAKES 1200m of $175000 (AUS)
Another G2, this one for the fillies. Inclined to give TWIRL another chance. Thrashed Valentia on debut and then has run into a classy filly in Mossfun at Rosehill. Also from that race Ygritte which has run very well in defeat at Flemington last Saturday, and Alpha Miss which won at Rosehill, so that looks the right formline to me. TAWTEEN won so impressively last start that she is entitled to come up here and have a crack. PRESS REPORT also has that Mossfun form and beat a bunch of quite highly rated males home last start.
SELECTIONS – TWIRL / TAWTEEN / PRESS REPORT
RACE 4 – GRADE 3 THE IRISH ECHO ASPIRATION QUALITY 1600m of $150000 (AUS)
Cannot say that I have a lot of confidence for this one but I have ended up on LUCKY LAGO. A 3rd to Red Tracer reads as good enough. Lone filly FOREVER LOVED is out to 1600m and the very likely leader. Temptation is strong to prove I am the forgiving type here by tipping ANY DAY WILL DO again. On evidence of last week fancy conditions the key for her. Her finish was on the plain side 7 days ago that's for sure but why would she present here on the one week turnaround if Guy Walter didn't have faith. Can also make a case for EXPRESS POWER as well.
SELECTIONS – LUCKY LAGO / FOREVER LOVED / EXPRESS POWER
RACE 5 – GRADE 2 CHALLENGE STAKES 1000m of $400000 (AUS)
SNITZERLAND's nose defeat to Lankan Rupee before the break is looking better and better by the fortnight and her return win was everything you wanted to see. Her Sydney form is rock-solid (she ran a track record when winning this race last year at Warwick Farm) only little query is that this is her first go around Randwick. BUFFERING also worthy of full respect. BEL SPRINTER is returning to a distance he is yet to be beaten at so he deserves a little consideration in my book.
SELECTIONS – SNITZERLAND / BUFFERING / BEL SPRINTER
RACE 6 – GRADE 3 ROY HIGGINS TRIBUTE QUALITY 1200m of $150000 (AUS)
A TIME FOR JULIA could either press to find a prominent spot or take a sit further back. Her form from two runs this time in reads very well for something like this. No Red Tracer today either. I'd buy into DRIEFONTEIN if track was good so let’s see how it comes up. LILLIBURLERO is the other who catches my eye, she held on well first up and the second up form is good.
SELECTIONS – A TIME FOR JULIA / LILLIBURLERO / DRIEFONTEIN
RACE 7 – GRADE 1 ROYAL RANDWICK GUINEAS 1600m of $600000 (AUS)
ATLANTE had no right to fight on as well as he did behind DISSIDENT. He was clearly uncomfortable a long way from home on the soft ground and a drier track here would be all he needs to prove his quality. Something like a 4 rating would be ideal, 3 all the better. CRITERION has the advantage of having a 1600m already under the belt and the fact it was very good one at G1 level only endorses him.
SELECTIONS – ATLANTE / DISSIDENT / CRITERION
RACE 8 – GRADE 1 GUINNESS CANTERBURY STAKES 1300m of $500000 (AUS)
Fair line-up despite no Gai in a G1 on her home track. Walter/Waller with 7 of the 10. Fair to suggest RAIN AFFAIR will lead. His 11L trial win looked pretty good but today is match day and he'll very likely get swamped here. I'm a huge fan of APPEARANCE and didn't possibly think I could tip against her 3rd-up but plans did change for her after her latest start and she ends up coming back slightly in trip. RED TRACER stays at 1300m and her record for Rawiller is more than formidable (8 wins and a close 2nd from 9). She's beaten Appearance just twice from 6 meetings but reckon today's her day.
SELECTIONS – RED TRACER / APPEARANCE / RAIN AFFAIR
RANDWICK – AUS A
RACE 2 – GRADE 2 LES JOHNSON MEMORIAL SWEET EMBRACE STAKES 1200m of $175000 (AUS)
Another G2, this one for the fillies. Inclined to give TWIRL another chance. Thrashed Valentia on debut and then has run into a classy filly in Mossfun at Rosehill. Also from that race Ygritte which has run very well in defeat at Flemington last Saturday, and Alpha Miss which won at Rosehill, so that looks the right formline to me. TAWTEEN won so impressively last start that she is entitled to come up here and have a crack. PRESS REPORT also has that Mossfun form and beat a bunch of quite highly rated males home last start.
SELECTIONS – TWIRL / TAWTEEN / PRESS REPORT
RACE 4 – GRADE 3 THE IRISH ECHO ASPIRATION QUALITY 1600m of $150000 (AUS)
Cannot say that I have a lot of confidence for this one but I have ended up on LUCKY LAGO. A 3rd to Red Tracer reads as good enough. Lone filly FOREVER LOVED is out to 1600m and the very likely leader. Temptation is strong to prove I am the forgiving type here by tipping ANY DAY WILL DO again. On evidence of last week fancy conditions the key for her. Her finish was on the plain side 7 days ago that's for sure but why would she present here on the one week turnaround if Guy Walter didn't have faith. Can also make a case for EXPRESS POWER as well.
SELECTIONS – LUCKY LAGO / FOREVER LOVED / EXPRESS POWER
RACE 5 – GRADE 2 CHALLENGE STAKES 1000m of $400000 (AUS)
SNITZERLAND's nose defeat to Lankan Rupee before the break is looking better and better by the fortnight and her return win was everything you wanted to see. Her Sydney form is rock-solid (she ran a track record when winning this race last year at Warwick Farm) only little query is that this is her first go around Randwick. BUFFERING also worthy of full respect. BEL SPRINTER is returning to a distance he is yet to be beaten at so he deserves a little consideration in my book.
SELECTIONS – SNITZERLAND / BUFFERING / BEL SPRINTER
RACE 6 – GRADE 3 ROY HIGGINS TRIBUTE QUALITY 1200m of $150000 (AUS)
A TIME FOR JULIA could either press to find a prominent spot or take a sit further back. Her form from two runs this time in reads very well for something like this. No Red Tracer today either. I'd buy into DRIEFONTEIN if track was good so let’s see how it comes up. LILLIBURLERO is the other who catches my eye, she held on well first up and the second up form is good.
SELECTIONS – A TIME FOR JULIA / LILLIBURLERO / DRIEFONTEIN
RACE 7 – GRADE 1 ROYAL RANDWICK GUINEAS 1600m of $600000 (AUS)
ATLANTE had no right to fight on as well as he did behind DISSIDENT. He was clearly uncomfortable a long way from home on the soft ground and a drier track here would be all he needs to prove his quality. Something like a 4 rating would be ideal, 3 all the better. CRITERION has the advantage of having a 1600m already under the belt and the fact it was very good one at G1 level only endorses him.
SELECTIONS – ATLANTE / DISSIDENT / CRITERION
RACE 8 – GRADE 1 GUINNESS CANTERBURY STAKES 1300m of $500000 (AUS)
Fair line-up despite no Gai in a G1 on her home track. Walter/Waller with 7 of the 10. Fair to suggest RAIN AFFAIR will lead. His 11L trial win looked pretty good but today is match day and he'll very likely get swamped here. I'm a huge fan of APPEARANCE and didn't possibly think I could tip against her 3rd-up but plans did change for her after her latest start and she ends up coming back slightly in trip. RED TRACER stays at 1300m and her record for Rawiller is more than formidable (8 wins and a close 2nd from 9). She's beaten Appearance just twice from 6 meetings but reckon today's her day.
SELECTIONS – RED TRACER / APPEARANCE / RAIN AFFAIR
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