Race-by-race preview and tips for Randwick on Saturday

2. Zou Tiger is dying to win a race when he can focus on the job, and the blinkers might turn him on. game in the Randwick Guineas and he’s ended in front of the aft cabin in their last two clashes. The shadows and soft track could even things out on the 1200m return and he has a good chance of beating the favorite. 1. Aft cabin made this race much easier with scratching What You Need. He’s much better suited to returning from the mile in the Randwick Guineas where he never saw a chance to win. If he can repeat his first Eskimo Prince win over Zou Tiger he will be hard to stop.
7. Economy could be the forgotten horse. He was solid in the Fireball first and then thought he was doing well with excuses in the Darby Munro. Both times he was a favorite and now he’s in double figures from a soft draw and he handles any bottom.
How to play it: Zou Tiger towin.

RACE 6 – 2:35 PM THE STAR AUSTRALIAN OAKS (2400m)

1. Pennyweka looks like a lasting guy by any measure and her win at the New Zealand Oaks was so strong. She fitted into the race well after settling in the middle of the pack with plenty of cover, but within seconds of being asked she was clear and staggering into the lead. So the tie probably won’t affect her, she’ll be midfield at best on the run and if she finds a back to go into the race she’ll certainly finish on purpose. 5th Art is the new kid on the block and maybe upcoming fillies have come through the Adrian Knox and been aggressive in an Oaks. She chimed in last week as if the 200m race was just getting started and it’s hard to see something behind her turning the tables.
3. Fire blight was pretty solid in the Vinery after finding herself in the loser on the straight. She made it home in third place and didn’t seem to stop so maybe 2400m isn’t behind her.
How to play it: Pennyweka wins.

RACE 7 – 3:15pm SCHWEPPES SYDNEY CUP (3200m)

14. King Frankel proved with his third in the Tancred that he has a goal to run two miles strong at only 50 kg. The return to handicap conditions is really in his favor and given his racing pattern he should be dozing in the first half or something. It’s wide open, but everything he’s done says he’s going to have a big race. 16. Gin Martini has done well at 3200m, albeit in lesser company, and has returned this autumn a better horse. Dominant against the mares, second after a wide run, missed nearly 700m in the trip last week in the Chairman’s. She should be ready to finish here and has a good chance for both sides. 11. Cleveland had the flash on his local debut at Tankred and gets a big weight loss.

How to play it: King Frankel wins.

RACE 8 – 15:55 LONGINES QUEEN ELIZABETH RODS (2000m)

It’s easy to get carried away with Ranvet Stakes 2. Dubai Honor but the ominous aspect is that it’s supposed to be so much better with some ground yielding. He’ll get that at Randwick. It wasn’t a particularly well run Ranvet but he has the racing style to adapt to real pace which is expected here. Imagine rolling into the top three or four in the race. It’s almost un-Australian not to have it 1. Anamoe at the top but he might have just met his match. You can’t beat a horse who has won nine times in Group 1 but he’s had a tough run in the George Ryder which was a clear finish and the form around has been a little disappointing since then. But he’s made a habit of winning and he’s the logical threat. 12. Montefilia was a huge killer and you wouldn’t trust her to charge off the back of a good canter. The Tancred was one that eluded her after she stumbled near the junction.
How to play it: Win Dubai Honor.

RACE 9 – 4:35 PM SYDNEY QUEEN OF THE TURF STANKS (1600m)

How do we position ourselves? 1. Alcohol Free? She comes to Sydney with a hefty price tag in the UK and a race record to justify it. Brilliant July Cup win, a very tough 1207m sprint at Newmarket and he was far from disgraced when he finished third in Group 1 behind Baaeed over a mile last July. This is real form. She had a nice sound in a 1200m test on March 21st, seems to handle wet tracks and pulled well. She must be hard to beat against our mares in the set weights.
5. Hope in your heart is always underestimated and that could be the case here despite their fourth place finish at Doncaster last week. When you draw 20 it makes the job difficult and she had to come last to be beaten by 1.4 lengths. Draw favors her this time and she is a major threat. 8. Atishu was outstanding as he returned to Emancipation, producing sizzling Sectionals from the last on the turn through the second run. She’ll love the Randwick Mile and giving some is no problem.
Supplied by Racing NSW Win without alcohol.

RACE 10AM – 5:10PM TAB SAPPHIRE RODS (1200m)

Supplied by Racing NSWhas a wide lane to negotiate but that may not matter until the very last race and she has tactical speed to fit somewhere in a race that on paper appears to have real pace. She was dominant in the birthday card and if anything she is a better horse on soft ground. take spanking 2. Kiku probably drifting back from a double-digit goal, but that’s not uncommon for her and she has a nice foot spin when she sings. She was a spring Theo Marks winner and both of her summer runs in Queensland were solid. Any way. 6. JalLei has returned in fine form with a first win in the stewards room before chasing Zapateo home at Rosehill. It probably wants in the soft area.
How to play it: Zapateo wins.

Supplied by Racing NSW. Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au