3/10/20 Randwick Tips for the Epsom & Metropolitan
-
- Author: Joshua ReedOct 01, 2020 04:44 PM
- Photo: AAP
Can you smell what The Rock is cooking?
What a cracking day of racing we have ahead of us at Randwick on Saturday!
Punters will be salivating over the 9 race card which features 7 Group events, 3 of which are Group 1's.
The time-honoured Epsom Handicap over 1600m and The Metropolitan over 2400m are the showcase events, which feature plenty of high-profile gallopers bidding for Spring glory.
Back Josh's HOT Bets!
Josh's tips have yielded 16% Profit on Turnover over the past 30 days.
Now you can follow his tips without paying for them.
Back his HOT Bets for Saturday's racing here!
Enter stake > Place bets > Tips revealed
Track Conditions
The Randwick track is currently rated a Good 4 and sunshine is forecast for Sydney in the lead up to race day.
There is a 35km/h NNE wind predicted for Saturday, which is likely to hit runners as they head into the straight and come up the famous Randwick rise.
Randwick Race 7 - Epsom Handicap 1600m (G1)
The Map 
On paper there isn't a lot of speed but being a big race, the tactics of riders from previous outings typically go out the window.
Just Thinkin' (17) will no doubt stride forward from the outside gate, with his stablemate Riodini (12) expected to head to the front also.
Look for Yulong Prince (2) to kick forward from the inside draw and Wild Planet (6) will be prominent, whilst Star of the Seas (1) will be right there also along with Brandenburg (3) and Mister Sea Wolf (4).
There is a big clump who will be scrambling for positions including Funstar (19), Probabeel (18), Imaging (21) and Colette (10), who is drawn a touch awkward also.
The likes of Rock (13), Vanna Girl (15), Niccanova (11) and Nettoyer (14) will be suited heading back and they will save their runs for last.
The Favourite 
Star of the Seas is the $5.00 favourite early in the piece, looking to finally break that Group 1 duck.
He narrowly missed behind Kolding in the Group 1 George Main Stakes last start at this track and distance.
He is no stranger to the Randwick mile having never finished outside the top 3 from 4 starts at the 1600m, 3 of which were at Group 1 level.
He gets a somewhat ideal draw to be able to sit prominent and gets the strong Nash Rawiller aboard, who will give him every chance.
Dropping 3.5kg from last start and now at peak fitness third-up are both ideal.
Analysis and Tips 
Rock ($9.50) is who I want to be playing around, with the expectation of a fair track on Saturday.
He was too far back first-up and hit the line nicely to finish fifth, before making light work of his opposition in the Cameron Handicap in Newcastle. Tommy Berry sat him closer in the run in that clash, which paid dividends.
Expect him to get back from the draw here, and Tommy knows him well enough to push the button at the right time.
He ran well in last year's Epsom Handicap, but he will go even better this time around on a dry deck.
The other I want to play around at massive odds is Brandenburg ($31.00).
He is overs for a horse who has only missed the placings twice in his career, will be prominent in the run and will love the step-up to the mile on a good track. Have a speck on him.
Randwick Race 8 - The Metropolitan 2400m (G1)
The Map
Hush Writer (2) will head forward, with Wu Gok (13) likely to apply early pressure. I expect Miss Sentimental (18) to also add pace into the race, with Angel of Truth (11) and Mirage Dancer (3) to settle on-speed.
I have Brimham Rocks (16) locking up Mugatoo (7) on the fence midfield, with Shared Ambition (19) and Zebrowski (4) right on their tails.
Rondinella (15) will remain off the fence whilst going back, shading Girl Tuesday (22) and Azuro (21) who will be towards the rear.
The Favourite
Mugatoo is the deserved favourite at $3.10, as he looks to make it four wins in-a-row this preparation.
He gave Kris Lees his first ever Newcastle Cup win last start and drops 3kg from that run, along with runner-up in that clash Hush Writer.
Although he is yet to win at 2400m from 3 attempts, he's in the best possible condition to do so and looks primed for this one.
Kerrin McEvoy sticks and he will get his favoured good track. From barrier 7, McEvoy will need to ensure he doesn't end up in a sticky situation.
History is against him, given only 2 horses have won The Metropolitan with 56kg or more since 1999. On the positive side, favourites have won 5 out of the last 20 editions, which will give the camp confidence.
Analysis and Tips
I want to play around 3 runners here.
Shared Ambition ($7.50) has a low weight, retains the services of James McDonald and is a deadset stayer in my opinion. I think he can get in somewhere midfield and make a real go of it here. Expect a better price come race day.
Zebrowski ($10.00) is another stayer who is under-rated. He showed last preparation that he can stay, running a massive race in the Australian Derby on a Heavy track.
He meets Shared Ambition 4.5kg better off from last start and is drawn to really shake up this field. He gets to 2400m fourth-up and is one you need to watch in the market.
Last but not least, Rondinella ($20.00) is silly odds and will likely drift on race day also.
She will go back from the draw but she will be flying late with the low weight. She'll run all day as demonstrated in the Tancred Stakes and Sydney Cup in the past. Look for her late, as she will be flying and at a good price no doubt.
For a list of all the tipsters who have posted Randwick tips for Saturday's racing meet, checkout the dedicated page at theGreatTipOff.com.
