Spreading my attention between Randwick and Caulfield on what shapes as a tough day but still reckon we can find a winner, and most importantly some value as well.
OKLAHOMA GIRL (Randwick Race 5 No.8)
Chris Waller has four runners in the race and Oklahoma Girl is one of the longer priced but I'm keen to bet. I've had a good wrap on this mare for a while now, she's ultra-consistent and never puts in a bad run which was exactly how she performed first-up. She was well back in the run but hit the line strongly behind Wayanka (won on protest) and Interlocuter, who franked the form winning easily last week. Since that first-up effort Oklahoma Girl has gone back to the trials where she worked home strongly in a 1200m heat at Randwick. Is unbeaten winning three-from-three at 1600m and she's won second-up previously. Good odds and worth a decent bet.
BET: WIN
ODDS: $8 @ NEDS ($9.50 Bet Boost)
WHO SHOT THEBARMAN (Randwick Race 6 No.4)
It's not often I fall into a nine-year-old but I'm happy to be having something on Who Shot Thebarman and betting with a good deal of confidence. The gelding seems to have been around forever and he very rarely runs a bad race. His latest outing was in The Metropolitan over the Randwick 2400m and he was far from disgraced when beaten 2.6 lengths finishing fourth behind Foundry. Splitting him and winner were Big Duke and Chocante and he's up against them once more here however under the WFA conditions Who Shot Thebarman is the one who is greatly advantaged. He rises only a half-kilo while Big Duke is up 3.5kg and Chocante 4kg. The step up to 2600m is also to his advantage which only enhances my enthusiasm to back the old fella.
BET: WIN
ODDS: $5.50 @ Ladbrokes ($6.50 Odds Boost), William Hill ($6.50 Price Pump),NEDS ($6.50 Bet Boost)
VEGA MAGIC (Randwick Race 8 No.2)
Despite drawing wide I'm confident the Hayes' and Dabernig trained galloper can deliver in the inaugural running of the big race especially with the speedster Deploy drawing a couple of barriers inside. Vega Magic has proven himself up to 1400m and as the winner of two Group I races from his past three the races five-year-old is at the peak of his powers. Is speedy and tough and should park right behind the speed. Expecting he'll dash to the lead on topping the rise and they won't run him down.
BET: $5 @ Ladbrokes ($6 Odds Boost)
ROYAL SYMPHONY (Caulfield Race 8 No.6)
Slightly disappointing last time when only fourth in the Guineas Prelude but it was his first experience around Caulfield and he's now looking for the 1600m. Has had sharpen up with winkers jumping out in the lead-up to this and expecting he'll be spot on for the big day. Showed his quality with some sensational performances at Flemington leading into his last run and expecting we'll see that same dynamic power again here.
BET: WIN
ODDS: $4.60 @ Centrebet
SNITZSON (Caulfield Race 9 No.12)
I keep sticking with Snitzson and I'm sure that big race will come his way one day, and this could be it. Had every chance when third in the Epsom behind Happy Clapper finishing third but that was his fourth run back from a spell and he'll be perfect for this. Goes up 1.5kg for the run while Tom Melbourne, who finished second, goes up 3kg. With that being the case and the odds differential I'm going to stick again and have something each-way in a very tough race.
BET: EACH-WAY
ODDS: $17 @ Ladbrokes ($21 Odds Boost), Sportsbet ($21 Power Play), William Hill ($21 Price Pump)
