I'm casting the net across the Randwick meeting and have caught five horses ranging from odds of $3.50 out to as high as $51.
BRAVE SONG (Randwick Race 1 No 2)
Beaten by the smart Calculated when an eye-catching runner-up on debut then came out and thumped rivals at Canterbury in a field with some genuine depth. We are getting some value with hot-pot Addictive Nature engaged. Although he looks a good one, so does Brave Song, and I'm convinced Brave Song is coming through the stronger formlines. A worthy gamble.
BET: WIN
ODDS $3.50 @ Bet365
IMPERATOR AUGUSTUS (Randwick Race 3 No 8)
John Thompson's five-year-old has tackled the 1400m here on four occasions and managed two wins, a second and a close-up fourth behind Pelethronius. A natural leader, gate one will make it easy for Josh Parr, he should lob right on the bunny and doesn't appear set to cop too much pressure. But the real kicker is that Randwick is always soft, and Imperator Augustus is a soft track specialist. All three career wins have come on soft or heavy going whereas on good ground he has only been placed once from five starts. Right track, trip and class.
BET: WIN
ODDS $4.60 @ CrownBet & Luxbet
GITAN (Randwick Race 4 No 4)
Frenchman Jean Dubois has been plying his trade mostly on the provincial circuit and with a strike-rate of almost 20 percent is a trainer worth following. He tested Gitan in midweek city grade last start and the four-year-old boxed on gamely when third behind Awoke and The Pharoah. Those two have since finished runner-up in stronger Saturday affairs whereas Gitan was given a trial at Warwick Farm and went terrific. On pace runner so makes his own luck and drops back from a city Benchmark 67 into a Highway Class 3. Great chance.
BET: WIN
ODDS $7 @ Sportsbet ($8 PricePump)
HOLLYWOOD BOUND (Randwick Race 6 No 9)
This is a speculator. Chris Waller's eight-year-old has two duck eggs next to his name after returning from an injury enforced lay-off but both runs were much better than they read on paper. Copped a mid-race check first-up then balked several times in the straight last time. The two races were run on good tracks which isn't his go – he loves it soft. Gate one is a plus as he should land in a trailing position and his trials leading into this campaign were surprisingly sharp. This could be one that has slipped under the radar. Worth something each-way.
BET: EACH-WAY
ODDS $51 @ Bet365
INVINCIBLE GEM (Randwick Race 7 No 8)
I'm convinced this is a serious racehorse and am willing to gamble on her first-up whilst getting the juicy odds. First-up stats encouraging (2:1-1-0) but in much easier assignments. Rocketed through the grades last campaign, culminating in a courageous second in the Group I Randwick Guineas. Two trials for this – latest was superb. Genuine pace/pressure up front should allow Corey Brown to find a trailing position and whilst stablemate Le Romain has the form on the board, he is also well found in betting. With an $11 PowerPlay on offer, I will take a shot on the lesser regarded stablemate to cause an upset.
BET: WIN
ODDS $9.50 @ ($11 PowerPlay)
