I'm confident my patience will be rewarded on Saturday with one I have been waiting for since May.
PETROSSIAN (Randwick Race 4 No 4)
Here is my Saturday speculator. This five-year-old has won eight races, more than any of his rivals and three runs back produced an all-the-way win around 1300m at Warwick Farm. Since that win he's been dropped back to 1100m, finishing runner-up behind Boss Lane in and open handicap then only beaten 1-1/2 lengths behind Badajoz in a Benchmark 94 at Rosehill. On each occasion he was restrained early and hit the line hard. I'm sensing a case of deja vu here in a race devoid of pace. Regular hoop Rachel Murray knows the horse well and from the outside gate has the option of going forward. With race fitness and a drop back in grade, Petrossian can give a huge sight if ridden aggressively.
BET: EACH-WAY
ODDS $14 @ William Hill ($17 PricePump)
WINX & ECUADOR QUINELLA (Randwick Race 6 Nos 1&7)
I want to have an interest in the Warwick Stakes and taking the $2 with Ladbrokes about Winx winning is an easy way to make $20 – but that's not enough to keep me going for long. The Winx/Ecuador quinella should pay alright so I'm having a crack at that. Winx wins – we know that. But Ecuador should dictate terms and in a weight-for-age affair with seven of the eight runners resuming – the race will develop into a sprint home. Ecuador has finished in the quinella at six of seven previous first-up attempts and has hit the quinella at all three previous tries around this track/distance. Given three trials so forward enough to give a bold sight and I'm confident he'll hang on for second place. You could take an exacta but from my experience – it could strangely pay less than the quinella – so why take the risk?
BET: QUINELLA
ODDS – BEST TOTE
SPECTROSCOPE (Randwick Race 8 No 4)
Keen to see this cracking type back at the races and simply have to get involved first-up with Hugh Bowman booked to ride. Burst onto the Aussie scene winning first-up over 1350m then charged into Doncaster calculations scoring an impressive win in the Prelude after striking trouble in the straight. Trials have been impressive and with That's A Good Idea and Deploy putting some speed into the race, Bowman will be looking for clear air in the straight and keeping main danger Omei Sword locked-up on the fence. Intriguing race.
BET: WIN
ODDS $6 @ Bet365
GIBRALTAR GIRL (Randwick Race 9 No 6)
A midfield finish in the Denise's Joy at Scone back in May doesn't tell even part of the story for Peter and Paul Snowden's mare. Settling a mile off them after drawing 14 of 16, she was held-up for the entire straight, climbing all over heels and despite being beaten 5-3/4 lengths – was a good thing beaten! The Snowden stable tipped her out rather than press on to Brisbane and they should reap the rewards in the spring, beginning on Saturday in a Benchmark 80 over 1000m. There will be suitable pace up front and the prospect of a good racing surface propel her from a good bet to a good thing. If you want some convincing – check out her latest Randwick trial. I've been waiting three months for her and I'm not going to miss out – time for a bet!
BET: WIN
ODDS $5 @ Bet365
KHALAMA (Doomben Race 8 No 13)
Tony Gollan appears to have a smart one on his hands judging by the form of this former Kiwi mare. Rattled home around 1050m at her Aussie debut and has gone on to win her subsequent two starts. It was her latest win which had me scouring the formguides waiting to see her entered again and a 1200m Class 6 at set weights looks ideal. She's coming off a Class 6 win and it had to be seen to be believed. Stopped in her tracks 150m from home, she picked herself back up and gunned down rivals to score a relatively soft win on the line. We are getting a price on Saturday because she's drawn wide which is always tricky around Doomben. But with a capacity field and plenty of pace up front, we only need a touch of luck and the $7.50 will be looking fat.
BET: WIN
ODDS $7.50 @ Bet365
