Top 5 Championship Insights
Published: 07 Apr 2016
Proven Champion - Criterion has won the Derby and the Queen Elizabeth in the last two years
The Championships kicked off with a bang last weekend, our best sprinter CHAUTAUQUA, toughest two-year-old YANKEE ROSE and the best of them all WINX were all crowned in Group One features.
This weekend we've got the Oaks, Sydney Cup and of course the $4 million dollar Queen Elizabeth to look forward to. WINX may be in the paddock resting, but a full field of international Group One talent will ensure it's still an enthralling race.
Ahead of the full card of Race Guides going on-line Friday morning, the Analyst Team have listed their Top 5 Early Insights below.
All odds are provided by our partner CrownBet.
No. 1 Beware of the Bias
It's hard to predict what the bias will be at Randwick this weekend. Usually in drying conditions with the rail out +6m the inside is best, higher ground at the top of the camber.
But lots of horses came very wide last weekend suggesting the ground is OK out there too. Tune in to @TheRaceGuide on Twitter or look at the LIVE WATCH article on the website to check the latest bias reports.
No. 2 Floundering Finish?
The Arrowfield 3yo Sprint (Race 5) is a seriously good sprint over 1,200 metres and there should be lots of pressure in the race.
That's not great news for SOOBOOG, who often lacks the finishing surge needed over 1,200 metres, while boom filly PETITS FILOUS has never been tested over the distance.
They'll both be right up there at the 200 metres, but the white flag could come out soon after.
No. 3 The Right Type at Randwick
We saw last weekend that tougher Randwick types can come to the fore when the track gets 'sticky'. Derby winner Tavago is only lean, similar to Yankee Rose, who was one of the smallest two-year-olds in the yard.
Horses like GALLANTE, SLIGHTLY SWEET, BADAWIYA LUCIA VALENTINA can all make big improvements away from a dry Rosehill.
Bet on GALLANTE $9.5, SLIGHTLY SWEET $34, BADAWIYA $10 and LUCIA VALENTINA $8 now
No. 4 Sitting Duck?
JAMEKA is the class runner in the Oaks on the weekend, but she's drawn wide and will have to work forward and settle up on the pace. Not many three-year-old fillies win an Oaks from out in front, the big prizemoney on offer means that aggressive rides and big fields set up a good testing tempo.
She's got away with a steady tempo in the Victoria Oaks and Derby last week. It will be a sterner test this time.
Bet on swoopers HONESTA $11, SOFIA ROSA $8.5 and CAPELLA $9 now
No. 5 Handy Handicaps
The Set Weights conditions of some of the races on Saturday set up well for a few of the classier runners.
None more so than Chris Waller's JAPONISME (Race 5) and David Pfieffer's CRADLE ME (Race 10). If they run up to the level Racing NSW handicappers have them at, they'll streak home by more than a length!
Bet on JAPONISME $3.3 and CRADLE ME $6.5 now
Ready to win again - Japonisme drops in grade after tackling Group One sprints in Melbourne