PUNTERS face a nightmare challenge finding the winners on the opening day of The Championships at Randwick tomorrow with plenty of chances vying for the big money on a track that looks certain to be in the heavy range.
Bookies have been keen to lay early favorites Messene (from a bad draw in the Doncaster Mile) and boom Victorian sprinter Lancan Rukpee (in the T J Smith).
Messene, drawn 18 and unknown in the wet, has eased from $4.2 to $5 which comes as no surprise considering the poor record favorites have in the race. Lancan Rupee has been $3.8 to $4.2 in the T J Smith.
Weary, one of six starters in the Doncaster Mile from the Chris Waller stable, has this week firmed from $11 to $5.5 second favorite. We think the best value of his runners is Hawkspur around the $9 mark.
International visitor Gordon Lord Byron has been best backed to win the T J Smith firming from $11 to $7.5. Our tip in this race is the Queenslander Buffering which has remained around solid around the $6.5 mark.
Rosehill Guineas winner Criterion remains the outright favorite for the Australian Derby but bookies are keen to lay him at the price which has seen him ease from $3.2 to $3.5.
There has been a move at odds this week for the Kevin Moses-trained Swinging Flame from $17 to $13. We like Thunder Fantasy, $7, from the Anthony Cummings stable.
One of the best goes of the day has been Gypsy Diamond in the Carbine Club Stakes firming from $3 to $2.7. This does look a nice race for the horse which is also the second emergency for the Doncaster Mile.
Gerald Ryan has a strong hand in the Sires’ Produce Stakes with the two favorites Believe Yourself and Peggy Jean and two other nice chances in Time For War and Lucky Raquie.
Peggy Jean has been best tried from $4 to $3.8 early but Believe Yourself $4 backs up from an eye-catching fourth in the Golden Slipper, looks suited in the wet and by the extra trip.
Black type racing hots up in Adelaide tomorron and the Victorian Mahy’s Dream has been heavily backed to win the G3 Schweppervescence Stakes firming from $3 to $2.5 and looks very hard to beat.
Itsahymn is the solidly backed $2.3 favorite to win the West Australian Derby at Ascot for the Fred Kersley stable.
OUR SUGGESTED BET FOR SATURDAY ARE:
RANDWICK: R2 H1 GYPSY DIAMOND $2.7 & R6 H3 THUNDER FANTASY $7.
CAULFIELD: R5 H4 FAMILY PRIDE $9.
MORPHETTVILLE: R7 H9 PLATELET $2.5.
DOOMBEN: R7 H5 FRIENDLY DRAGON $7.
TOOWOOMBA WEETWOOD: R6 H3 THAT’S THE ONE $8.