The following is a selection of Australian racing tips for Saturday, March 2. The focus is on the Group 1 Australian Guineas (Race 8) at Flemington, as well as the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (Race 6) and Group 1 Surround Stakes (Race 7) at Randwick.
More tips and previews will be added as they become available.
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Best bet of the day
Randwick Race 6, No. 5 Winx
Randwick Race 7, No. 12 Pohutukawa
Flemington
Palmerbet – Horse Racing Tips & Previews:
Race 1: YULONG SAVINGS
Race 2: SCHABAU
Race 3: KEMONO
Race 4: BEAUTY
Race 5: AGE OF CHIVALRY
Race 6: FURRION
Race 7: MANUEL
Race 8: 1. MYSTIC JOURNEY, 2. O’Tauto, 3. Amphitrite, 4. Hawkshot
Race 9: OREGON’S DAY
Betfair – Feature Race Reports:
Race 6:
Betting Confidence: Medium
Lay – #1 Grunt
Race 7:
Betting Confidence: Medium
Lay – #6 Johannes Vermeer
Race 8:
Betting Confidence: High
Back – #8 Hawkshot
Race 9:
Betting Confidence: Medium
Back – #14 Clarice Cliffs
Betfair – Insider Racing Preview:
Race 8:
BACK – Stars Of Carrum 1 unit
Race 2:
Back Schabau (2.05) to win.
Race 8:
Tips:
1. The Inevitable
2. Hawkshot
3. Mystic Journey
Suggested Bet:
Back The Inevitable (18.00, 5.00) each way.
Race 8: Amphitrite
Race 8:
AMPHITRITE (14) resumed for the new yard winning the G3 Vanity comfortably. Draws to find an advantageous spot and her form at the mile is exemplary. She gets the nod over MYSTIC JOURNEY (15) the pride of Tasmania. She was too good at Listed level LS and was even better three runs back spacing the fillies this trip at the Valley in the G2. Will go close with a repeat of that and a good ride managing the rail. HAWKSHOT (8) posted a peak winning the G2 Autumn Stakes easily at his first start for Team Hayes when tried from the front. That worked a treat and he’ll be rolling across from the wide gate and take passing. RINGERDINGDING (4) was beaten just 2.2L 2U in the G1 Futurity and will be better at the mile. Needs a good ride from Allen but is a serious player.
Race 8:
1. Extra Brut (3 stars)
7. The Inevitable (3 stars)
15. Mystic Journey (3 stars)
8. Hawkshot (3 stars)
Unibet – Race Comments and Selections:
Race 8:
AMPHITRITE (14) Extremely classy filly who is looking to add another Guineas to her record. Should go very close. MYSTIC JOURNEY (15) Tassie filly who is coming over here in great form. No reason to think she can’t win again. HAWKSHOT (8) Left nothing to chance when dominating his rivals in the Autumn Stakes. Will find it tougher from the wide draw but can have an impact here. RINGERDINGDING (4) Just fair in the Futurity Stakes but drops back to running against his own age today. Can be played on an each way basis.
Selections: 14 Amphitrite, 15 Mystic Journey, 8 Hawkshot, 4 Ringerdingging
Sportsbet – Race Comments and Selections:
Race 8:
Outstanding race this year. MYSTIC JOURNEY produced a freakish last 200m then beat seasoned older males at WFA last time. Her MV win when wide against track bias was phenomenal. AMPHITRITE won well with her big weight fresh and arguably should have won the G1 Myer here in spring. THE INEVITABLE impressed in Hayes when hardly had ideal run. EXTRA BRUT, CHAPADA and STARS OF CARRUM were all fabulous behind him against track pattern. Extra Brut measured up to G1/WFA in Mackinnon. HAWKSHOT ran 6L quicker than Orr field in winning last time: 1600m? RINGERDINGDING flew late in Futurity: yes 1600!
Selections: 15. Mystic Journey, 8. Hawkshot, 6. Chapada, 14. Amphitrite
Race 8:
MYSTIC JOURNEY Is a Tasmanian-trained filly who has won eight races from her 11 starts and is proven on the Mainland winning successive races at Caulfield and Moonee Valley during the Spring. Has returned to racing in winning form with successive wins at Launceston and Hobart and is a genuine winning chance. AMPHITRITE Won four straight last preparation including the Group I Thousand Guineas over a mile. Made an impressive return to racing winning the Vanity at Flemington last start and she will test the boys to the limit. THE INEVITABLE Won four from five in Tasmania before crossing Bass Strait to win the CS Hayes Stakes overcoming a wide run in transit. Is drawn to get all the favours in running and looks the testing material again. HAWKSHOT Has won two of last four and is chasing back to back wins after a victory in the Autumn Stakes at Caulfield last start. The wide gate and the mile for the first time look genuine queries but can place.
Morphettville
Betfair – Feature Race Reports:
Race 7:
Betting Confidence: Medium
Back – #8 Surprise Baby
Randwick
Palmerbet – Horse Racing Tips & Previews:
Race 1: MY BLUE JEANS
Race 2: GOATHLAND
Race 3: CASTELVECCHIO
Race 4: KIAMICHI
Race 5: YOU MAKE ME SMILE
Race 6: WINX
Race 7: 1. POHUTAKAWA, 2. Nakeeta Jane, 3. El Dorado Dreaming, 4. Fundamentalist
Race 8: ECKSTEIN
Race 9: MISS QUE
Race 3, No. 1 Castelvecchio – BEST BET – 4.5 stars
Race 5, No. 5 Ever Loyal – 4 stars
Race 7, No. 7 Nakeeta Jane – 3.5 stars
Race 8, No. 3 Invincible Gem – EACH-WAY – 3.5 stars
Race 9, No. 3 Maximus – 3.5 stars
Betfair – Feature Race Reports:
Race 3:
Betting Confidence: Low
Lay – #3 Microphone
Race 4:
Betting Confidence: High
Back – #1 Amercement; #2 Kiamichi
Race 5:
Betting Confidence: Medium
Back – #1 Dreamforce
Race 6:
Betting Confidence: Medium
Back – #5 Winx
Race 7:
Betting Confidence: Medium
Back – #12 Pohutukawa
Race 8:
Betting Confidence: Medium
Lay – #9 Manicure
Betfair – Insider Racing Preview:
Race 3:
BACK – Castelvecchio 1 unit
Race 2:
Back Looks Like Elvis (6.50) to win.
Race 3:
Back Microphone (3.10) to win.
Unibet – From the Trader’s Desk:
Race 2 #10 Looks Like Elvis – VALUE BET
Race 3 #3 Microphone – LAY BET – bet against this horse with Betfair
Race 7 #12 Pohutukawa
Race 8 #2 Noire – BEST BET
Race 7: Pohutukawa
Race 6:
Scary to think WINX is back better than ever, but her win in the Apollo suggests she is going as good as ever. No doubt the step up to 1600m will suit and this simply should be a case of how far Bowman wants to win by. If there is a danger it is HAPPY CLAPPER, back in fine order last start and suspect he too will improve further second up. Loves Randwick and just needs his even share of luck to run second. UNFORGOTTEN next best.
Race 7:
POHUTUKAWA was certainly the run of the race in the Light Fingers Stakes and is expected to improve sharply second up. Finished third behind Nakeeta Jane on that occasion, but only Winx went faster than her on the day. She ran the fastest 800m and second fastest 600m, 400m and 200m of the meeting. Drawn to get a lovely run and JMac takes over. Very hard to beat. NAKEETA JANE beat the former home last start and obviously has to be respected. She should be better suited out to 1400m and looms as a major threat. FIESTA won well fresh, just where she gets too from the draw?
Race 6:
5. Winx (5 stars)
1. Happy Clapper (4 stars)
2. Patrick Erin (2 stars)
4. Brimham Rocks (2 stars)
Race 7:
4. Fiesta (3 stars)
14. Zalatte (3 stars)
12. Pohutukawa (3 stars)
7. Nakeeta Jane (3 stars)
Unibet – Race Comments and Selections:
Race 6:
WINX (5) Looking to make it 31 wins in a row today. Only bad luck will be stopping that. HAPPY CLAPPER (1) Perennial runner up to the great mare. Looks the likely pick to run the exacta. EGG TART (6) Good effort first up. Should be running on well and can go on to bigger things this prep. UNFORGOTTEN (7) Fitness may have given out last start and should appreciate the step up in trip. Include in any exotics bets.
Selections: 5 Winx, 1 Happy Clapper, 6 Egg Tart, 7 Unforgotten
Race 7:
FIESTA (4) Classy filly who has built an impressive race record to date. Tough draw but has the ability to overcome that and win here. NAKEETA JANE (7) Progressive type who looks to have plenty of upside. Should get a nice run in transit and make her presence known. POHUTUKAWA (12) Godolphin stable is on fire of late. No reason to think they can’t continue their winning ways with this filly. MISS FABULASS (8) Had issues last time out at Randwick but can easily make up for it today. Keep safe.
Selections: 4 Fiesta, 7 Nakeeta Jane, 12 Pohutukawa, 8 Miss Fabulass
Sportsbet – Race Comments and Selections:
Race 6:
The WINX show rolls on and despite a few critics complaining recently about the support cast nobody has any issue with the performance of the star herself. At least in the Apollo we had a designated leader in Tom Melbourne but today there is just nothing at all. HAPPY CLAPPER has never led in his life (none of these have) but is probably left to that role today? Waller has all the opposition so he might offer up one or two to race against type (PATRICK ERIN an on-pacer these days??). It all matters little I fancy because the great mare WINX can come from anywhere over the top of any sort of tempo. CLAPPER will be earnest as always.
Selections: 5. Winx, 1. Happy Clapper, 7. Unforgotten, 6. Egg Tart
Race 7:
What an absolute ripper of a race this is. With VERRY ELLEEGANT staying in Melbourne, 15 gets a start and crosses up front. MADAM ROUGE and FUNDAMENTALIST will be handy for sure. FIESTA draws way out wide but I’m prepared to stick with her after a pleasing return run (beating a darn good filly in Estijaab). The interesting aspect of her in this race is that Bowman is back aboard and he has ridden her three times for three 2nds. Just needs a few things to pan out in run and I am confident she’s top three. NAKEETA JANE announced herself with a big strong win first-up. She can trail to perfection again and will be hard to stop.
Selections: 4. Fiesta, 7. Nakeeta Jane, 10. Madam Rouge, 12. Pohutukawa
Race 6:
WINX Looked as good as ever winning the Apollo Stakes resuming. Looks set for another Group I win. HAPPY CLAPPER No match for Winx resuming in the Apollo Stakes but defeated the rest comfortably. Looks the quinella horse again. UNFORGOTTEN Finished her race off nicely in the Apollo resuming and she can get into the placings with the first-up run under her belt. BRIMHAM ROCKS Was well beaten in the Apollo Stakes resuming. Will be fitter second-up and can improve.
Race 7:
FIESTA Maintained her excellent first-up record winning the Inglis Sprint at Warwick Farm resuming last start. Hasn’t won second-up but placed at each attempt and has a winning hope again. MISS FABULASS The Tea Rose winner last preparation. Things didn’t go her way settling back in the field in the field in the Light Fingers resuming. Likely to go back again after drawing wide but she can get home into the placings fitter second-up. FUNDAMENTALIST Is ultra-consistent finishing in the placings four of last five including the Thousand Guineas and Empire Rose Stakes in the Spring and it was a solid return to racing when third in the Vanity at Flemington resuming last start. She’s right in this fitter second-up. NAKEETA JANE Could not have been more impressive winning the Light Fingers resuming last start. She’s a budding star with plenty of scope for improvement and she is right in the mix again.