SATURDAY RACING PREVIEW – Randwick April 13

Best Bets

RACE 3 (2) STRAIT ACER: A proven G1 performer in a provincial Midway final? This Rupert Clarke Stakes placegetter over this trip last spring is eligible because he is trained at Hawkesbury by Edward Cummings and earned his place in the final with a charging second under 59kg in the Wyong heat over 1350m where the tight turning track cost him a win. Back to the big stretches at Randwick where he’s a two time winner and up to his best distance (5-2-2) says you won’t find many horses better placed in this field. Did I mention he’s down 1.5kg and gets Jason Collett, his rider in three previous wins, back in the saddle!

RACE 4 (5) ENEEZA: The Golden Slipper form held up well in the Sires Produce last Saturday and you can expect more of the same here. This filly finished seventh in the Slipper but it was a standout effort to be only 2.7 lengths from the winner Lady Of Camelot after covering the most ground from her wide barrier. She reeled of the quickest 400m-200m split of the race before peaking on her run and I expect her to close the gap on LOC as the barriers are flipped with an inside draw this time allowing Damian Lane to camp on the back of the speed.

RACE 8 (8) VIA SISTINA: Her international G1 form told us she was top class and she duly delivered with an impressive Australian debut in the G1 Ranvet over 2000m at Rosehill, overcoming a dawdling tempo to sprint home from last in the fastest 600m sectional of the day in a time rarely matched over a middle distance. She’s hard to oppose when you factor in her expected improvement under the training of Chris Waller and his outstanding record of five wins in this race since 2011 with imports and mares.