Daniel Pryor Saturday Horse Racing Tips 22/8/26

It has finally arrived.

The first Group 1 of the new season is here, and the Winx Stakes has delivered a star-studded field to officially get the spring juices flowing.

All bar one runner will tackle the race first-up, with plenty of these horses set to play major roles across the Sydney and Melbourne Spring Carnivals.

But the build-up has been dominated by two mares.

Autumn Glow and Sheza Alibi.

 

Punters have been waiting since the autumn to see when these two would finally clash.

Most probably expected it to come deeper into the spring, but Moody and Coleman threw Sheza Alibi into the Winx Stakes nominations and now we get the showdown straight away.

Sheza Alibi has put together a brilliant record of seven wins from 10 starts without ever missing a placing.

She's also two from two at Randwick and produced a devastating performance to win the Doncaster Handicap during the autumn.

Autumn Glow brings an equally imposing record.

The Chris Waller-trained mare suffered her first defeat in 12 starts when stretched to 2000m during the autumn, but her Randwick record still reads six wins and a third from seven appearances.

With her campaign expected to centre around the 1400m and 1600m races this spring, she's right back in her sweet spot.

And while these two dominate the conversation, the Winx Stakes goes much deeper than the top of the market.

Randwick also serves up a Group 2 and three Group 3 races on an outstanding program to kickstart the spring. Like plenty of punters, I can't wait to see it unfold.

 

Sandown Hillside hosts the Moonee Valley meeting, headlined by the Group 3 Carlyon Stakes over 1000m.

Eleven runners have accepted and there looks to be an abundance of speed from the outset.

Away from the feature, there are some deep and competitive fields across the Sandown card where I've found several value runners worth following.

Before getting into this week's tips, last Saturday's Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes is worth another mention.

Cosmic Crusader ($2.50) couldn't have been much more impressive for Peters Investments, stamping himself as a genuine horse to follow into the bigger Group races this spring.

Battle-hardened nine-year-old Private Eye finished second, with Evaporate third, Pinstriped fourth and Feroce fifth.

It looks a strong form race and there should be plenty of winners come out of it over the coming weeks.

 

 

Around The Grounds with Daniel Pryor – Sandown Hillside & Randwick 22/8/26

 

This Week's Free Tips

Sandown Hillside – Race 3 – #9 Think Giant – $3.50

Think Giant hit the line nicely when fourth behind St George over 2000m and now gets out to 2400m third-up.

The extra distance looks ideal and there has been some confidence around the stable throughout the week.

He should be doing his best work late and I'm happy to play.

Sandown Hillside – Race 4 – #6 Justadeel – $4.40

Justadeel has raced well at Sandown previously without managing to win and gets another opportunity here.

It's been three weeks since his solid fourth at Rosehill and he looks well placed returning to Sandown.

He can go on with the job this Saturday.

Sandown Hillside – Race 5 – #6 Mull Of Kintyre – $7

Mull Of Kintyre couldn't have been more impressive on debut, giving her rivals no chance with a dominant victory.

She's had 18 weeks away from the races but should return ready to go.

Expect her to settle forward and make her rivals chase from a long way out. At $7, she's a good value play fresh.

Sandown Hillside – Race 5 – #2 Incognito – $4

There has been some genuine confidence from the stable around Incognito, not just for Saturday but potentially for some stronger races later in the preparation.

Expect him to settle off the speed before launching late.

The trainer and jockey combination have an excellent record when teaming up and he's another strong chance in an intriguing race.

Sandown Hillside – Race 6 – #14 Conscience – $5

Conscience should take plenty of improvement from her first-up second behind Queen Christine.

That form has already received a significant boost, with Queen Christine coming out and winning impressively again at a strong midweek meeting on Wednesday.

Conscience won on debut over this course and distance and now gets Blake Shinn aboard, who rides Sandown extremely well.

Plenty points towards a big second-up performance.

Sandown Hillside – Race 9

#6 Farrh Flung – $17
#11 Furious – $10
#8 Somewhere – $8.50
#12 Supernima – $9

I'm going wide in the last with four value runners.

All four should be right in the thick of the action late and the prices give us an opportunity to attack an open race.

Individual form comments for each runner are available in my Full Tipping Package.

 

Randwick

Race 5 – #5 Boniface – $2.70

Boniface was held up from around the 400m until the 100m last start when firm in betting and never got the opportunity to build momentum when it mattered.

He now steps out to 2000m for the first time, but there appears to be plenty of confidence that he'll handle the extra distance.

He's the clear favourite and gets his chance to make amends.

 

Randwick – Race 6 – #1 Savvy Hallie – $3.70

Savvy Hallie has performed well fresh previously and brings enough natural speed to take up a prominent position from the outset.

She can make her own luck on speed and control her own destiny.

She's also a runner worth following through the early stages of her campaign.

 

Randwick – Race 7 – #1 Cherry Bomshell – $5

Cherry Bomshell showed plenty of ability across her first four career starts.

She went to the paddock after putting together three consecutive victories, culminating in an impressive Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes win where she finished strongly.

There's plenty of upside here and she can pick up exactly where she left off.

 

Randwick – Race 10

#7 Call Me Gorgeous – $4
#11 Hidrix – $10
#13 Ernaux – $5.50
#9 Bartolf – $21

Another open race where I'm happy to spread across four runners.

Two bring race fitness into Saturday while the other two resume with proven first-up form.

Individual form comments for all four are available in my Full Tipping Package.

 

Last Week's Winners

It was a big Saturday with 10 winners, plus several strong exotic results:

• Steel Will – $1.60

• Fundamental Nature – $9.50

• Transcend – $4.40 (Protest Payout)

• Hard Kick – $7.70

• Eagle Express – $4.90 | Quinella $21.90 | Exacta $34.50

• Chilly Girl – $6.50

• Cosmic Crusader – $2.50 | Quinella $3.50 | Exacta $6.50

• Althoff – $3.60 | Quinella $4.10 | Exacta $11.20

• Shadhavar – $5.20 | Quinella $32.50 | Exacta $57.40 | Trifecta $319.50

• Darkbonee – $2.80

 

Get around my Saturday Daily Subscriber Package for $15, or the 4-Day Subscriber Package for $45, covering four consecutive Saturdays.

Good luck and giddy up, Punters!

In the words of Lochie Taylor, the contests at Randwick and Sandown this Saturday are "Absolutely Warth Mouthering" and the racing only gets better from here.

 

There are loads of tips for today's racing in our Horse Racing Tips market at theGreatTipOff.com.