Randwick Tips and Best Bets for All Aged Stakes 2024

The Group 1 All-Aged Stakes over 1400m headlines the third and final installment of the Randwick Championship carnival, and for me it's one of the more cherished and pedestalled races.

While plenty of races on the actual two days of The Championships are worth more, this is a true horseman's race and generally the form coming out of it is super strong.

While this year's edition doesn't quite have the sheer class of previous renewals, there's still a healthy spread of weight-for-age quality and of course a serious hand from the lighter-weighted three and four-year-olds.

In fact, the race seems set up for one with a little weight pull to launch over the top.

 

 

Randwick Race 8 - All Aged Stakes (1400m)

Track Conditions

We are likely to start on a Soft 5 or even closer to a 6, with some lead-up rain about.

The rail is out a hefty 7m from the 1000m to the winning post which automatically makes it a tricky read.

Importantly though, with up to 15mls forecast on Saturday, I suspect the leading candidates to come from at least three or four lanes away from the inside.

This should also play to those a few lengths off speed on a track that may settle nearer a Soft 7 well into the meeting.

 

Who do the All In boys like in the feature race 

 

The Speed Map

There's not much natural speed on show, which will make it tough for those settling well back.

Both longshots Bandersnatch ($61.00) and Buffalo River ($46.00) will roll forward, with emerging star Chain Of Lightning ($10.00).

Roughie Amenable ($41.00) will land just behind the leading division along with Magic Time ($8.50).

That leaves our big players Southport Tycoon ($7.00) and Sunshine In Paris ($5.00), to settle in the next group and primed to strike.

 

The Favourite

Make no bones about it, Espiona can win fourth-up in this going and is drawn to get to the middle lanes in the straight, but she's under the odds.

 

 

Neil's Best Bet

On the score of progress and potential, three-year-old colt Southport Tycoon ($7.00) is a star-in-waiting, and while he hasn't been seen since that Group 1 Australian Guineas win over a mile seven weeks back, consider the formlines.

He beat Veight, the Group 1 George Ryder winner; and Riff Rocket, subsequent and dominant dual Group 1 Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby winner.

He’s trialled twice since then over 1200m in soft ground and while we don't really want the surface to drop under a 6, he commands the best value rating in the race.

That said, not far behind in the value stakes at bigger odds is high class and still lightly raced mare Magic Time.

She has had genuine excuses in both Group 1 runs back from a spell either side of the Victorian border, and profiles as the ideal 1400m galloper.

Versatile in any going, she's a serious threat given any clear run from the 400m. 

 

The Dangers

However you think Private Eye ($9.00) is going, he's a threat fourth-up and four weeks between runs, having trialled strongly in Soft 7 ground.

High class mare and early favourite Espiona ($4.00) has to be right in the hunt off that flashing and top notch run in the Group 1 T.J. Smith where arguably she should have won.

As long as the inside going holds up, ultra smart mare Sunshine In Paris ($4.80) comes through an almost identical second-up run as the former, and we know what cracking final sectionals she can produce.

 

Neil's Top Five

1. SOUTHPORT TYCOON
2. Magic Time
3. Espiona
4. Sunshine In Paris
5. Private Eye

 

Access more betting tips for Saturday racing here.