Mystic Journey

Winx is back this Saturday at Royal Randwick and looking to make it 31 wins in a row in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes. At odds of $1.09 it is once again very difficult to make anything out of her race but she should have little trouble creating further history. The major meeting in Victoria is at Flemington with the running of the Group 1 Australian Guineas, with fillies Amphitrite and Mystic Journey at the top of the market. The Autumn racing carnival really is in full swing with six Group races taking place at Randwick and seven Group and Listed races on offer at Flemington.

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Extreme heat in Victoria has resulted in the meeting being moved to an earlier timeslot so be aware the race times may have changed from initial publications.

We can get on the board in race 3 with the Mick Price trained mare She’s So High. Damien Oliver rode this horse at all four runs last preparation, which obviously includes her explosive first up victory on Australian Cup day. That fresh record makes her very appealing here and she has run to a level previously which is good enough to salute. Having drawn near the speed horses in the race she should get a nice camp in behind them. Off a good recent trial she looks worth a bet at $2.30 on Sportsbet.

Into race 4 and we can look to build the bankroll further at a bit of value with Miss Toorak Flyer. She went super last start over 955m at Moonee Valley when slowly away. Gets up to a more suitable 1100m trip here and should be able to settle closer to the speed going down the straight course. She is currently $4.40 with Beteasy but you may be able to secure slightly better odds nearer race time given the even nature of the field.

Heading up to Randwick for race 3, the Skyline Stakes for the 2yos, which sees a small but interesting field of 6 runners going around. Castelvecchio and Accession come through the restricted Inglis Millennium race and look the testing material but the airborne Godolphin stable bring Microphone up from Melbourne with some excellent recent figures under his belt. His recent win at Flemington was excellent and he looks ready to step to 1200m now. With James McDonald on top, expect him to race handy to the speed in the small field and he can continue on his winning way. At the $2.70 currently available on Neds he can set us up for the back half of the program.

Neds

Back to Flemington now for race 8, the Group 1 Australian Guineas. There doesn’t appear to be too much on-speed pressure despite the capacity 16 horse field which presents an opportunity for those getting good runs near the lead. The flying Tasmanian filly Mystic Journey is a bit unknown off a local preparation but she has set tongues wagging with two fantastic wins against older horses, the latest when able to run down the local champ Hellova Street on his home deck. Her spring form against the 3yo fillies was superb, highlighted by a dominant win on Cox Plate day after sitting wide, so all indications are she is in this race up to her ears. Gate 1 might make her task a little trickier but with the lack of pressure in the race she should be able to settle just behind the lead and with luck in running she will be hard to hold out late. Her current odds of $4.60 with Pointsbet appear very reasonable.

The likely leader in the Guineas is Hawkshot and he comes here off a tremendous win at Caulfield over 1400m when he led all the way and bolted in. That was a huge career spike performance but he was well supported in the market and showed what he is capable of when able to control the race from the front. It is quite possible he gets a similar opportunity here so the wide barrier is of little concern if he is rolling to the front anyway. At a price of $6.50 with Neds he is also worth having something on given the chance he can pinch the race in front.

Back to Randwick for our last race to cover, the Group 1 Surround Stakes for the 3yo fillies. Nakeeta Jane was most impressive first-up in the Light Fingers Stakes and was strong through the line, giving every indication the longer trip here will be to her liking. There were some eye-catching efforts behind her, especially from the Godolphin filly Pohutukawa who flashed into 3rd, and she presents as a genuine danger. However the market may overreact to her ‘flashing light’ run and she continues to firm in early markets as a clear favourite. This has led to a current price of $6.50 on Sportsbet for Nakeeta Jane so sticking with the winning form at a value price looks an enticing option.

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