Racing for Saturday 20 December 2008

Villiers Stakes – Randwick

 The main race of the day is the Group 2 $200,000 Villiers Stakes over 1600 metres and a field of 16 have accepted. The early market shows the betting is very open with Theophorus and Causeyacan sharing favouritism at $6.50 followed by Sniper’s Bullet at $7, then Voice Commander and Something Anything both at $9.50.

Group 1 performer Sniper’s Bullet is the topweight and has drawn barrier 2. He hasn’t won in over a year although he has ran some nice placings recently. Canberra horse Voice Commander won the Festival Stakes at his last start, but has drawn badly in barrier 13.

Jo’s tips: 1. Causeyacan, 2. Voice Commander, 3. Rags To Riches
 

Razor Sharp Handicap – Randwick

The Listed $100,000 Razor Sharp Handicap for three-year-olds and up over 1200 metres is the main support race at Randwick. There is a field of 18 good sprinters and the early favourite is the Kevin Moses trained mare Tenant’s Tiara at $3.80 who is also the least experienced horse in the field, with only 7 career starts, but she has won four and ran second twice.

Gai Waterhouse has three starters for the day and they are all in this race – Mister Celestial at $8.50, Five Ways at $10 and Certain Magic at $13. The topweight Double Dare carries 58kg and has won 5 of his 9 starts over the distance.

Jo’s tips: 1. Tenant’s Tiara, 2. Approach The Bench, 3. Strong Choice
 

Comic Court Handicap – Flemington

The main race at Flemington is the $100,000 Comic Court Handicap over 2500 metres. There is a field of fourteen stayers, with six of the field having won at distances of 2500 metres or more. The topweight is Ballarat Cup winner Daka’s Gem who will carry 58kg while 12 of the runners will carry 53.5kg.

Greg Childs will ride Butwaittheresmore in his last day of race riding. The horse has come third at his last three starts over similar distances. The only horse with a win at the track is Sunday Adieu who has ran second at her last two starts and has finished well.

Jo’s tips: 1. Why Do You Ask, 2. Robrick, 3. SundayAdieu