Boom debutant Snapback has been the best backed runner for the meeting while Frumos is set to avenge her last start defeat

James McDonald is expected to at least start and end the day at Randwick on a high note as punters launch into the favourites.

James McDonald, the world’s best jockey, is favoured to win the first and last races at Randwick on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

Punters are rallying behind champion jockey James McDonald to win the opener and closer at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

McDonald, awarded the Longines World’s Best Jockey title for his stellar 2022 that has included 15 Group 1 wins, has a full book of 10 rides at Randwick and starts the day on boom first-starter Snapback in the NJT Supports Kate Nipperess Handicap (1100m).

Snapback has been heavily backed since fields were declared on Wednesday and is now the shortest favourite on the program, firming from $2.90 to $1.70 with TAB Fixed Odds including bets of $2.100 at $2.90, $3,000 at $2.80, $2,000 at $2.50, $1,666 at $2.50 and $1,540 at $2.30.

Frumos has been well-backed to atone for her luckless defeat last start. Picture: Getty Images

“We have taken plenty of bets on Snapback, he is holding the most money of any horse on the Randwick card,” TAB’s Andrew Georgiou said.

Frumos has also dominated the betting in the Furphy Handicap (1400m), or the “Get Out Stakes” for most punters.

“With Frumos in the last race, punters want to end their day a high and they have singled her out,” Georgiou said.

“Frumos has four times as much money on her as any other runner in the race and she has firmed from $2.40 into $1.95 favourite.

“Punters want to give Frumos another chance. We all saw her run last start; she didn’t get any clear air.”

McDonald has a powerful book at the Randwick meeting including another odd-on favourite with I Am Me ($1.90) for the Queen’s Jubilee Handicap (1200m).

“This is a good betting race because the punters have taken the better odds about Dehorned Unicorn ($6 into $3) but I Am Me is still holding a decent amount of money.”

THE BEST BARRIERS

The best barriers at Royal Randwick for the last 3 years (in order of wins)

1000m: 1,5,6,4

1100m: 4,5,1,6

1200m: 6,7,5,4

1400m: 1,2,3,7

1600m: 3,2,4,5

2000m: 2,1,5,6

THE BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS

Race 1: Snapback $2.90-$2-$1.70 with bets of $2,100 at $2.90, $500 at $2.90, $3,000 at $2.80, $2,000 at $2.50, $1,666 at $2.50, $1,540 at $2.30, $500 at $2.10, $489 at $2.10, $700 at $2, $500 at $2 multiple times

Race 2: No big bets of market movements of note

Race 3: Broken Arrows $6-$5 with a bet of $2,000 at $5, With Your Blessing $6-$6.50-$3.80-$3.70 after bets of $400 at $6.50, $500 at $5, $527 at $4.80, $556 at $4.60,

$589 at $4.40, $625 at $4.20, $670 at $4

Race 4: Worthily $8-$8.50-$4.40-$4.80-$3.90 with bets of $1,500 at $4.60, $500 at $4.60, Secret Glamour $8-$5-$3.70 after bets of $900 at $7, $600 at $7, $500 at $7, $480 at $7,

$1,200 at $6.50 twice

Race 5: Quick Tempo $7-$9-$7.50, Alpha One $4-$2.60-$2.80-$2.50 with bets of $1,500 at $4, $400 at $3.60, $700 at $3.40, $500 at $3

Race 6: Sunshine In Paris $8-$4.60 with bets of $800 at $8, $300 e/w at $6.50/$2.30, $450 at $5.50, $1,100 at $4.60

Race 7: Deficit $8-$9-$6.50 after a bet of $500 e/w at $9/$3.10, Spangler $11-$6.50, Oz Legend $51-$26-$19

Race 8: Cotehele $3.50-$3.10-$3

Race 9: I Am Me $2-$1.95-$2-$1.90 after bets of $2,000 at $2, $500 at $1.95, $500 at $1.90, Dehorned Unicorn $6-$3.80-$3 after bets of $1,000 e/w at $6/$2, $500 at $5.50, $2,000 at $4.20, $1,000 at $4.20 twice, $900 at $4.20, $800 at $4.20 twice, $750 at $4.20, $625 at $4.20, $500 at $4.20 multiple times, $2,000 at $3.80, $800 at $3.90, $700 at $3.90

Race 10: Frumos $2.40-$2.20-$2.50-$2.25-$1.95 after bets of $1,600 at $2.50, $500 at $2.40, $500 at $2.30, $3,409 at $2.15 average out, $1,000 at $1.95

Worthily has been a big firmer in race 4 at Randwick on Saturday. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

EARLY QUADDIE

Race 3: 3,4,14,16

Race 4: 1,6,7,10

Race 5: 3,8

Race 6: 3,7,8

QUADDIE

Race 7: 1,4,6,8

Race 8: 1,4,7,9

Race 9: 5,15

Race 10: 2,3,6

PRICE CHECK

Dehorned Unicorn (race 9) has been heavily backed to beat odds-on favourite I Am Me. Dehorned Unicorn has firmed from $6 into $3 after some big bets including $1,000 e/w at $6/$2, $2,000 at $4.20, $1,000 at $4.20 twice and $2,000 at $3.80. Punters believe this is a two-horse race with I Am Me also having her supporters firming from $2 to $1.90 after bets of $2,000 at $2, $500 at $1.95 and $500 at $1.90.

SECTIONAL STARS

Snapback (race 1) can stake his claim for the 2023 Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast on January 14 should he perform to expectation. The Snowden Racing colt was purchased for $825,000 at the 2022 sale on the Gold Coast. Born and raised at Arrowfield, Snapback is a son of their four-time Champion Sire Snitzel out of Later Gator who was herself a high calibre two-year-old finishing third to Epaulette in the 2014 Black Opal. As for Snapback, he has been the talk of the trial in recent times, winning both in impressive style.

Arnold (race 6) is a cleverly-named son of a mare called, Rippled, who is known as the mother of the stakes-winner, Greysful Glamour and the stakes-placed Celestial Falls. Arnold is a lightly-raced and talented gelding with a record of two wins, a second and a third from his five outings. His only other run was a fourth to Hosier at Randwick on October 1. Arnold has been readied for his return with a 900m trial at Rosehill where he finished an unhurried seventh of the 10.

TRIAL POINTERS

Super Extreme (race 2) will line up in his third consecutive TAB Highway on Saturday, this time with the services of the world’s best jockey James McDonald. This Cameron Crockett-trained son of Extreme Choice turned in what is arguably a career peak performance when finishing fourth in a 1400m Highway on the Gong undercard on November 19. Nothing in the race finished better than Super Extreme who should find Randwick the perfect track for his pattern.

Smirk (race 4) is a Chris Waller-trained daughter of his former four-time Group 1 winner Preferment. Smirk was bought by Waller and agent Guy Mulcaster at the Karaka Yearling sale in 2020 for $160,000. Not only has Smirk almost paid for herself in just 11 starts, she is a highly valuable broodmare given her grandam, Smiling Like, won the Wellington and New Zealand Cups and is herself a daughter of the broodmare gem, Eustaci. Smirk is ready to peak on Saturday, having caught the eye at her most recent outing finishing fast to clock in third behind Tulloch Lodge duo, Zoumon and King Of Clubs.

Smirk (white cap) is ready to peak third-up on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

BEST BET

Frumos (race 10) went to the line untested when luckless first-up at Rosehill. She is a talented mare with impressive acceleration and just needs clear galloping room to win the closer. The Randwick 1400m suits, James McDonald goes on and from barrier six she should be able to stay out of trouble. Solid favourite at $2 but she looks the winner.

VALUE BET

Passistas (race 3) was trapped wide without cover for most of the race and still had the temerity to run on gamely for a close second at Canterbury. The Matthew Smith-trained is a very genuine mare racing consistently and seems over the odds at $14. She’s a good each-way bet.

ROYAL RANDWICK

R7: NJT Honours Pam O’Neill Hcp (1600m)

Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “I know she has the steadier of 61kg but French Bonnet looks to be in a good place at the moment. A bit of rain around really helps her chances, and she should get the perfect run from her draw. In an open race, she’ll do me. Deficit was terrific the other day, if he can repeat that he has to be in the finish. Camaguey looks an improving type, he’s a very fit racehorse and gets conditions to suit. Naval Seal comes back to the 1600m and gets his chance to bounce back.”

Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “I made Deficit a horse to follow after its last start and that was a benchmark 88. He rises to 1600m here but drops to a benchmark 78 from a soft draw. Form from his first-up race at Kembla has been OK as well including some of his opposition here. Manderboss racing well and deserves a win but goes up in grade.”

Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Spangler was the first horse to draw attention when markets were posted but that’s dried up now and has been $6-$7 as a result. Deficit has been a good firm $9-$7 after hitting the line with intent last start. If he gets the speed to suit, I think Three Wise Men looks a huge price here and would steer into something each-way at the $31/$8.”

Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “Deficit has had strong interest in the past 24 hours and is now the most popular runner in terms of money taken.”

Verdict: Deficit

R8: Ranvet Hcp (1400m)

Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “I fancy the Melbourne visitor Amish Boy to get the job done. With James McDonald aboard from a favourable gate, he’s been around the money in some good races, and if he brings that form to Sydney he can score. Coal Crusher comes back to the 1400m, he’ll likely lead and will certainly take some running down. The race sets up well for Cotehele and he’s clearly a serious player. I liked Shaquero last start, his run was OK and if you like him I’m not about to turn you off him.”

Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “Hot speed on here with Coal Crusher, Zoushack, Soldier Of Love, Constant Flight and Cotehele not far away. Been a while between drinks for Purple Sector off a solid effort in the Gong, where he was down on inside. All of his Sydney runs this time in are certainly good enough to feature in the finish here and getting to silly odds.”

Michael Sullivan (bookie): “A quiet betting race so far with the favourite Cotehele easing $3.10-$3.30. Zoushack looks very well suited here for mine after running well his last few. Suited back to 1400m with some weight relief and puts himself into the race. Shaquero another who interests me who will be improved second-up.”

Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “Very open affair with punters leaning towards Amish Boy at the each-way odds. Shaquero could be an improver with the benefit of some weight relief.”

Verdict: Amish Boy

Amish Boy has been supported at each-way odds in an open race.

R9: Queen’s Jubilee Hcp (1200m)

Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “It comes down to what can beat I Am Me? Maybe only bad luck, because we are dealing with a mare going places. Like last start, she probably takes control of affairs, and only really has to hold her form to win again. But as we know that’s easier said than done, and I can see Hellfest sprinting well fresh. Already a Group 3 winner, she’ll stalk the favourite and has to be a danger. Dehorned Unicorn returned in great style recently, the claim keeps him down in the weights and he has to be considered again. Easifar might be a bit forgotten in the market here, she always runs well fresh, and it wouldn’t shock if she fills a top four spot.”

Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “I have to risk I Am Me as an odds on chance getting to 1200m and rising 4kg on her last start win. Her task has become much easier without Spaceboy there but not for me. Going to play a couple at odds here in Hellfest and On The Lead. Hellfest had an internal bleed last start in August and hasn’t been let go in both trials. Only three career wins have been at this trip and finished top two all runs at 1200m. On The Lead has to be taken on trust but has been enormous at all three runs this time in.”

Michael Sullivan (bookie): “A race headed by two very talented and progressive gallopers. The gap between I Am Me and Dehorned Unicorn is too great for mine and as such would have to be with the latter at the price. Dehorned Unicorn was outstanding first-up, running superb figures and sectionals. With just 51.5kg he’ll be very hard to beat.”

Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “Dehorned Unicorn is extremely popular with punters latching on to as much as $6 early. I Am Me has her share of supporters through multis too.”

Verdict: I Am Me