Inside Mail and The Judgement: Expects give their final word on Randwick

Bjorn Baker is confident tough gelding Malkovich can overcome his big weight with a little help from Tim Clark.

Malkovich will give a bold sight even with his big weight at Randwick. Picture: Grant Guy

Trainer Bjorn Baker has resisted the temptation to use a claiming apprentice on talented sprinter Malkovich in the Ranvet Sprint (1000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Malkovich, a proven stakes performer, has been allocated topweight of a crushing 62.5kg for his comeback race.

But Baker said he is relying on Malkovich’s sheer class and the tactical nous of jockey Tim Clark.

“Malkovich has his share of weight but his record suggests he has earned it,” Baker said.

Van Giz (right) has pulled up well from last week’s run and will back-up at Randwick on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

“We could have gone for an apprentice but Tim (Clark) is riding very well and I will leave it to him to sum up the race.

“Although Malkovich is not completely ‘drilled’ down for this race, he is going really well. I’m keen to run him in the (Group 1) Oakleigh Plate in three weeks so I’m expecting him to be very hard to beat.”

Malkovich raced at a high level in his three-race spring campaign, finishing second in the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint, Listed Century Stakes and The Warra.

The sprinter indicated he is ready to win first-up after a brilliant barrier trial effort at Randwick last month.

Another Baker-trained galloper bursting to win a race is Van Giz, who lines up in the Vinery Handicap (1300m).

Van Giz has been placed in three of her four starts this campaign including a close third to Impasse at Rosehill last Saturday.

“After her Rosehill run, Van Giz was doing so well I couldn’t find a reason not to back up with her at Randwick,” Baker said.

“She’s had a solid preparation and deserves to win one. She is back slightly in trip which suits her, too.”

THE BEST BARRIERS

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

1000m: 5,1,3,4

1100m: 3,5,6,1

1200m: 6,7,1,8

1300m: 1,2,4,5

1600m: 4,3,1,2

THE BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS

Race 1: Lady Laguna $3.60-$3-$3.10 including a $715 wager at $3.80, Cythera $9-$10-$7.50-$8-$7.50-$8 with bets of $700 at $10, $1,000 at $8, Deep Expectation $11-$7.50

Race 2: Commando Hunt $21-$11 with a bet of $400/$200 e/w at $23/$7, Participator $9.50-$5.50 with bets of $500/$1,151 e/w at $9/$3.10, $1,101 at $6.50

Race 3: Icecrusher $14-$10, French Emperor $4.60-$3-$3.30 with bets of $550 at $4.60, $600 at $3.80, $650 at $3.80, $500 at $3.20, $500 at $3

Race 4: Kallos $6-$4.20 with bets of $400 at $4.80, $700 at $4.60, $1,300 at $4.20, Shadow Crush $13-$6.50-$5.50 with bets of $200 e/w at $13/$3.10, $200 e/w at $11/$2.80, $200 e/w at $9/$2.50, Sky Command $7.50-$6

Race 5: Through Irish Eyes $7-$5.50 with a bet of $300 e/w at $7/$2.40, Van Roy $11-$8.50

Race 6: Sejardan $3-$3.70-$4 after bets of $500 at $3.60, $2,000 at $3.20, $1,500 at $3.80, El Padrino $15-$9-$9.50 including a wager of $500 at $9, Boldinho $11-$5.50 with bets of $600 at $7.50, $500 at $6.50, $500 at $6, Paris Dior $5-$4 after bets of $800 at $4.80, $1,200 at $4.40, $3,000 at $4, $1,000 at $4)

Race 7: Joviality $8-$4 with bets of $400 at $6.50, $400 at $6, $750 at $4, $500 at $4, $600 at $3.90

Race 8: Paulele $4.20-$2.40 with bets of $650 at $4.20, $400 at $3.50, $2,000 at $3.40, $500 at $3.40, $500 at $3.30, $500 at $3.20, $1,500 at $3.10, $500 at $3, $500 at $2.90, $500 at $2.80, $500 at $2.70, $2,000 at $2.40, $1,427 at $2.40, $1,000 at $2.40, Ranch Hand $7.50-$8-$6 with bets of $600/$300 e/w at $8/$2.70, $500 at $6.50

Race 9: Maotai $7-$4.60, Silent Impact $3-$2.80-$2.70 with bets of $500 at $3, $1,052 at $2.90, $2,000 at $2.80, $1,000 at $2.80

Race 10: Frosty Rocks $13-$6.50 with bets of $500/$1,000 e/w at $13/$3.60, $200/$300 e/w at $10/$3.10, Through The Cracks $4.40-$3.40 after bets of $650 at $4.40, $700 at $3.80, $400 at $3.70, $3,000 at $3.60, $2,000 at $3.40, $1,000 at $3.40, Lackeen $5.50-$6-$5 after a bet of $400 at $6

Talented three-year-old Kallos (blue, white cap) has been well-supported first-up at Randwick on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

EARLY QUADDIE

Race 3: 5,9,13

Race 4: 1,2,3,6

Race 5: 1,5,6

Race 6: 1,3,9,14

QUADDIE

Race 7: 3,7

Race 8: 1,2,3,4

Race 9: 1,10,13

Race 10: 2,4,8,12

PRICE CHECK

Paulele (race 8) has been sensationally backed to retain his unbeaten Randwick record. The Godolphin three-year-old opened at $4.20 but is into $2.40 favourite after being heavily backed to win the Eskimo Prince Stakes including bets of $2,000 at $3.40, $1,500 at $3.10, $2,000 at $2.40, $1,427 at $2.40 and $1,000 at $2.40.

TRIAL POINTERS

Through Irish Eyes (race 5) is a Maher and Eustace-trained gelding who could very well find himself in the Sydney Cup at the end of this campaign such are his staying credentials. The NZ-bred four-year-old has only had seven starts so far but in that time he has managed to win the VRC St Leger Stakes over 2800m at Flemington on Anzac Day. Bred on the explosive Tavistock-Zabeel cross, Through Irish Eyes resumes over the Randwick mile today off an easy 1200m heat win at Warwick Farm on January 20.

Converge (race 8) is a gelding but it is worth revisiting his regal pedigree which wouldn’t have him out of place parading at Newmarket or Longchamp. The Waterhouse and Bott-trained three-year-old is by the super horse and now super sire Frankel. His dam is a daughter of Shamardal and the Grade 1 American Oaks runner-up, Melhor Ainda. As for Converge, the reigning J.J. Atkins winner has been trialling up a storm ahead of Saturday’s return and was very impressive winning his heat here 11 days ago.

Group 1 winner Converge (red) wins has trialled very well ahead of his first-up run on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

SECTIONAL STARS

Participator (race 2) is a hugely exciting son of Godolphin’s former wfa star Contributor who produced a Group 1 winner (Lion’s Roar) from his first crop. As for Participator, he is unbeaten in his two starts so far - both at home at Wagga - coincidentally, the same meeting (Wagga Town Plate Day) 12 months ago is where Lion’s Roar made his winning debut. Country Championships bound, Participator, has shown a tremendous turn of foot to win each time, the last one on October 29.

Lennon (race 3) was something of an eye-catcher in defeat at Warwick Farm on January 5 in a Benchmark 72 over 1200m. No surprise then that the Les Bridge-trained son of Shamus Award was so dominant winning a Benchmark 64 at Newcastle over 1500m 14 days later. The Widden Stud-bred gelding gets a taste of Midway racing today but has numerous factors in his favour, not least a favourable draw and 2kg off for apprentice Chris Williams who steered him to his away win last month.

BEST BET

Joviality (race 7) hasn’t won in a while but her comeback effort when closing late to be beaten narrowly by Rule Of Law was very encouraging. Rule Of Law has since franked the form by winning at Rosehill last week, his fourth win in succession. Joviality drops back to mares grade, James McDonald has the ride, and two of her three career wins have been at today’s race distance. She ticks a lot of boxes. Ready to win.

VALUE BET

Calgary Stampede (race 6) has shaped promisingly in his two starts, winning on debut at Rosehill then finishing a close second to El Padrino in the Inglis Nursery. Calgary Stampede drew a wide barrier that day and had to work hard during the race but showed plenty of determination to fight out the finish. He is drawn to get the gun run and is well over the odds at $17.

Calgary Stampede looks great value in the Inglis Millennium. Picture: Grant Guy

THE JUDGMENT

ROYAL RANDWICK

Race 6: Inglis Millennium (1100m)

Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “The 1100m is the only query for the horse I like in the race (wish it was 1200m) - the Gary Portelli-trained Sejardan. This youngster has been terrific so far, he’ll settle in the second half of the field again here, but he’ll be the strongest late. Paris Dior is clearly a talent, she’ll put herself on the speed again and showed a super turn of foot at her debut. Zambezi River wasn’t far away from Sejardan in the Breeders Plate and has been saved for this race. You could put Emperor in that same basket, don’t let him get under your guard from a better barrier.”

Grant Palmer (bookie): “I cannot go past the Gary Portelli-trained Sejardan who was outstanding in both spring starts. He will go back from barrier 9 but he can run over the top of them late. He has been slightly easy since the market opened however as the money has come for both Boldinho and Paris Dior.”

Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Sejardan probably went up too short but getting to a very backable price now. Done nothing wrong in two starts to date and will be the closer here in a race of good speed with the rail in the true.”

Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “Sejardan is my on top selection but he’s been a drifter all week. Paris Dior, Boldinho and El Padrino are noted firmers.”

Verdict: Sejardan

R8: Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m)

Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “An interesting renewal of the Eskimo Prince Stakes, all bar one runner is first-up so the yard inspection crucial. He was thrown in the deep end against some topliners last preparation, and I suspect Ranch Hand is set to fire here. He’s always been a talent, and with James McDonald riding from a good draw, is a big player. It’s impossible to knock the likely favourite Paulele. The big chestnut always runs well fresh and will do so again here. Converge looks ready to go, and I wouldn’t have Captivant and Hilal too far from your thoughts at good odds.”

Grant Palmer (bookie): “Paulele is undefeated in four starts at Randwick with two of them over 1200m. I have him on top from Ranch Hand who has a very strong first-up record. There has been a move at odds for Captivant. He opened at $26 but a steady stream of money has seen him firm into his current price of $14.”

Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Paulele an obvious winning chance but we’ll take him on here first up at 1200m. Looks rock bottom now. Converge trialled like a rocket and if the inside is holding up by this stage, I think he’s the one they will have to hold out.”

Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “Punters have come for Paulele with 70 per cent of the early money coming for him.”

Verdict: Paulele

With a perfect Randwick record, classy colt Paulele looks hard to beat in the Eskimo Prince Stakes. Picture: Grant Guy

R9: TAB Handicap (1200m)

Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “It’s hard to see Silent Impact doing anything but improve off his super win first-up. He’s clearly a 3yo going places, Tim Clark will put him near the speed in the run, and he should be too classy for this field. Rustic Steel adds plenty of interest here, he’s a lightly-raced 4yo with a good record, expect him to run very well. And we saw Kacy Fogden in town last week with a good 2yo and now she has 3yo Maotai in her care and a sharp recent trial has him ready to go.”

Grant Palmer (bookie): “Silent Impact won well last start but he has been a little soft in betting. I thought both Rustic Steel and El Buena looked over the odds at double figures. The best backed runner so far has been Lancaster Bomber who opened at $15 and is now into $10.”

Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Silent Impact the progressive horse here who did a good job first up off a slow tempo to reel them in. The one to beat again. Convinced Fastconi is going well and with the blinkers going back on he’s worth including at a price.”

Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “This is a very open affair with Broken Arrows worth something at the each-way odds for mine. Handles all going and comes into this third-up.”

Verdict: Silent Impact

Originally published as Inside Mail and The Judgement: Expects give their final word on Randwick