Group 1 Champion Stakes victory not above Equator

Australia's favourite tipster Ken Callander picked Boban ($6), Arinosa ($3.40) and Seville last week ($10) and has again found value at Randwick today.

Ken Callander's three big tips for last week's Epsom day at Royal Randwick

THE Gai Waterhouse-trained Equator, Group 1 placed in the Champagne Stakes as a two-year-old and well suited at level weights, could be great value at $11 in today's Champion Stakes at Royal Randwick.

The son of boom stallion Northern Meteor has to bowl over up and coming stayers Savvy Nature, Complacent and Rock Hero, but he will be at his peak following two runs since his Winter spell and he could prove a surprise packet.

In Melbourne the three-year-olds also hold the spotlight in the Caulfield Guineas where the free- wheeling Kiwi, El Roca, is also capable of beating some shorter priced highly rated youngsters in another set weight G1 clash.

Ken Callander's three big tips for last week's Epsom day at Royal Randwick

Race 1 (1.07) Randwick

Betting: $2.30 Multilateral, $6 Marden, Mulaqen, $7 Entirely Platinum, $9 Diamond Jim

Comment: Multilateral is the pick of the four Waller runners following his strong win over Ecuador, who then came out and ran a great race in the Epsom. Don't be surprised if the dangers come from the value runners Diamond Jim, who should have won clearly last start, and Cantonese, who is not far off finding his best again and could lead. Entirely Platinum is on trial at 2000m.

Bet: 6 Multilateral

Exotics: 6 Multilateral as standout in quinellas with 1 Cantonese and 5 Diamond Jim

Race 2 (1.42)

Betting: $5 Kokomo, $5.50 Double Happy, Kernahan, $8 Unencumbered

Comment: Hard to bet with field of unknowns. Kokomo got back in her Randwick trial, but hit the line in good style. Double Happy, scratched last week, has ability, but a bad draw. Others to show something in trials were Baio, Crooked Blaze, Kernahan, Unencumbered and Undoubted Pleasure.

Bet: 9 Kokomo

Exotics: Too tricky.

Race 3 (2.17)

Betting: $4 Chateau Lafaite, $4.60 Surge Ahead, $4.80 Gamblestown, $6.5 Earnest Desire

Comment: Surge Ahead was wide and showed determination when he bet Gamblestown at Warwick Farm, but I prefer the form of the Canterbury race where Chateau Lafaite looked open to improvement when nosed out by her stablemate Earnest Desire. Vitello, Malice and Senior Council have all only won in weak class at the provincials and Federica didn't beat much winning at Warwick Farm.

Bet: 8 Chateau Lafaite

Exotics: 8 Chateau Lafaite as standout in quinellas with 2 Earnest Desire, 5 Surge Ahead

Shelford (fourth from right in white cap, red, black and white silks) will be hard to beat in the Xirrus Sprint (1200m).

Race 4 (2.52)

Betting: $3 Shelford, $4 Angel Bee, $5.50 Maximilian, $8 Ivory Cognac

Comment: Angel Bee, Maximilian and Shelford ran 1,2,3 over this course three weeks back, but Angel Bee and Maximilian had dream runs and Shelford did it tough out wide. Turnley could lead and should be respected and you cannot ignore Ivory Cognac following three wins on the trot.

Bet: 3 Shelford

Exotics: Box trifecta 3 Shelford, 6 Turnley, 8 Angel Bee, 9 Ivory Cognac

Race 5 (3.27)

Betting: $2.40 That's A Good Idea, $4.40 Landing, $9 Haussman, $11 Cameo

Comment: That's A Good Idea should lead and, with not too much pressure, I don't think 1400m will be a problem. Landing has stacks of ability and looked good in the latest of four trials, but he has not raced for 17 months. Haussmann did the job well although he didn't beat much last run and Cameo and Frozen Rope are not out of it.

Bet: 5 That's A Good Idea

Exotics: Box quinella 5 That's A Good Idea, 6 Came, 7 Haussmann

Race 6 (4.02)

Betting: $3.50 Savvy Nature, $4.60 Complacent, $5.50 Rock Hero, $8 Drago, $11 Equator

Comment: Savvy Nature, Complacent and Drago filled the placings in the Gloaming Stakes two weeks back and all are promising, but how good is the formline? Rock Hero has looked terrific in his last two wins, but did get 5kg off Equator last week. Is Equator the sleeper? Criterion is the other chance. Very interesting race, Equator value to beat Complacent and Savvy Nature.

Bet: 9 Equator

Exotics: Box trifecta 1 Criterion, 4 Savvy Nature, 5 Complacent, 8 Rock Hero, 9 Equator

Sharnee Rose, ridden by Brenton Avdulla, wins the Golden Pendant at Rosehill Gardens last month.

Race 7 (4.37)

Betting: $2.10 Our Desert Warrior, $7.50 Gangster's Choice, $8.50 Choice Bro

Comment: Our Desert Warrior is improving all the time and he should lead this lot without too much effort but he is not much value. Gangster's Choice's last two runs have been OK and he has no weight and Choice Bro looked good behind Boban last start at only his second Aussie start. The others are pretty even.

Bet: 4 Choice Bro

Exotics: Quinella 4 Choice Bro, 6 Our Desert Warrior

Race 8 (5.20)

Betting: $5 Lucky Lago, $6 Sharnee Rose, $6.50 Lilliburlero, $7 Queenstown, $8.50 Cathay Lady

Comment: Tough race. Sharnee Rose disappointed in the Tibbie at Newcastle, a race in which Gold Epona, Lilliburlero, Cathay Lady and Jade Marauder all ran well, but then came out and looked terrific in beating Red Tracer at Rosehill. Lucky Lady was lucky to beat Queenstown at Warwick Farm last run and looks short odds. Impetuous can surprise and Porcellanus is a good roughie.

Bet: 1 Sharnee Rose

Exotics: Box trifecta 1 Sharnee Rose, 2 Jade Marauder, 8 Gold Epona, 10 Queenstown

Darley galloper Kuroshio will be a major player in the Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield.

BEST BET

Race 3, No. 8

Chateau Lafaite

BEST VALUE

Race 6, No. 9

Equator

WHO'S HOT

Kuroshio, $2.70 to $2.30 on Fixed Odds, is tipped to chalk up two G2 wins in a row in the Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield.

WHO'S NOT

Our Desert Warrior has eased from $1.90 to $2.10 in Race 7 at Randwick, but surely he will be at even longer odds on track.

DROP A HINT

Cantonese should be watched in the first at Randwick. He's dropping sharply in grade after running in the Cameron Handicap and Craven Plate.

EYE CATCHER

El Roca caught the eye in the Guineas Prelude when he set a dynamite speed and held on well. Watch him at Caulfield in the Guineas.