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THE LAST SAY: Top sprinters take Shorts cut to The Everest as Pericles eyes Underwood

I Am Me and Private Eye are just two of the gun sprinters looking to secure an Everest slot today, while Pericles is aiming to end a Group 1 hoodoo. Ray Thomas presents the latest tips, market movers and track conditions for today’s racing right around Australia.

Ray Thomas
6 min read
September 21, 2024 - 8:53AM
Hold All Tickets - Punters (Episode 4) 21-09-24

The Randwick 1100m course record could be under threat in The Shorts, Fangirl and Zougotcha in another high profile clash in the 7 Stakes and Pericles is out to break his big-race hoodoo in the Underwood Stakes.

These are just some of the fascinating storylines that could emerge from a compelling raceday at Royal Randwick and Caulfield on Saturday.

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• WIN LIKE A PRO: Expert tips from Racenet’s team of professionals

A crack field of sprinters will contest the Group 2 $1 million The Shorts (1100m) with the Randwick record of 1m 1.67s set by Prophet’s Thumb potentially challenged given the perfect track conditions of a good 4 with the rail in the true position.

Surely the winner of The Shorts will secure a slot for the $20 million The Everest at Royal Randwick on October 19. Early favourite I Am Me ($2.40) is coming off her brilliant win in the Concorde Stakes but she has serious opposition including Private Eye, Lady Of Camelot, Mumbai Muse, Aft Cabin, Stefi Magnetica, Our Kobison and the speedy Way To The Stars.

• RANDWICK TIPS: Professional punter James Molony’s race-by-race tips, analysis

Trainer Chris Waller’s outstanding mares Fangirl ($2 favourite) and Zougotcha ($4) are set to fight out the finish of the $1 million 7 Stakes as both get ready for the Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) on Everest Day.

Waller also has unbeaten filly Autumn Glow as the $2 top pick for the Group 2 $300,000 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) against the likes of Manaal, Ameena and Erno’s Cube.

At Caulfield, Godolphin’s Pericles is into $3.40 favourite for the Group 1 $750,000 Underwood Stakes (1800m) although there has been good support for Place Du Carrousel ($3.80).

• CAULFIELD TIPS: Mark Guest’s race-by-race tips, analysis and quaddie picks

Ciaron Maher’s boom four-year-old Federer is hot favourite at $1.55 to maintain his perfect race record in the Living Legends Handicap (1600m).

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ROYAL RANDWICK
Weather: Warm, sunny day with a forecast top temperature of 23c.
Track: Good (4)
Rail: True

CAULFIELD
Weather: Cool, cloudy day with a forecast top temperature of 17c.
Track: Good (4)
Rail: Out 6m entire circuit

GOLD COAST
Weather: Warm, partly cloudy day with a forecast top temperature of 25c.
Track: Good (4)
Rail: True

MORPHETTVILLE
Weather: Cool, partly cloudy day with a forecast top temperature of 16c.
Track: Soft (5)
Rail: True

• Morphettville, Belmont tips: $26 value play

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BE WARY
The Randwick rail position has shifted back to the true after being 6m out on September 7 which provided those on or near the rail in the straight with an advantage. There is a suspicion it will favour leaders and those near the inside again today so watch the early races for any discernible track bias. Caulfield’s rail has shifted out 6m after being in the true for the last meeting there on August 31. It is expected those on pace near the inside will be favoured.

• Laurie’s Longshots: Sainsbury spruiks $51 chance

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ROYAL RANDWICK

THE BEST BET
Fangirl (Race 8 No.6) resumed in the Winx Stakes and was alongside eventual winner Via Sistina at the 600m before the former was forced to track wide around the turn. Via Sistina went inside and took the shorter route home as Fangirl finished powerfully late for third, beaten only a half length. Fangirl has had a month between runs and a tick-over barrier trial going into the 7 Stakes. Outstanding mare with brilliant acceleration and she excels at Randwick.

• Ray & Duff’s Randwick tips: $6 best bet

THE NEXT BEST
Autumn Glow (Race 7 No.6) puts her unbeaten record on the line after outstanding wins at her only two starts, both at Rosehill. Her latest effort was in the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes against the “boys” where she scored in dominant style, increasing her margin with a powerful final 200m. She is back against the fillies at set weights and will be suited by the Randwick 1400m course. There is no real speed in the Tea Rose Stakes so that does pose jockey James McDonald with a decision to make early in the race whether he goes forward or is happy to stalk the opposition. With even luck in running, Autumn Glow is the one to beat.

• Don’t discount $19 chance in Tea Rose, Lloyd warns punters

VALUE BET
Battleton (Race 10 No.8) lost momentum at a vital stage in the straight when he had to ease off heels and switch course but then he finished strongly to just miss behind Fox Fighter at Rosehill. He meets a similar field here, is fitter for two runs from a spell and is at generous odds near double figures.

• Why history is against Bella Nipotina in The Everest

THE WHISPER
Zardozi (Race 5 No.18) was also entered for the 7 Stakes but Godolphin have elected to run in the Kingston Town Stakes at 2000m which should be ideal for her. The talented mare, winner of the Victoria Oaks last spring and twice Group 1-placed in autumn, has had two runs back from a spell, finishing unplaced in both. Her Winx Stakes effort was very good first-up then she was backed into favouritism for the Chelmsford Stakes and was seemingly disappointing behind Buckaroo but the track bias didn’t help her. Zardozi gets to her right distance range after two runs back from a spell and is ready to win.

• Golden Eagle, The Shorts to be elevated to Group 1 status

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CAULFIELD

THE BEST BET
Another Wil (Race 5 No.3) shouldered 60.5kg and came from a long way back on the turn with a brilliant late burst to score an exciting win from Here To Shock over the Caulfield 1400m course three weeks ago. Here To Shock franked the form by winning the Cameron Handicap at Newcastle on Friday. Another Wil has won six of his nine starts including the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude so the step up to stakes level is no concern. Super talent and bad luck in running is his main danger.

• Hayes import to lay foundation for Caulfield Cup

NEXT BEST
Federer (Race 2 No.11) is a superbly bred four-year-old by ATC Australian Derby and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Dundeel out of Caulfield Cup heroine Jameka and looks a special talent. He has only had two starts but won them by an aggregate margin of nearly 10 lengths. Federer is making his city Saturday debut but he will cope with the class rise.

• Schiller craves Caulfield Cup success with Fawkner Park

VALUE BET
Positivity (Race 7 No.14) was scratched from Flemington last week and saved for this race. Promising mare who was runner-up in the New Zealand Oaks and won the Group 3 SA Classic last season. She resumed with a game effort finishing a close second to the in-form and rock-hard fit Rise At Dawn in the Heatherlie Handicap over 1700m here three weeks ago. She gets in with only 54kg and is drawn to get the gun run from barrier three. She’s good value at $13 in an open race.

• Four-play, Quadzilla: Gilbert Gardiner’s $200 betting strategy for Caulfield

THE WHISPER
Pericles (Race 8 No.2) treated his rivals with contempt in the So You Think Stakes, racing clear on the turn and coasting home to a very easy win. Gifted Goldolphin galloper who has been runner-up three-times at Group 1 level including the Doncaster Mile last autumn and the Golden Eagle. Peaking after two runs from a spell and gets his chance to breakthrough at the top level in the Underwood Stakes.

• Underwood Stakes tips, betting strategies from Racenet, Punters experts

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FIXED ODDS BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS

ROYAL RANDWICK
Race 1: El Castello $4.60-$3.50, Flying Bandit $6-$5, Rush Attack $15-$8.50, Kervette $15-$10
Race 2: She’s Exotic $3.60-$1.90, Perennial $8-$4.40
Race 3: Galeron $8-$7, St Lawrence $15-$8.50, Cliff House $26-$10
Race 4: Well Timed $6-$3.90 with a bet of $1000 e/w at $3.90/$1.80
Race 5: Ceolwulf $3.60-$3.30
Race 6: Tom Kitten $3.90-$3.70 with a bet of $2000 at $3.90, Amenable $8-$6
Race 7: Autumn Glow $2.30-$2 after bets of $2250 at $2.30, $2000 at $2.30, $2000 at $1.95 multiple times
Race 8: Fangirl $2.50-$2.10 after bets of $6000 at $2.25, $5000 at $2.15, $5000 at $2.10, $2000 at $2.30
Race 9: I Am Me $4.60-$2.70 after bets of $2200 at $3.60, $2000 at $3.60, $1000 e/w at $4.40/$1.80, $1000 e/w at $4.20/$1.80, Mumbai Muse $15-$9
Race 10: Moravia $4.60-$3.70, Atmospheric Rock $11-$6.50

• ‘We mean business’, Cummings warns Randwick rivals

CAULFIELD
Race 1: Quantum Cat $4.40-$3.50, Denmark $5.50-$4.80 with a bet of $2000 at $5
Race 2: Federer $1.80-$1.70 with a bet of $2100 at $1.80
Race 3: Quickster $4.80-$3.60,Poifect $4.80-$4.60
Race 4: Silmarillion $3.90-$3.10 with a $2000 bet at $3.90, Too Darn Lizzie $4.40-$4.20, Lilac $5.50-$5
Race 5: Another Wil $2.25-$2.10 with a bet of $2000 at $2.25, Craig $6.50-$5.50
Race 6: Chinny Boom $6.50-$4.40
Race 7: Immediacy $9.50-$7, Just Fine $8.50-$7.50, Gear Up $17-$10
Race 8: Place Du Carrousel $6-$5
Race 9: Wanaruah $5-$4.20, Bosustow $9-$6.50, Private Life $7.50-$7, Epimeles $10-$8
Race 10: Red Card $9.50-$5, A Little Deep $8-$5.50, Extratwo $8.50-$6

• Cameron Happ’s Caulfield tips for Saturday

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INTERSTATE MAIL
Gold Coast Race 4 No.1 MISHANI LILY
Gold Coast Race 9 No.3 CRANKY HARRY
Morphettville Race 1 No.1 GOLDRUSH GURU
Morphettville Race 6 No.7 AVIATRESS

• GOLD COAST TIPS: Graeme Carey’s $17 value play plus best bets, analysis

PROVINCIAL MAIL
Newcastle Race 3 No.10. OCEAN JOY
Newcastle Race 4 No.11: MARAIS

• Greg Polson’s rated prices and race-by-race tips for Newcastle, Randwick

#Good luck today and I hope you back plenty of winners

Originally published as THE LAST SAY: Top sprinters take Shorts cut to The Everest as Pericles eyes Underwood

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/superracing/tips/the-last-say-top-sprinters-take-shorts-cut-to-the-everest-as-pericles-eyes-underwood/news-story/ad5d5bf61b46bdbfbad39f29cc73f6b2