Trainer Lyle Chandler’s progressive gelding Banju has been heavily backed to extend his winning run
Scone gelding Banju has been the medium of heavy support from punters to bring up a hat-trick of wins at Randwick on Saturday.
Banju has been sensationally backed to beat Melbourne Cup favourite Soulcombe in the Drinkwise Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Since the TAB Fixed Odds first opened betting on the race on Wednesday, Banju has been backed almost to the exclusion of every other runner.
Trained at Scone by Lyle Chandler, Banju has firmed from $4 to $2.20 favouritism after some big bets were taken against the gelding including $1,000 at $4, $1,500 at $2.90, $1,120 at $2.90, $1,054 at $2.90, $1,052 at $2.90 twice, $1,000 at $2.80, $1,500 at $2.60, $1,200 at $2.60, $2,668 at $2.50, $2,860 at $2.40, $3,080 at $2.30, $3,200 at $2.25 and $1,175 at $2.20.
“The move for Banju is one of the bigger goes we’ve seen for a long time at a meeting that doesn’t have a Group 1 race,” Georgiou said.
“This has been a very confident move. Ever since the market opened, Banju has been the only horse punters have wanted.”
Georgiou revealed Banju holds nearly 80 per cent of the total investment on the race.
“Since Wednesday afternoon, whatever priced we put up about Banju the punters have been happy to take those odds,” he said.
“There has been ‘educated’ money for the horse but also we have had no shortage of $50 and $20 bets as well.
“When we see a move like this so early, and also with the amount of money we have taken, it is not uncommon for other punters to follow the move.”
THE BEST BARRIERS
The best barriers at Royal Randwick for the last 3 years (in order of wins)
1000m: 1,6,4,5
1200m: 6,7,5,4
1300m: 1,7,2,5
1600m: 3,4,2,5
1800m: 4,3,1,5
THE BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
Race 1: Sicilian $3.90-$3-$2.80 with bets of $1,000 at $3.50, $792 at $3.50, $500 at $3
Race 2: Banana Queen $3.60-$3.80 with a $2,100 wager at $3.80, Cosmic Minerva $4.20-$3.40 after a $2,717 bet at $3.80, African Daisy $16-$9.50-$10
Race 3: Miss Lenorr $6-$7-$6.50 with bets of $1,000 at $7, $900 at $7
Race 4: Preemptory $21-$9 with a bet of $500 at $14
Race 5: Rupertaar $9-$5.50-$6
Race 6: Soulcombe $2.25-$2.80 despite a bit of $2,200 at $3.80, Banju $4-$2.20 after bets of $1,000 at $4, $750 at $4, $700 at $3.80, $700 at $3.40, $500 at $3.20, $1,500 at $2.90, $1,120 at $2.90, $1,054 at $2.90, $1,052 at $2.90 twice, $700 at $2.90, $600 at $2.90, $560 at $2.90, $500 at $2.90 twice, $1,000 at $2.80, $700 at $2.80, $1,500 at $2.60, $1,200 at $2.60, $2,668 at $2.50, $2,860 at $2.40, $3,080 at $2.30, $3,200 at $2.25, $1,175 at $2.20
Race 7: Quick Tempo $11-$6 with bets of $500 at $8, $900 at $7,
$600 at $7, $350/$400 e/w at $7/$2.30, $1,336 at $2.20 place, Kote $5-$4.20 with bets of $500 at $5, $500 at $4.40, $500 at $4.20
Race 8: Aft Cabin $2-$1.95-$2 including a $2,000 bet at $2, Osipenko $9-$7.50 with a bet of $300/$200 e/w at $8.50/$2.20, Zou Tiger $4.20-$3.30-$3.50 with bets of $600 at $4.20, $400 at $3.70, $800 at $3.60, $400 at $3.60
Race 9: Kettle Hill $5-$4 including a $500 e/w bet at $4/$1.65, King Ratel $15-$7.50
Race 10: Lindermann $11-$8-$6.50
EARLY QUADDIE
Race 3: 7,8,10,11
Race 4: 1,11,12,14
Race 5: 4,5,6,8
Race 6: 2,6
QUADDIE
Race 7: 1,2,7,10
Race 8: 1,3,6,8
Race 9: 1,6,14
Race 10: 7,10,12
PRICE CHECK
Aside from the huge plunge on Banju (race 6), the best-backed runner on the Randwick program is Quick Tempo (race 7). He’s firmed from $11-$6 with bets of $500 at $8, $900 at $7, $600 at $7, $350/$400 e/w at $7/$2.30 and $1,336 at $2.20 place.
TRIAL POINTERS
Mexico (race 1) is a virtual mirror image of his Golden Slipper winning sire Capitalist and just as precocious. The Michael Freedman-trained chestnut was purchased by James Harron for $375,000 at the Inglis Classic Sale in 2020. For the record, Harron bought Capitalist for $165,000 a few years earlier at the Magic Millions. Mexico was runner-up in the Inglis Banner at The Valley on debut before a creditable sixth in Barber’s Golden Gift. Looked sharp winning his two Randwick trials last month.
Lindermann (race 10) is a Chris Waller-trained son of Lonhro owned and bred by Debbie Kepitis who raced this colt’s handy mother Self Esteem, a runner-up in the 2016 Gold Bracelet prior to her close-up fourth in the Doomben Roses. Lindermann has clearly inherited some of her stamina given he was last seen finishing a very close second in the Connoisseur over 1800m at Flemington on Cup Day. This is 1200m on Saturday but he is simultaneously fresh and fit.
SECTIONAL STARS
Supido Beauty (race 4) beat subsequent Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip in an Albury barrier trial three weeks prior to her narrow but wholly predictable debut win at Gundagai. The daughter of Widden Stud’s resident stallion Supido has a Melbourne Cup connection of her own given that her ninth dam is 1945 Cup winner, Rainbird. Supido Beauty has won three of her four starts including a Class 2 at home at Wagga on January 5 where she clocked a slick 57.33 seconds for the 1000m.
Quick Tempo (race 7) is another horse racing at Royal Randwick on Saturday with a Melbourne Cup winner in the family. His fourth dam is My Nord whose mating to the English Derby winner Roberto resulted in the 1986 Cup winner, At Talaq. As for Quick Tempo, his six career wins are from 900m to 1100m. The Mark Minervini-trained can count himself unlucky not to have a few more but for bad luck. The son of Rubick clocked a 33.19s last 600m when a neck second to Dehorned Unicorn here on New Year’s Day.
BEST BET
Star Sparks (race 9) is ready to win after two solid runs since resuming. He ran a close fourth at Rosehill over 1500m then tried to make all the running only to be ambushed late Beaufort Park at Randwick over 1600m. The step up to 1800m is no issue for Star Sparks and although he has topweight of 60kg, he carries weight well having won under 61.5kg twice last preparation. If he gets any sort of control up front, he will be very hard to run down.
VALUE BET
Communist (race 8) is resuming after a promising spring campaign that included close seconds at stakes level in the Dulcify Quality and Callander-Presnell. He is resuming over 1200m but he looked very sharp in his recent trial win at Hawkesbury. Underrated three-year-old and is generous odds around $16 for the Eskimo Prince Stakes.
THE JUDGEMENT
Race 1: Lonhro Plate (1100m)
Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “Madeira Sunrise looks more than handy. In her recent trial, this daughter of I Am Invincible was cruising in behind them, and from a good barrier with James McDonald on board, she can make a winning debut.”
Grant Palmer (bookie): “It’s safe to assume Tim Clark will take Sicilian straight to the front from the low draw and give them something to catch. I thought Mexico was good in both of his starts and he looks to have matured well over the break.”
Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Two-year-olds to kick us off and the debutant Madeira Sunrise has been the best backed runner from $4.80-$4.20. Looks to get a nice run here and with the right connections. Portorosa is one at odds that’s attracted some money $12-$8.50.”
Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “Sicilian has looked good winning a few trials leading into this. Prepared to give another go after it failed on the heavy on debut when well supported.”
Verdict: Madeira Sunrise
Race 6: Drinkwise Mile (1600m)
Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “The class of Soulcombe is going to shine through here. Likely to get back in the run, he will be steaming home late and could easily run right over the top of them. Banju is fit and firing, he’s the likely leader and the horse to run down.”
Grant Palmer (bookie): “Banju is shooting for three straight here and I think he gets it done. He drops a stack of weight here and Reece Jones might look to employ similar tactics when first up, go to the front early and make them chase him.”
Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Fascinating affair. All the early money is for Banju $2.30-$2.10, looking for three on the bounce. Soulcombe trending the other way $2.30-$2.90 and hard to write a ticket at this stage. Clearly looking for further but looks a very classy animal. No firm opinion here.”
Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “Money talks and Banju has been the best backed runner heading into the Randwick card. Carries no weight and has a fitness edge on some of its key rivals. Go close.”
Verdict: Banju
Race 8: Eskimo Prince (1200m)
Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “I’ve settled on Zou Tiger to make a winning return. English jockey Tom Marquand is back for the Sydney autumn and if he can put this colt is a nice position just off speed, I think he can take care of business. Aft Cabin is clearly very talented and he may well be the horse to beat, I just feel he’s a bit skinny at his current price.”
Grant Palmer (bookie): “The favourite Aft Cabin looks hard to beat but I thought Sejardan looked over the odds around the $14 mark. He was disappointing in his first few races last prep but he redeemed himself with a win at the Valley in the Red Anchor Stakes. Has won this track/trip before and has drawn well in barrier two. He will improve on whatever he does here but looks worthy of a throw at the stumps.”
Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Aft Cabin just looks incredibly tight to us. Off a bleed and just the one trial I think yard and late betting telling. Happy to let our punters on him though and he accounts for 70 per cent of the hold so far. Osipenko the one for me. Trialled up nicely and looks ready to go here for Nash Rawiller. Each-way.”
Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “Open affair with a few nice types engaged. I think Aft Cabin will go on to be the best of the bunch but I’m prepared to go Sejardan at the each-way odds.”
Verdict: Sejardan
Originally published as Trainer Lyle Chandler’s progressive gelding Banju has been heavily backed to extend his winning run
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