Sydney Specials: Randwick - Saturday, 11th February 2023

The unofficial start of the Sydney Autumn and we’re calling it: the good horses are back.

Champion Australian trainer Gai Waterhouse at 2019 Royal Ascot
Champion Australian trainer Gai Waterhouse at 2019 Royal Ascot Picture: Racing and Sports

Last week saw Aft Cabin shine for Godolphin and yet he's overshadowed this week as the stable's two best horses (for now) return: Anamoe and In Secret.

Both are in the red and deservingly so although perhaps Anamoe deservedly more so having beaten basically all of these at some point over a range of distances.

With the scratching of King's Gambit in the first, Don Corleone is also well into the red now and while all three might feature in plenty of nationwide multis, we are looking for something worth backing.

For my best I'm going back to the well with Major Artie in race 4. Waller made a mockery of the punters (me) that backed him at $4.50, seeing him start $2.60 and be attacked for the lead by Niffler.

That looked to set the race up for Bold Mac who came from back in the field but I think Major Artie is the better horse and fourth up at the mile out of a strongly run race, drawn well with Nash on all look ideal.

No doubt now Bullfinch, who has settled 6/11, 6/8, 10/12, 8/12, 9/11 and 6/6 in his runs this campaign will be sent to lead from the outside gate and allow Frumos to get over the top…

Perhaps I'm being lazy this week providing a carbon copy of my bets from two weeks ago but Perfect Proposal just seems a silly price at 70-1 in the Inglis Millenium given she started a fairly well backed $4.20 vs Learning To Fly (also $4.20) last start.

She was woeful there with some fairly weak excuses given but given she's now 25x the favourite's price and maps for the softest of runs tagging the leader, I think she's worth something 1x4.

There are worse people to put your faith in than Gai to get these two back up and winning two weeks after letting us down.


SYDNEY SPECIALS

Bet of the day: Race 4 #5 Major Artie @ $4

Each-way play: Race 6 #13 Perfect Proposal @ $71/14


Racing and Sports