Randwick Racing Tips for October 19 - Mazu will revel in the conditions

Steve Bennett

Editor

Last updated: 17 Oct 2024

Share

Steve Bennett 17 Oct 2024

Share this article

Island Dec is unbeaten and excels on wet tracks, favorable conditions expected on race day.
Gallant Star offers strong odds with past success at Randwick, aided by a weight drop.
Mazu is a potential winner, thriving on wet tracks and performing well in similar conditions.

Expired

Randwick racing takes place on Saturday, October 19, with a 10-race program set down for Randwick racetrack.

Race 3: No.4 Island Dec
Race 5: No.11 Gallant Star
Race 6: No.6 Mazu
Race 8: No.10 War Machine

We have the best bets picked from across the meeting with a Best Bet and other value selections for Randwick racetrack.

Race 3: No.4 Island Dec

The Team Price-trained Island Dec is second-up here and unbeaten in two starts, looks a genuine chance of adding to that tally in this event.

Last start, the Kermadec filly resumed off a 15-week spell and destroyed her rivals in a BM64 over 1000m at Kembla Grange.

On a Heavy 8, Tommy Berry had her near mid-field and had to track on the turn where she showed plenty of toe as she found the front inside the final 200m and went on to win by almost three lengths over the line.

Ideally drawn here in gate two, she needs to jump with them and settle mid-field or better as Craig Williams takes the reins for the first time.

She is two from two on wet tracks and with more rain forecast for Sydney, conditions look ideal for her.

A clear run to the line and she may prove hard to hold out in this contest.

Race 5: No.11 Gallant Star

The Dubbo-based Gallant Star is second-up here and yet to miss a podium finish in four Randwick starts, looks a solid winning chance at big odds in this event.

Last start, the Zoustar gelding resumed off a six-month absence when he cleaned them up in Open company over 1100m on his home track.

Tyler Schiller settled him mid-field (from gate 11 of 14) and then working to the middle of the track in the run home, finished too strong and with 60kgs, won by a length on the line.

Jason Collett is the new pilot for this assignment as he draws gate ten here and maps to settle mid-field again.

Already a two-time winner when second-up and a winner at the track and distance, the 4.5kg drop in weight brings him into contention here and he looks well worth an each-way ticket in this contest.

Race 6: No.6 Mazu

Joe Pride saddles-up Mazu here who is third-up and ticks all the boxes that suggest he can take this Group 3 event out.

Last start, the Maurice gelding came off a first-up placing in the Group 2 Shorts when he met similar company in the Premier Stakes and beat all but home in that event with Nash Rawiller in the saddle.

Both those races were here on dry tracks where he dis well to find the podium on both occasions.

He is an absolute mudlark and has just been waiting for a wet track and here he looks to get the conditions he enjoys with a forecast Heavy 8 for Saturday.

Seven of his eight victories have come on wet tracks and he has three wins at the track and distance on his resume as well.

Rawiller sticks with him for this assignment and already a two-time winner when third-up, he looks a genuine winning chance and good value in this contest.

Race 8: No.10 War Machine

The Moroney & Thompson-trained War Machine is second-up here and making his Sydney debut, looks a serious player in this event.

Last start, the Harry Angel gelding resumed off a lengthy 23-week break when finished strongly to beat all but one home in a BM84 over 1200m at Moonee Valley.

With Declan Bates in the saddle, he crossed from his wide gate and settled fourth, three-wide to the turn where he soon after moved to second and chased the leader all the way home, beaten less than a length on the line.

The four-year-old draws much better here as well as he jumps from gate two and maps to settle in the first half-dozen with cover.

Bates sticks with him here in search of his third win on the gelding.

Fitter for that first-up effort, the extra distance here will suit, as will the bigger Randwick track.

Already a winner when second-up, a trouble-free run should see him figure in the finish.