Winter Stakes Randwick Tips Preview

Winter Stakes: tips and preview

WINTER STAKES - 1400m, Randwick R8

The Winter Stakes is the feature race of the day at Randwick, a Listed affair over 1400m. While it’s attracted a capacity 14 horse field with a few emergencies, a number of these are out of form, have a few convictions or have reached their level.

Brigantine, from the James Cummings yard, and Cotehele, from the John O’Shea camp, are the early equal favourites. Both are handy off-season horses, renowned for always being thereabouts, and may yet be able to scale greater heights.

Brigantine got a confidence boosting win at a lower level two starts back, and his third to Munhamek last start is good form, as that galloper has been a good standard-bearer for this tier of race.

Cotehele is one of half the field here that ran in the Civic Stakes at Randwick two weeks ago, where less than a length covered the first five home, of which he was fifth. His record expicitly says he wins one race each campaign, and he’s already done that this time in work.

Ucalledit won that Civic Stakes, coming off form that was just okay. King of Hastings was second, and he hasn’t won a race since July 2021. Cisco Bay filled the placings and was at least coming off a win, even if he is rising nine these days. None of it recommends the Civic as a great form reference.

If there is one out of that race that might be worth following, albeit not to win this, it could be Longvillers for Chris Waller. The ex-European was first-up from a good break, has only had three starts in Australia, and was okay for further.

Waller also has Polly Grey and Brookspire here. Polly Grey just has to carry too much weight for a mare in these races, and needs heavy ground to figure. Brookspire rarely runs to market expectation, and it doesn’t look like she is going to become anything more than what she is – capable of winning the occasional Saturday race.

Blaze A Trail looks to be the one the market has overlooked early in the piece. Maher and Eustace appear to be getting the best out of this horse now, and if he brings his Queensland form to this race he is the likely winner. The second behind the highly talented Antino two starts back is good enough for this, as is his third to Lady of Honour and Gravina last start. He is outstanding value at double figures.

Matthew Flinders is the interesting runner, for Annabel Neasham. He hasn’t raced since October 2021, and is about to make his Australian debut after three trials. He was pretty good in the last of these, and has been the subject of a little specking early in the week. We’ll see what the betting moves are on the day.

Hosier is another runner of intrigue. He’s won seven of 13 in his career, of which all the wins came in his first nine Australian starts. He was tipped out after one run last prep, when racing below par in the Muswellbrook Cup.

There’s a good chance Hosier will jump to the front and try to go all the way, as there isn’t an abundance of natural speed in the race, and it’s likely the right tactics and best ride on the day will be the difference between victory and defeat.

Selections: 1.Blaze A Trail 2.Brigantine 3.Hosier 4.Matthew Flinders