Randwick Tips & Preview | Saturday 3 January

PROFITABELLE (6) is on debut for Bjorn Baker after winning her heat at Rosehill two weeks ago in impressive style.  

The daughter to Inglis Millenium winner Profiteer came with a big run down the outside to win quite well, angling three-wide into the straight and letting rip with a solid turn of foot.  

Regan Bayliss got a good feel for her that day and will likely adopt similar tactics operating from a wider alley for the first time on Saturday.  

MOUNT BONA (4) just needs clear air in running to go on and win her hat-trick for Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich. 

This promising four-year-old let down well to win at Scone second-up over the mile, then stepping back slightly to 1500m in a similar Highway race at Rosehill last start where she savaged the line along the inside to go half a length clear. 

To my eye, she was still doing her best work through the line, so the step back up to 1600m looks perfect now with the class of Zac Lloyd taking over.  

CLANCY (6) is a talented four-year-old resuming for Ron Quinton and connections.  

We got a taste of what this son of Territories is all about when he came out and won on debut at Warwick Farm earlier in the year, then heading to Gosford where he was far from disgraced running third against his own sex.  

His recent trial at Kensington really caught the eye where he was seen bolting in along the rail from midfield to go three-quarters of a length clear. He’s drawn slightly awkwardly with Louise Day on board, but he does look revved up and ready to fire again fresh. 

STEEL STRIKE (3) is racing well enough to go on with the job for Waterhouse and Bott.  

The Exceed and Excel entire has gone close without winning in both runs back, settling for third last start in a BM72 at Warwick Farm where he became a little unbalanced at the 200m mark after brushing another runner. 

He’s had some tricky gates to contend with in those two starts and notably held his own at Listed level during the Brisbane Winter Carnival. Drawn a soft gate this time and seemingly looking for further, he looks to be one of the main contenders with Adam Hyeronimus back on board. 

ALABAMA FOX (10) appeals in an open race. 

She’s been a tricky horse to back at times but remains a consistent type, finishing no worse than fourth over her last four starts. 

We last saw her running second at Randwick over 100m shorter in a fillies and mares race, just lacking the conditioning when it mattered with Amplify laying down a big challenge down the outside. 

Keep in mind, she was off a two-month break and up in grade, so with fitness back on her side and improvement still to come, she should be right in the mix with only 52.5kg on her back. 

KILKENNY (13) gets in carrying just 52.5kg under Zac Lloyd. 

Chris Waller’s mare has proven herself over these middle distances in the past, notably winning her maiden by a whopping eight length margin at Kembla Grange earlier in April over 1500m. 

She’s been around the mark without winning in both runs back, grabbing a place fresh at Canterbury, and clearly wanting longer in another mares race at Warwick Farm two weeks ago where she was four wide into the turn. 

Some luck will be necessary from the wide alley, but if she can settle midfield early and save something for the finish, she should be set to peak at this stage of her prep.  

GOODLUCKTOME (4) looks suited over 1200m fresh from a break.  

Ciaron Maher’s gelding has been given a decent spell since the Winter Carnival in Brisbane, a prep that was highlighted by back to back wins before a runner-up placing in the Listed Daybreak Lover. 

She’s been given two soft trials and wasn’t asked to do much in either, while the barrier should see her get right back in the run and offer her every opportunity in the chase for the judge. 

STEP ASIDE (7) finds it tough to win but should still be racing with a touch of confidence after saluting over 1300m here a fortnight ago. 

Apprentice Siena Grima chose to carve a path out wide into the straight, a decision that proved fruitful as the pair raced clear with ease to go three-quarters of a length clear ahead of Plundering.  

By Redwood, she’s third-up and still open to big improvement, particularly from a nice soft gate this time. Look for her to settle back towards the tail again and finish strongly over the top.  

CANDLEWICK (7) showed good, sustained speed in a narrow trial win at Warwick Farm on the poly track two weeks ago.  

The Pierro mare was fast into stride up on the rail, which was also the case last time in work when she won back-to-back starts at Kensington and Warwick Farm, before testing her luck in the Hawkesbury Guineas, and finally, the Group 3 Fred Best Classic at Doomben. 

She’s unbeaten in two starts first-up which reads well for this assignment with Zac Lloyd proven in the saddle.  

BARAZIN (2) has been up for a while but still holds genuine claims in a tricky race to close out the day. 

He’s mixed his form in recent runs like the Taree Cup and the Little Dance, but has just missed out on a place back to Benchmark level out over longer. 

There’s no jockey as I write, but he’s come up with a handy barrier and boasts a strong record over 2000m, missing the cash just once from five starts. Look for him to get back off the speed like he did last start at Rosehill and potentially find something exra in the finish this time.