This week's headline plays are Global Goal at 2.5 units at $3.20 in the Flight Stakes and Mr Miller at 0.4 units at $13 in the Epsom Handicap. Unleeshing is our strongest Traders' Best Bet at 5 units at $2.00 in Randwick Race 5, while the Turnbull Stakes is a no-bet for our traders this week.
A great weekend of racing ahead with the time-honoured Epsom and Metropolitan handicaps, supported by the Flight Stakes, highlighting the card at Randwick. At a wet Flemington, the good horses look to stamp their spring credentials in the Turnbull and the Bart Cummings. Let's run our eye over the key races and see if we can find some winners.
Feature Races
Randwick
Epsom Handicap - Randwick - 1600m G1
Great betting race as these big handicaps usually are. Autumn Boy a deserved favourite after chasing home Sheza Alibi in the Makybe Diva. His record at a mile is very good, it's just the draw that puts me off a little. Will need the gaps at the right time and at the price I'm willing to let him go. Well Written, absolutely no clue. The market is loving her early but I can't get involved. Attica seems too short for mine. Looks set to peak and in the right camp but Autumn Boy has handled him each time they've met and I'm not convinced on a rain-affected track.
Mr Miller is my top seed. Forgetting the run at Newcastle where he jumped awkward and got back off a slow speed. Don't love that he was inclined to lay in, but they've tinkered with the gear and from a good draw on the minimum I think he can only run well. Declichy Boulevard is an underrated mare who looks in the zone at the moment. The more rain the better for her and she maps sensational with no weight. God's Window was the other that interested me off a sneaky good run resuming. Won second up last prep at a mile and will be on side.
Mr Miller @ $13.00 (0.4 Units)
Declichy Boulevard @ $21.00 (0.25 Units)
God's Window @ $41.00 (0.15 Units)
Metropolitan - Randwick - 2400m G2
Aethelwulf stays in Sydney and heads up what has turned out to be a somewhat lacklustre Metropolitan for 2026. Too short for me at the back end of what has already been a long prep. He's super progressive and will get every possible sitting behind The Euphrates, but I'm happy to look elsewhere. The Euphrates very good winning the other day off the long break and can only improve. Juja Kibo and Soul Of Spain were both gallant in chasing him and should be closer in price. Green Spaces I'm not sure is with us. Pinhole on the seven-day back-up and not hopeless. I don't like the race but will have something small on Juja Kibo and Soul Of Spain.
Juja Kibo @ $9.00 (0.6 Units)
Soul Of Spain @ $9.00 (0.6 Units)
Flight Stakes - Randwick - 1600m G1 - 3YO Fillies
Keen to get involved here. Global Goal has had the perfect preparation for this and screams miler. Would have her as favourite and just hoping Gibbons is on his game and knows she's a filly that requires some riding to hit her top. In a small field I feel she's close enough anyway and I think she's the strongest filly. Love Bangkok Hottie who certainly can't be discounted and I think she'll run the mile out fine. Striking Alibi I'm putting in. She does things wrong for mine and although the market loved her the other day, I think she was safely held through the line and I couldn't get near her price. De Armas is a very interesting runner over from NZ. Savaged the line first up at Warwick Farm but surely 1200m to 1600m is against her. Chipping in Global Goal.
Global Goal @ $3.20 (2.5 Units)
Flemington
Turnbull Stakes - Flemington - 2000m G1
The Makybe Diva is the natural lead-up to focus on. Sir Delius was exposed a little early and looked gone at the furlong but did come again through the line. 2000m suits but he did peak third up last prep and potentially they have left a little in the tank for the Cox Plate. Half Yours and She's A Hustler come through the same race and I thought both were very good looking for further. Aeliana gets here third up ready to peak and is the different form. Are Zahrann and Saint George trying? Too many factors here, especially with the likelihood of a bottomless track. No bet.
Traders' Best Bets
Randwick Race 2 - Capitano and Stasis
Capitano was the pick of these at the trials, dragged out early before hitting the line smartly. Stasis equally good late and looks disrespected in early betting.
Capitano @ $2.40 (4 Units)
Stasis @ $11.00 (0.5 Units)
Randwick Race 4 - Hozumi and Power Broker
Genesis Runner looks hard to beat but I loved the way Hozumi attacked the line last start at Kembla. Will get back but will eat up a mile. Power Broker did a super job jumping from 1200m to 1500m last start and won with a leg in the air. Will roll forward and give a sight.
Hozumi @ $7.00 (0.8 Units)
Power Broker @ $17.00 (0.3 Units)
Randwick Race 5 - Unleeshing
Car crash last start. Should have won with a better steer and savaged the line when out. No spoil with the price now but should be winning with no weight and a good draw.
Randwick Race 10 - Nepo Baby and Navy Pilot
Really tough race to round out the day but Nepo Baby will improve second up from a better draw. Navy Pilot resumed well and will be better suited at Randwick.
Nepo Baby @ $8.50 (0.7 Units)
Navy Pilot @ $21.00 (0.25 Units)
Flemington Race 6 - Over Excited
I like the Satono Glow race going forward and she'll be better for the experience up the straight. The favourites look a little vulnerable so I think she can take advantage.
Running Total: +20.2 Units (Out 144.5 / In 164.7)
Big Bets
Where the money has been going across the weekend's major meetings.
Randwick
| Race | Horse | Bet | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 5 No.16 | Unleeshing | $5,000 | $2.00 |
| Race 6 No.2 | Striking Alibi | $10,000 | $2.60 |
| Race 7 No.5 | Juja Kibo | $1,000 | $8.50 |
| Race 8 No.8 | Attica | $2,000 | $6.00 |
Flemington
| Race | Horse | Bet | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 1 No.3 | Proverb | $2,750 | $3.90 |
| Race 4 No.3 | Profligate | $2,500 | $4.40 |
| Race 8 No.5 | Aeliana | $3,000 | $3.80 |
