News

It's TAB EVEREST day at Royal Randwick and the 2400m Group 1 CAULFIELD CUP is the feature race in Victoria. The undercard events on both programs are absolutely outstanding and I can't wait for it all to kick off! 

Join Jared's FREE Telegram Channel to receive Staking plays, audio reports and much more throughout the meetings - simply download the app and click here : 

JJJ Racing Telegram Channel Link

RANDWICK

TRACK - Rated a Soft 5  -  Rail goes back to the true position and I expect all horses to get their opportunity on one of the biggest days of the year. If we do get more rainfall, expect them to edge off the fence and lanes 4-7 to be the prime ground.



R1 - 2600m ST LEGER STAKES (GRP 3)

ALEGRON ran 2nd in the Premier's Cup over 2400m last preparation before going on to win the Group 2 Brisbane Cup over 3200m the following start. He hasn't had a great deal of luck in his two lead up performances but comes out of the right races, this is a significant drop in grade on paper and he should be peaking fitness wise 3rd up for the 2600m journey. ETNA ROSSO has been flying this preparation and comes out of the same lead up as Alegron, while WALTHAM was another luckless runner in weaker company. Blake Shinn a stable push for that runner?

Verdict - 2 ALEGRON Win $3.60

R2 - 1600m BIG DANCE WILD CARD

When the podcast was recorded on Thursday afternoon I was hoping for a touch more rain for this runner, however I think VIVY AIR is really well placed here. She was very good slashing home for 3rd, 1st up over a trip short of her best and improved sharply 2nd up out to 1500m. She was 0.68L off Firestorm (Won again next start) and Chica Mojito (2nd next start) who have both run well again since. Happy to forgive the Dubbo Cup performance where she pulled up with excuses via the stewards report. Plummets in weight, Willo on and I like her landing in the running line. CHORLTON LANE and BERKSHIRE SHADOW are much better suited now the rainfall hasn't come.

Verdict - 10 VIVY AIR Each Way $5.50/1.90

R3 - 1400m REGINALD ALLEN QUALITY (GRP 3 3yo FILLIES)

It's not easy to win a maiden and then come out 1st up in the next preparation and belt up a BM64 field but that's exactly what 3yo Kermadec filly ISLAND DEC did for Price Racing at Kembla Grange. It's even harder to go 1000-1400m and 64 to Group 3 company 2nd up, but gee I think she might be a really nice filly for the team. Luke Price suggested on our podcast a fortnight ago leading into that race she may need the run, so the performance was even more impressive. She will settle in the running line and be strong late. JELLICIOUS beat home Lady Shenandoah on debut and all of her public outings have been good to the eye. Canterbury to Randwick looks a huge positive for her and DOMINETTA will roll forward and prove very hard to catch.

Verdict - 4 ISLAND DEC Each Way $7/2.30 1x3

R4 - 1600m ANGST STAKES (GRP 3 4yo+)

HINGED looks one of the best placed horses for quite some time with a rating of 104 and carrying the same weight as One Aye on 68. The beauty of Set Weight races. The negative is, she hasn't won a race since February 2022 and winning does become a habit. She gets the best rider in the country at the moment for mine aboard and I have no doubt in the world he will roll forward from wide and ride her like the best horse in the race. In saying all of that I am leaning towards LEKVARTE who just seems to be improving each and every preparation and she was outstanding 1st up in a very strong race behind Makarena and Amelia's Jewel. I can only see her improving 2nd up and I like her out of trouble in the running line. 

Verdict - 1 LEKVARTE $8.50/2.40 1x3

R5 - 1200m THE KOSCIUSZKO 

FRONT PAGE is chasing a Kosciuszko hat trick which is an unbelievable achievement in itself. He flies like a jet 1st up and comes into this off a lovely trial behind the speedy Overpass, drawn a super gate in 5. I do think this race is getting stronger every season and I think Matty Dunn brings BOOM TORQUE here in supreme order. He needs the rain to miss but the 3rd behind Encap and Bases Loaded reads well for a race like this. We can completely disregard the form of BANDI'S BOY who has been taking on the A grade horses and he's going much better then his odds suggest at $19/4.

Verdict - 5 BOOM TORQUE $9/2.60 1x3

R6 - 1200m SYDNEY STAKES (GRP 3)

What a reserve grade assignment this is for the Tab Everest 50 minutes later. I thought there was value around MAZU who has performed really well since joining the Joe Pride stable. He should be peaking 3rd up, I love Nash Rawiller sticking and while it was a funny race behind Airman and one plenty want to disregard, he did finish alongside Bella Nipotina and beat Giga Kick home. Expect to see him midfield off the back of this extremely strong tempo. OVERPASS and THINK ABOUT IT look extremely hard to beat and well placed. They both could have been in the Everest with a touch more luck. 

Verdict - 6 MAZU $7.50/2.40 1x3

R7 - 1200m TAB EVEREST (GRP 1)

This is an absolute belter. The quality right across the board is as good as ever for the Tab Everest concept. I WISH I WIN is a horse who races best off high pressure, high mid race tempo sprint races and he has a lethal finish on him. The plan following last year's unlucky 2nd has always been to lead into the race with the two Moonee Valley lead ups and I think he's primed perfectly to peak 3rd up with the blinkers applied. Running line draw for him (9) is ideal. I am terrified of JOLIESTAR who has the Chris Waller 3rd up profile, James Mcdonald aboard from a perfect barrier draw. The sectional data out of her 1st up performance was out of this world and she can run a career peak here. STEFI MAGNETICA has improved and improved and improved over the past 6 months and her 1st up run was as good as you could expect from a horse of her calibre, Zac Lloyd is riding as good as any rider in Sydney for mine and she's going to be hard to hold out. The 3yo's have a good record in this race and you could argue the likes of STORM BOY, TRAFFIC WARDEN, LADY OF CAMELOT and GROWING EMPIRE are the best 3yo crop to tackle the race.

Verdict - 1 I WISH I WIN Each Way $5.50/2.10 1x3

R8 - 1300m SILVER EAGLE (GRP 3)

STRETAN ANGEL comes to Sydney off the back of two lovely lead up runs and I loved the way she savaged the line last start from well back behind a nice one in Right To Party. 1300m is a touch of the unknown but I expect her to be very strong late at good odds. He knows which horses to bring south Phillip Stokes. OSTRAKA, MORAVIA and PORT LOCKROY come out of the same formlines and it must be said, they are all performing very well. VEIGHT has the runs on the board and James Mcdonald aboard could be a key push. This one of the tougher races on the program for mine. 

Verdict - 12 STRETAN ANGEL Each Way $8.5/2.30 1x3

R9 - 1600m KING CHARLES III STAKES (GRP 1)

Well, well, well PRIDE OF JENNI certainly adds a new dynamic to this race with extreme early speed and she knows how to get horses out of their comfort zones over the middle stages. If anything, how good is the theatre it brings. Personally, I think she's too short in a race of this depth. FANGIRL needs a dry track and doesn't want any rain, but she has been set for this race, she has the Chris Waller 3rd up profile and I think she will be absolutely charging home late. The biggest difficulty will be James knowing how close to sit without getting her out of her comfort zone and when to push the button to take off and catch the Jenni. PERICLES is going into all of my exotics and I really like him on the 7 day back up here, 1900 back to 1600m from an ideal draw. If this is a tough test and many don't handle it, he looks one that will.

Verdict - 10 FANGIRL Win $3.60

R10 - 1400m BM88 

Talk about a Get Out Stakes - This is a horrible race to dissect and on the back of that statement, I think WILLAIDOW is the safe play. He led them up last start and had the equal fastest last furlong in the race and ran them into the ground. He's building a nice relationship with James Mcdonald who sticks and the beauty of being in front on a day like this, is he gets first crack at the best part of the ground. I May entertain a two bet play in the race with ESTADIO MESTALLA coming out of a strong form race and liked his last 100m there. We can expect him to improve 2nd up, out in trip. 

Verdict - 6 WILLAIDOW $3.80

QUADDIE 
Leg 1 - 1,4,6,8,9,10
Leg 2 - 1,4,5,11,12
Leg 3 - 1,6,9,10
Leg 4 - 4,6,10,14

CAULFIELD

TRACK - Track rated a heavy 8 after having 20mm+ fall on it yesterday. With the amount of rainfall that has hit the track I expect the running line horses to be advantaged and horses drawn inside to be disadvantaged. 




SELECTIONS 

R1 - 4 CATOGGIO                             $6.5/2.05 1x3

Impressive performance returning as a gelding at Geelong, leading and putting them away in style. Out to 1400m suits, 2nd up and does handle the wet. 

R2 - 6 RESERVE BANK                     $3.60      (BEST BET)

I've been a fan of this horse since we first saw him put the writing on the wall with his ability,  back in June winning by 5.5L at Bendigo in a maiden. Expect him to peak 3rd up now after overcoming issues early in the prep. Handles soft, heavy is an unknown which dampens the original confidence.

R3 - 2 RED ACES                               $4.20

I thought he took a huge leap when going 2nd up 14-1800m and loved his work through the line. Beaten fair and square by today's favourite but he was drawn inside and the tempo was only even that day. Peaks 3rd up, better draw and more genuine tempo expected which suits.

R4 - 6 INEVITABLE TRUTH            $11/3 1x3

I might be a little outside the square here but this filly is getting better and better as she gets out further in trip. Sarge works best with these younger Oaks, 3yo fillies and she has seemingly handled the heavy track in the past. This will be a genuine test and I thought she was over the odds. 

R5 - 8 ISTHMUS                                 $3.50

I don't like the barrier draw for this mare out of a horse I used to love, Shoals, but her two wins this preparation have been absolutely dominant, eased over the line last start by Mark Zahra and I don't think we can judge her heavy track fail, having been out to the 1200m which is a stretch for her on any surface and against the Sydney horses. We will find out today if she handles it. 

R6 - 6 ZEITUNG                                 $6.5/2.20 1x3

I was lucky enough to be at Kembla Grange the day this filly won her maiden on a proper heavy 10 by 3.5L. She seemed to swim that day and while the form hasn't been strong out of the race, her sectional data read well and she did beat Catoggio home. She's coming out of the right races and I do expect 1400m to suit, drawn to sit in the running line. Also like MATISSE who will improve a huge amount 2nd up at this trip, following a strong 1st up performance. 

R7 - 2 SPACEWALK                           $8.5/2.70 1x3

This blokes form on anything soft 7 or worse is absolutely outstanding and off the trials, I think James Cummings has his humming for his return to the track this preparation. He's also a horse who races well fresh and gets the services of Magic Man Moreira from a good barrier. Giving away fitness, but he's a nice price to find out how forward he is.

R8 - 13 ANAHITA                              $19/4.40 1x3   (VALUE BET)

We picked up a decent check when this mare ran 2nd behind Poifect 3rd up at the same price as today. I thought she was very good last start to get within 1.4L off Revolutionary Miss latest and she had a lack of room to move. She draws wider today, 2 x winner on heavy and while I think she is a level below the top horses here, I think she's set to peak and the gap in the market is way too far. She's an $8 hope for mine with a gun rider aboard.
 
R9 - 13 ZARDOZI                              $7.5/2.40 1x3

Rain around looks no negative for this 4yo mare by Kingman and gee the preparation looks to be coming together nicely at grand final time. She's worked her way up to the right distance through the gun races and ran a narrow 2nd in the Metropolitan last start. Rock hard fit now, like the running line draw, handles the wet and loves the trip.

R10 - 2 GENTLEMAN ROY             $3.80

Toughest race on the program to judge and how damaged the track is at the stage of the day will be a key to most horses chances. GR is as genuine as they come, he's having a ripping preparation and from the draw should roll forward and take luck out of the equation. He's no doubt a dry tracker but he looks well placed in this company? No confidence here.

QUADDIE 
Leg 1 - 1,2,4,6
Leg 2 - 1,2,4,13,14
Leg 3 - 2,6,7,8,13,14
Leg 4 - 1,2

JJJ RACING RUNNERS!

SUNDAY 20th - NOWRA

R4 #10 BUTTERFLY STYLE $7/2.30

This 3yo filly by Merchant Navy heads to the races in the JJJ silks for Mitch Beer racing for the first time tomorrow. She's a powerful, strong filly with a lot of natural ability. Ran 3rd on a heavy track at Geelong on debut with the rider suggesting she didn't handle it at all. Trialled really well at Nowra late August and has had a little bit of soreness to overcome throughout the early stages of the preparation, but she looks well placed out there tomorrow and can kick off her new career in style. Whatever she does tomorrow, she will improve on and we look forward to seeing her on the track! 


GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF OUR CONNECTIONS!