The James Cummings-trained Aft Cabin is the three-year-old miler to beat in Saturday’s Group 1 $1 million Randwick Guineas (1600m).
Aft Cabin is the horse to beat in Sydney’s 2023 Randwick Guineas this Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.
Betting on this year’s Randwick Guineas 2023 in Sydney has Godolphin gun Aft Cabin on top at $2.50 and firming through Ladbrokes despite the colt’s last start loss.
One of the most promising youngsters of the spring last year the son of Astern suffered a bleeding incident ruling him out of the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).
He was back in winning form with an impressive first-up Randwick victory over Zou Tiger in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince (1200m) before running fifth as the beaten odds-on elect at Rosehill last time out just over two lengths beaten by the Chris Waller-trained Osipenko in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m).
Returning to Royal Randwick third-up and fit out over a mile for the first time and Aft Cabin looks a huge hope with James McDonald booked for the ride.
The Randwick Guineas field is down to 11 runners with three early withdrawals as Holymanz (11), The Fortune Teller (13) and Attrition (1) all scratch out in favour of a run in Flemington’s Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) in Melbourne.
The danger to Aft Cabin occupying the second line of Randwick Guineas betting at $4.20 is his last start conqueror Osipenko who jumps from a great barrier three draw.
Nash Rawiller partners the in-form Pierro colt once again as Osipenko looks to complete the Hobartville – Randwick Guineas double for the first time since the fellow Waller-trained The Autumn Sun (2019).
Waller plays a strong hand in this year’s Randwick Guineas saddling-up three chances with Osipenko joined in the line-up by the widely-drawn Manzoice ($21) in the outside alley first-up for Tim Clark and Lindermann ($18) to be ridden by Kerrin McEvoy.
Almanzor colt Manzoice races for the first time since his impressive upset over Sharp ‘N’ Smart in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) last October, while Lindermann has the fitness edge with the son of Lonhro coming off a Benchmark 78 victory over 1400m at Rosehill.
The John O’Shea-trained Zou Tiger is being kept safe in the markets at Randwick Guineas odds of $6 after back-to-back seconds in the Eskimo Prince and Hobartville Stakes.
Rounding out the single-figure fancies is Mark Newnham’s Matcha Latte in gate four with Tom Sherry to ride the $8.50 pop second-up.
Maurice colt Matcha Latte has been super consistent with form around some very good horses including Golden Mile and Sharp ‘N’ Smart from the spring while his run fresh saw him only a quarter-length off Osipenko at 25/1 in the Hobartville.
The 2023 The Agency Randwick Guineas is scheduled to jump as Race 8 at 4:40pm (AEDT) as one of two Group 1 features on Saturday’s big 10-race card at Randwick.
