ROYAL RANDWICK

BEST BET

Race 1 No. 4: Le Chocolat

Did enough in all three starts of his first campaign and is bred to always be on the improve.

NEXT BEST

Race 8 No. 6: Desiah

Market might tell the story here but this former Victorian is deadly fresh and trialled well.

VALUE

Race 2 No. 12: Denote

Justify filly from the Waller stable who is third-up and ideally suited by the famous Randwick mile.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1,2,3,6

Race 6: 5,7

Race 7: 1,3,5,11

Race 8: 3,6

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Dylan Gibbons will be popular with TAB Jockey Challenge players and for good reason.

BEAUMONT – NEWCASTLE

BEST BET

Race 1 No. 5: Egyptologist

Doesn’t have any early pace at all but can finish off and will stay a long trip.

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No. 6: World Alliance

Won his first two starts before an honourable second with a big weight behind a handy horse.

VALUE

Race 4 No. 6: Take Me To The Church

Flashy gelding who has always shown something there in his seven barrier trials.

INSIDE MAIL – ROYAL RANDWICK

RACE 1

Le Chocolat is a son of Ocean Park trained by Chris Waller which are two obvious reasons to suggest that the best is yet to come. That is not to downplay what the horse did so far, his first preparation was made-up of two city fourths before his chasing second to Raf Attack on the Kensington. Two trials, both nice. Chris Waller is a hard trainer to read just on trials alone but Pure Alpha’s 7th of 10 in his December 5 heat was a lot better than it reads on paper.

Bet: Le Chocolat to win, exacta 4 to beat 5

RACE 2

Denote is a filly by the unbeaten US Triple Crown winner and soon to be very, very good sire, Justify. On top of that, Denote is a half to Group 1 performer, Pohutukawa. A $320,000 Magic Millions yearling, Denote paid a price for her 7 of 8 draw at Canterbury last start. Third-up over the 1600m at HQ is perfect. Jacob’s Time gave away a massive start on debut but managed to pass half the field. Mile works for him now. Ditto that last but for Irish Anthem.

Bet: Denote to win

RACE 3

Xidaki is a strikingly handsome son of Zoustar, the fourth dam Lady Giselle is the mother of Zabeel and Baryshnikov. Xidaki was runner-up to the handy Balkans on debut at Wyong but was the superior run no doubt. Spelled and trialled like a bomb (again) two weeks ago. Hellaine has clearly come back well. She chased home a decent filly at Canterbury and has all the second-up improvement on her side. Hanau, the close relation to Pierro, is a huge player.

Bet: Xidaki to win, box First 4: Nos. 3,10,11,12,14

RACE 4

Pink Baroque has only managed two wins from her 17 starts and the fact that she has four thirds says a little bit about her pattern, some track bias from time to time and to her credit, she has often been in good class races. The Waller-trained mare is one-for-one at this track and distance. African Daisy accepted for the Malcolm Cusick at Gosford on Thursday but has drawn 13 there. Wherever she goes, be aware that she has a great first-up record and the trials are bang on the money. Nana’s Wish did some good things in her short first Aussie campaign.

Bet: Pink Baroque each-way

RACE 5

The Big Short won twice in France, both of them at 1800m, one of those at Chantilly. No surprise then that he was beaten a fair way over 1250m on the Kensington on December 1. He trialled at Rosehill on December 18 and was as good as anything in a deep heat. If not this time, then the next. Tympanist has been in good form this preparation and wouldn’t have to a whole lot more than he has been doing lately to win. Stablemate Monfelicty peaks here.

Bet: The Big Short to win, at big value

RACE 6

Oceans One accepted for Beaumont on Boxing Day but drew wide up there compared to barrier 1 here at Royal Randwick. The David Pfieffer trained gelding has quite a good strike-rate of 15 starts for three wins and five placings. His trials have been unbelievably good, he beat a subsequent winner easily in his WF heat. Temple Run has six wins, 10 seconds and two thirds from 29 starts which makes him an appealing each-way bet, more so given he is a last start winner in 57.45 seconds at Gosford. Mr Kennedy and Sneaky Shark are in the mix.

Bet: Oceans One to win, Temple Run each-way

RACE 7

Lion’s Roar is a real Randwick horse. He has raced there, his home track, 15 times for one win (that was the Randwick Guineas) and six placings including in the Derby, Spring Champion, Little Dance, Craven Plate and the first two Inghams. Barrier 3 is almost run of the race stuff now. Huetor is a 109 rater thanks in part to his back-to-back Doomben Cups, both over this same 2000m trip. Luncies races well at Randwick. Deficit is looking for 2000m and has a light weight.

Bet: Lion’s Roar to win

RACE 8

Desiah was $21 on Christmas Eve in more or less a full field. Bottom line is, you would like to see some support for the Maher/Eustace mare given she is first-up. First run in NSW but with such a good fresh record (4-2-2-0) she might be ready. Tannenburg has been scratched a bit lately, mostly due to bad draws from what we can gather. Not sure barrier one is the perfect alley for him but if he gets out, we will see a big finish. Spring Lee went up at $5, was $3.80 soon afterwards and if you see her two wins and trials in between, you’ll know why.

Bet: Desiah each-way, box trifecta 3,6,17,18

Originally published as Boxing Day Raceday focus: Best bets and inside mail with Le Chocolat looking sweet for Randwick opener