3 minute read

A pair of specials to get your Saturday racing off to a top start for 2024.

Not a race meeting for the ages at Randwick this Saturday but a couple of promising types go around who may feature in early Autumn black-type races. One of those is Joe Pride's progressive sprinter COOL JAKEY who contests Race 7, a Benchmark 88 over 1400m. 

This son of Pierro did a bit wrong as favourite first-up so the blinkers went on last start and the effect was immediate. Tyler Schiller bounced the four-year-old straight to the lead over the 1300m at Warwick Farm and in an impressive display of sustained speed he turned for home with a good advantage and extended it to 2.3 lengths on the line. 

During his three-year-old campaign Joe tested him in the Listed South Pacific Classic over the seven furlongs at Randwick – he started favourite in the black-type but after a midfield finish, he was found to be lame and immediately went to the paddock. 

Saturday's race is a significant step up from a mid-weeker at the Farm, but the stable clearly has an opinion of this gelding and with a massive 6.5kgs drop in the weights he gets in beautifully. 

There is plenty of speed on offer from the likes of Felix Majestic and Danaustar so from the nice gate Schiller will probably take a sit and peel out on straightening. Unless one of the imports Hellsing or Redstone Well do something special on their Australian debuts, Jakey should gather them up.

Earlier on the card, CADETSHIP for the Waller/McDonald combination looks a nice bet around each-way odds.

The four-year-old lined up for the first time in 32 weeks at headquarters a fortnight ago and really caught the eye, extracting from traffic halfway down the straight and powering home to finish just 1.6 lengths behind Robusto in a 1300m Benchmark 78. It was a satisfactory return, but his figure was a long way off his best efforts this time last year so there is plenty of improvement in the locker. 

The engagement of James McDonald adds to the confidence. The fresh horse Imrahor probably leads but otherwise there isn't a huge amount of pace on offer so J Mac from a decent gate can settle the gelding a little closer this time. From there he will have plenty of time to wind up over the extra furlong of Saturday's race and can hold out his chief rival and early public elect Running By who will probably be giving him a start and carries 1.5kgs more. 

SYDNEY SPECIALS

Best bet: Race 7 #9 Cool Jakey at $2.90 with bet365*

Best each-way: Race 5 #9 Cadetship at $4.80 with bet365*

*Prices correct at 2.45pm 4 January 2024

bet365 will also have this additional mega boost available one hour before the race jump (prices subject to change/singles only/max stakes apply/eligible customers only):

• Randwick Race 4 – Terra Mater to win – 1.80 -> 2.30

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