Fox Fighter to cause an upset in the Razor Sharp at Randwick

Trainer David Payne has Fox Fighter primed for a giant-killing performance in the Listed $160,000 Razor Sharp (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

“Fox Fighter never lets you down, he really puts in,” Payne said.

“He’s not a big horse but he has a lovely turn of foot, especially on firm ground.

“As he showed last start, he is up to this level. He was wide but finished off well.”

Fox Fighter closed late for third to Zethus in the Starlight Stakes, continuing his run of consistent form this campaign. He looks value at $16 in an open race where Waihaha Falls is the $3.50 favourite.

Payne, who has one of the best strike-rates in Sydney racing with 10 metropolitan winners from just 47 runners this season, is also saddling up the improving Mahagoni in the Thanks Jack And Bob Ingham Handicap (1600m).

Mahagoni, rated a $10 chance behind hot favourite Nugget at $1.90, has been freshened since his fast finishing sixth behind Oakfield Arrow in the Four Pillars six weeks ago.

“I gave Mahagoni a couple of weeks off after his last run but he’s well,” Payne said. “He’s drawn wide but he likes Randwick.”

Payne also revealed stable star Montefilia is due to return to his Rosehill stables in the next week or two to prepare for the Autumn carnival.

“I’m going to aim her at the Ranvet Stakes and the Tancred Stakes,” Payne said. “I feel around 2000m and 2400m are her best distances.”

THE BEST BARRIERS

The best barriers at Royal Randwick for the last 3 years (in order of wins)

1000m: 1,5,6,4

1100m: 4,5,1,6

1200m: 6,7,5,4

1400m: 1,2,3,6

1600m: 3,2,4,5

2400m: 1,2,4,3

THE BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS

Race 1: Pretty Woman $13-$14-$9, Penthouse $9.50-$6.50-$5

Deductions

Race 2: Floating $4.80-$4 including $850 e/w at $4.20/$1.75, King Ratel $12-$5.50 after bets of $200 e/w at $12/$3.50, $750 at $6, $800 at $5.50, $500 at $5.50

Race 3: Sacrimony $8.50-$5-$4.60 after bets of $200 e/w at $8.50/$3.10, $670 at $6, $200/$400 e/w at $5/$2.10, Iowna Merc $12-$6-$6.50-$6 including a wager of $465 at $9

Race 4: Dr Drill $7-$4.80, McGeehan $51-$26-$21

Race 5: Facile $2.60-$2.20-$1.80 after bets of $2,500 at $2.60, $5,000 at $2.40, $2,000 at $2.20, $1,600 at $2.20, $2,800 at $2.10, $1,500 at $2.10

Race 6: Brookspire $8-$5.50 ($5,000 @ $6.50)

Race 7: Waihaha Falls $4.80-$3.40-$3.50, Dragonstone $8.50-$11-$9.50 with bets of $1,000 at $11, $500 at $10, $4,000 at $9.50, $800 at $9.50, Brigantine $4.80-$4.40 including $500 e/w at $4.80/$2

Race 8: Diamil $21-$11, Nugget (2e) $4.40-$3.60-$3.30 after bets of $500 at $4, $500 at $3.80 twice

Race 9: Nugget $2.10-$1.95-$1.90 after bets of $1,500 at $2.10, $2,000 at $1.95, $1,000 at $1.95, Bullfinch $9-$7.50-$7

Race 10: Democracy Manifest $3.90-$3.60-$3.50 after bets of $600 e/w at $3.90/$1.80, $500 at $3.60 twice, I Am Lethal $12-$9.50, Banju $23-$15

EARLY QUADDIE

Race 3: 3,4,14,16

Race 4: 1,6,7,10

Race 5: 3,8

Race 6: 3,7,8

QUADDIE

Race 7: 4,7,10

Race 8: 1,4,10,22

Race 9: 1,4,5,14

Race 10: 2,9,11,16

PRICE CHECK

Facile (race 5) continues to be heavily backed to make a winning debut in the Inglis Nursery. She has firmed from $2.60 to $1.80 after bets of $2,500 at $2.60, $5,000 at $2.40, $2,000 at $2.20, $1,600 at $2.20, $2,800 at $2.10 and $1,500 at $2.10.

SECTIONAL STARS

Regal Lion (race 4) is an OTI Racing galloper from the Annabel Neasham stable lining up in the ATC Christmas Cup over 2400m. The NZ-bred gelding has an inconclusive record at the mile and a half with a minor placing his best result in three attempts but it is imperative to note that third was in the 2022 New Zealand Derby. The horse is certainly bred to run 2400m - more in fact - being a son of the 2012 Melbourne Cup placegetter Jakkalberry. Regal Lion sent out signs that he was looking for 2400m now when a rapidly closing fourth in the ATC Cup last start.

Brigantine (race 7) ranks alongside any of his Godolphin stablemates in terms of consistency. The son of Sheikh Mohammed’s Golden Rose winner Astern, has raced 10 times for three wins, two seconds and two thirds. Brigantine, more than most, deserves a stakes win alongside his name having placed in a string of black-type races as well as the $1 million ATC Silver Eagle at his most recent outing where he closed quickly late to clock in third behind his James Cummings-trained stablemate, Vilana.

TRIAL POINTERS

Facile (race 5) makes one of the most anticipated debuts from a two-year-old in recent years when she steps out as a short-priced favourite in the $500,000 Inglis Nursery. The filly has been the talk of the town among avid trial watchers with back to back heat wins by a combined margin of eight lengths and seemingly doing it easily. Facile was bought by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou at the Easter Yearling Sale in 2020 for $420,000. Ryan trained Facile’s sire, Trapeze Artist, and dam, I Like it Easy, both of whom wore the colours of Facile’s breeder, Bert Vieira.

Brookspire (race 6) is a Chris Waller-trained daughter of Hinchinbrook scheduled to have her first start in the 2022/23 season having been off the scene since finishing last in the Group 3 Dark Jewel (1400m) at the annual Scone stand-alone meeting in mid-May. Brookspire is a proven first-up performer, evidenced by her record of five starts for a win, two seconds and a third. Everything she has done in recent weeks would indicate another bold showing; her two trials last month were of the highest possible order.

BEST BET

Sacrimony (race 3), a four-year-old by Lost And Running’s sire Per Incanto, has shown glimpses of obvious talent during his short career to date. He was resuming at Kembla when he was just edged out by Quick Tempo in very fast time. Fitter now and has won his only two attempts when second-up from a spell. Promising sprinter who indicated when he resumed that he was set for a good summer campaign. The one to beat.

VALUE BET

Kirwan’s Lane (race 8) is the epitome of a mile specialist with nine of his 10 career wins coming at a distance range between 1500m and 1600m. He is also a two-time winner over the Randwick 1600m course. He’s racing in top form winning the Listed Ladies Day Cup before his last start closing third in the Group 3 Festival Stakes. The John O’Shea-trained Kirwan’s Lane is a good each-way bet in The Ingham around $15.

THE JUDGMENT

ROYAL RANDWICK

Race 5: Inglis Nursery (1000m)

Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “The Ryan and Alexiou-trained Facile has looked super sharp in her trials and might just be too much of a natural for her opposition. Disneck has the race experience on his side and should be again strong at the finish. Blanc De Blanc is clearly a talent and was good on debut, the filly she beat in Saltaire seems big odds.”

Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “Facile has trialled well twice, both away from home, but is getting too short for me. I’ve liked the way The Little Pumper has finished off both his trials over shorter trips and I think he’ll really appreciate getting over 1000m at his first start and keep improving. The $7.50 appeals better than $2 for Facile who is smart.”

Grant Palmer (bookie): “Hard to be confident here with five debutants and five more going to the races for only their second career start. The favourite Facile has been very well backed after opening at $2.25 earlier in the week. She has had two very impressive trial wins and should be in the finish if the money is right.”

Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Facile clearly the best backed and has firmed $2.20-$1.90. Probably about the right price purely due to the lack of opposition here. We’ve also seen some money out wide for the Maher-Eustace first starter in Bold Julius who’s been $51-$21.”

Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “It’s all about Facile here. She has been crunched throughout the week and holds 75 per cent of the total investment.”

Verdict: Facile

Race 7: Razor Sharp Hcp (1200m)

Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “This is a chance for Waihaha Falls to show he belongs in this class or better. He should get a lovely run from the barrier and third up he will be peaking. Brigantine has been freshened and a repeat of his Silver Eagle run has to put him in the finish. Ranges is an underrated and tough type resuming while Eleven Eleven can bounce back in a very suitable race. If you like Dragonstone you’ll get no knock from me.”

Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “Keen on Brigantine off an eight-week break here. Goes good fresh, is a winner first up this track and trip plus he trialled nicely at Hawkesbury recently. His last start third in the Silver Eagle off a wide trip is good enough to see him in finish here.”

Grant Palmer (bookie): “Waihaha Falls tackles this race third up and looks set to peak here. Excellent record over 1200m at Randwick and drops 7kg on his last start second placing. He should be able to slot in midfield and present at the right time.”

Michael Sullivan (bookie): “Punters are relatively cautious here with Waihaha Falls from limited interest so far. I think he needs a wet track to find his best and as such happy to take him on. There’s been a good firm for Sky Command $16-$11 and Much Much Better $23-$15. Brigantine very solid in the race at $4.20 and the horse I’d have on top.”

Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “Open affair with several horses backed. Brigantine brings that Silver Eagle form here and that will definitely take him a long way in this.”

Verdict: Waihaha Falls

Race 8: The Ingham (1600m)

Richard Haynes (Sky Sports Radio): “The Ingham has a tremendous field racing for big money. Yes, he’s had his setbacks, but if Huetor is anyway near his best he gives this race an almighty shake. A Group 1 winner at weight-for-age, he’s classy, and I expect him to hit the line hard. Brutality is looking for back-to-back wins in the race and there is a sense of timing about him. Dajraan is flying, he eases across from the wide barrier and will be in it for a long way. Riodini is in great form, and I’m reluctant to dismiss Skylab.”

Glenn Munsie (Sky Racing): “Great to see a big Randwick mile with a full field and loaded with chances. One at odds here in Sky Lab. Comes through the right races being both the Hunter and Gong. Stayed on inside at Kembla and still wanted to find line and make ground to finish. Not many were stronger late in the Hunter first up. Definitely overs.”

Grant Palmer (bookie): “Huetor missed the spring through injury but his form in the winter was outstanding. He is not a noted first up performer but he has had a trial in preparation for this race and his class will carry him a long way. I expect him to be flashing home late.”

Michael Sullivan (bookie): “A very even The Ingham. If we see Nugget line up, he looks a great chance and No.1 seed. Two good figures so far in Australia and a platform to improve again now third up. Away from him it looks wide open. I do think Skyman looks tremendous overs at $31, getting out in trip and finds Nash Rawiller. Diamil and Brutality the two best supported runners away from Nugget.”

Andrew Georgiou (TAB): “Nugget has been well tried despite needing a few scratchings to get in. Brutality has been the darling of each way punters.”