The excitement is building as Day 1 of The Championships at Randwick brings us
four Group 1 races featuring some of the country’s best talent. At The Leg Up,
we’ve done the hard yards and uncovered some roughies who could provide the
value you need for your UPC Showdown ticket. Let’s dive into these value-packed
selections for Day 1 of what’s set to be an action-packed race day.
Randwick Race 6 (Leg 4) – #5 State Visit
He reminds us a lot of the 2023 victor Militarize, who won on debut off Broadway on
a Friday night at Canterbury in booming style. He really dropped on his rivals there,
winning by 0.3L. He then went to the Pago Pago Stakes and got a long way back
before charging home to run third.
He’s had three weeks between runs and gets to 1400m at Randwick which looks to
really suit. He can land closer to the lead speed from a low draw and be over the top
late at good odds.
Randwick Race 7 (Leg 6) – #10 Kimochi
Kimochi produced an eye-catching first-up performance in the Challenge Stakes,
where she stormed home from a long way back to finish second behind Jedibeel.
She has already proven herself at the Group 1 level after winning over 1400m in the
spring, so stepping up to 1200m at Randwick suits her much better.
Not only is she well-suited to the distance, but Kimochi also has an impressive
record at Randwick, having finished in the top three in eight out of ten starts at this
track. Add Nash Rawiller to the mix, and we have a jockey who knows all about
riding Group 1 winners on the big stage. This could be the perfect setup for her to
make a run at the top.
Randwick Race 8 (Leg 8) – #13 Kovalica
Looking for a blow-out chance in the Doncaster? Look no further than Kovalica.
Coming off a solid first-up run in the George Ryder Stakes, he’s primed for a big
effort. The Epsom Handicap form from last spring is solid, with Kovalica running
fourth behind Ceolwulf and Tom Kitten after facing some bad luck at a key stage.
In this race, he meets Tom Kitten 3.5kg better at the weights, which could be enough
to turn the tables. While the draw is awkward, the big field and solid tempo will give
him every chance to chime in late. At long odds, Kovalica is a value selection to
include on your Showdown ticket.
Randwick Race 9 (Leg 10) – #5 Plymouth
While Aeliana is certainly the one to beat here, Plymouth is the horse who could add
value to your UPC Showdown ticket. He ran fifth in the Group 1 Australian Guineas
at Flemington two starts ago, then put in another strong performance behind
Broadsiding and Aeliana in the Rosehill Guineas last time out.
Plymouth finished just 1.5L behind Aeliana over 2000m, putting a solid gap between
himself and the rest of the field. His strong finish there suggests he’ll appreciate the
2400m here and could be ready to peak. At solid odds, he’s a nice addition to round
out your Showdown ticket.
Final Thoughts
With four Group 1 races and so much on the line, Day 1 of The Championships at
Randwick is shaping up to be an exciting day of racing. The Leg Up has uncovered
some value selections in the UPC Showdown that could pay off big time—whether
you’re backing the next big thing like State Visit or playing a long shot like Kovalica,
these runners are well worth considering.
Good luck on your Showdown ticket and enjoy the racing action!
