Matthew Taylor

IT’S George Main Stakes day at Royal Randwick and that means one thing – all eyes are on WINX as she attempts to make it 20 straight.

But from a punting perspective we need to look elsewhere and we’re got three bets that look excellent chances on the card.

Sydney tracks have been lightning fast of late and there’s been no rain to speak of for an extended period of time. The surface has been watered though and with the rail out nine metres from the 1600m to the winning post, you’d expect the on-pacers to be best placed.

Here are our three best bets on the card.

Royal Randwick Tips 16th September

Race 4 #3 Tom Melbourne @ $3.30

Bloody Tom Melbourne. We’ve not stepped into him before now but after two sensational runs for Chris Waller, we’re decided its time. After trialling very stylishly, he was tragically held up at vital stages on debut for the new stable before running second again, this time after sitting three wide and beating all bar Happy Clapper. We want to be on the leaders today and he looks the most likely candidate and, combined with his big drop in grade, looks the obvious choice.

Race 8#3 Chocante @ $3.90

We think Australia is underestimating just how good this Stephen Marsh-trained Kiwi stayer is. First up he chased home Winx and Red Excitement – but importantly, he was the horses that carted the entire field up to the runaway leader. To stick on for third so gamely and be pulling away from the fourth horse in the end was brilliant. The jump to 2000m second up  looks perfect and he’s the likely leader on the speed map. Very tough to beat.

Race 9#2 Echo Effect @ $7.50/$2.60

There’s just enough juice in this price to entice us to bet each way. Kristen Buchanan brings stable star Echo Effect to Sydney for his first up assignment and has shown some intent by throwing the blinkers on and engaging Brenton Avdulla to ride. He showed some strong three-year-old form that out-rates most of these and has the capacity to race forward from the wide gate. A recent Newcastle trial showed he is up to the mark and we’re happy to be on both totes.