Australian Racing: Raikkonen to finish first on Sydney return

There’s plenty of racing action for punters to get stuck into on Saturday, including at Randwick, where 10 races have been carded.

Race 9 Randwick

Raikkonen @ 6.00

Race 7 Ipswich

Osmose @ 7.00

Race 8 Flemington

Jimmy The Bear @ 3.20

Raikkonen for Listed success

The penultimate race on the previously mentioned Randwick card is the 1400m Listed Racing For Good Civic Stakes.

Joe Pride’s Headley Grange is expected to jump as favourite, having demonstrated good form so far this season.

The gelding has won three times during the 2024/25 campaign, including when returning from a spell with a victory here earlier this month.

That victory came by just under a length when contesting a 1300m Benchmark 94 handicap held on a wet track. 

The soft 5 track expected here is no issue, while the extra 100m is in his favour, with the four-year-old having won over further in the past.

While Jason Collett’s mount holds obvious claims, the year younger RAIKKONEN is preferred on this occasion.

The son of Shalaa is another to have won three times this season, with his most recent victory coming when contesting a 1200m event at Gosford last month.

Raikkonen was returning from a spell when taking out a Benchmark 78 handicap held on soft ground on that occasion.

While unable to win next time, the three-year-old was beaten just over a length from a wide barrier in the 1350m Group 3 Fred Best Classic at Doomben.

Bjorn Baker’s representative returns to Sydney for this race and, with a decent barrier in eight, he looks up to recording his first win at this level. 

Osmose for Cup glory

It’s Cup Day at Ipswich with the big race coming up as the seventh race on a nine-race card.

The 2150m Listed race is set to take place on a good 4 track, with Diablo Bolt expected to have his supporters racing third up.

This four-year-old resumed with a sixth-place finish in a 1600m Benchmark 94 handicap held on a heavy surface at Randwick last month.

The son of Hellbent took a step forward when beaten just over half-a-length into fourth in a small field 1800m Benchmark 90 handicap at Sunshine Coast.

This gelding switches to good ground here and, while he holds obvious claims, the mare OSMOSE is preferred for the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott team.

The French-bred daughter of Zoffany failed to make an impact in three starts in Group company in Melbourne earlier this season.

However, she has shown improvement switched to Queensland this prep, including when a length third over 1600m at Doomben on her return to action.

Osmose contested the Listed Bernborough Handicap that day and she went on to fill the same position in the Magic Millions National Classic at Eagle Farm earlier this month.

Both of those efforts came on wet surfaces, however, it’s of note that both of the six-year-old’s turf wins have come on good ground including in Group 3 company in March 2024.

Regan Bayliss’ mount boasts a good barrier in six and she looks capable of recording her first win of 2025.  

Bear to salute at Flemington

A good 4 track is expected at Flemington with the eighth race of the day a 1620m open contest.

JIMMY THE BEAR takes the eye here, having shown up well in three start this prep, including when resuming with a second over 1400m at Caulfield.

The selection contested a Benchmark 100 handicap that day and went one place better when stepped up to 1600m for a similar event at the same venue at the end of last month.

The son of Jimmy Creed arrives here on the back of a second, beaten just under three-and-a-half-lengths in a race similar to this over 1600m two weeks ago.

Notably the six-year-old raced on a wet track that day and the return to a forecast sound surface is in his favour here.

Regular rider Tom Prebble takes two kilograms off his back and he looks capable of steering the Patrick & Michelle Payne-trained gelding to victory.