Racing Tips & Best Bets – Saturday, April 18, 2026

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Randwick Betting Tips for April 18, 2026 - Race-by-Race Preview for All Aged Stakes Day

Alex Marsh

Editor

Last updated: Thu 16 Apr 2026 13:05

Alex Marsh 16 Apr 2026

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10-race program at Royal Randwick on April 18, headlined by two Group 1 races
Expert tips and horse selections provided for races, offering insights for better betting
Fans can access Live Racing & Sports Updates for full race coverage and insights

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The Champagne Stakes and All Aged Stakes headline Saturday's Randwick meeting. (Getty)

Royal Randwick hosts a 10-race program on Saturday, April 18, headlined by All Aged Stakes Day with two Group 1 features anchoring the card.

Randwick Tips April 18
Race 1 - 11:30AM Midway Handicap Tips (1400m)
Race 2 - 12:05PM TAB Highway Handicap Tips (1400m)
Race 3 - 12:40PM Catanach's Jewellers Handicap Tips (1200m)
Race 4 - 1:15PM James HB Carr Stakes Tips (1400m)
Race 5 - 1:50PM Toyota Forklifts Frank Packer Plate Tips (2000m)
Race 6 - 2:25PM Myplates JRA Plate Tips (2000m)
Race 7 - 3:00PM Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes Tips (1600m)
Race 8 - 3:40PM TAB Hall Mark Stakes Tips (1200m)
Race 9 - 4:20PM Schweppes All Aged Stakes Tips (1400m)
Race 10 - 4:55PM HKJC World Pool Handicap Tips (1400m)

The All Aged Stakes and Champagne Stakes take centre stage, supported by a strong mix of stakes races and competitive handicaps across what shapes as a deep autumn meeting.

For broader action across the weekend, follow Live Racing & Sports Updates for previews across all codes.

Randwick Tips April 18

Race 1 - 11:30AM Midway Handicap Tips (1400m)

8. Annie's Rose had decent BM78 form lines, including an eye-catching fourth when running the fastest closing sectionals via her February 7 event, and was well placed back to Midway company on March 28 where she saluted as favourite.

The five-year-old was the only runner in that 1300m affair to make any ground in the middle or wider lanes, and the extra 100m shouldn't pose any problems going off that, with the main query here being bar plates now going on.

3. Mailata was spelled after a BM78 second and covered ground first-up in a brave March 14 Midway effort, while the latest was an honest third in a Provincial Qualifier. Gets J-Mac and a soft draw, but does he run 1400m?

11. Audenzia wasn't far away in the Kembla Qualifier before contesting a Newcastle Wild Card. Last Saturday's Provincial Final quinella both came from that race.

15. Kitty Okay carries 3kg less after bolting in via her first try at 1400m, arriving there off a second to a talented Just Maz.

Selections: 8-3-11-15.

Race 2 - 12:05PM TAB Highway Handicap Tips (1400m)

7. Christa was still a pass mark on return despite being well held in that Country Qualifier at Muswellbrook, with that March 8 event producing four subsequent winners, including Chidiac, who took out the Country Final.

She was set another task when back in the field from a wide draw second-up, a run was better than it reads, and she now has gate one. Carries 1.5kg less than her last Highway attempt here on October 25, a race she arguably should have won.

3. Occult has won all three starts since being moved on by Godolphin, and the hat-trick has come despite still doing a lot wrong, which was evident first-up when laying in. Still has upside, and a senior hoop going on is a positive.

10. Ishikari wasn't suited back to 1000m two starts back, but her form either side of that has been sound, including a big win over this trip on March 22.

1. Micro Mikki stuck on for third despite a wide run in the Country Final and gets handy relief after the 3kg claim.

Selections: 7-3-10-1.

Race 3 - 12:40PM Catanach's Jewellers Handicap Tips (1200m)

16. Scintilla is an interesting acceptor, with a fourth-of-eleven finish in the Inglis Sprint of March 2025 at Flemington being the last time she raced, arriving to that affair off a stylish hat-trick over January and February.

After a September 2 trial, her spring campaign was aborted due to an infection, and two autumn heats have been completed leading into this resumption, with the Les Bridge-trained mare moving nicely in the latest hit-out.

11. Estremo was consistent throughout a long first campaign, with the highlight a Group 3 victory in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude. This is a kick-off with Queensland in mind, but he has class and his two trials were decent.

15. Grand Prairie has a fitness edge versus the classier top two selections, who are both resuming. Was narrowly beaten fresh and then completely unsuited second-up.

8. Bandi's Boy is hard to catch but talented, and there have been excuses in his biggest defeats this prep. Back to Randwick suits.

Selections: 16-11-15-8.

Race 4 - 1:15PM James HB Carr Stakes Tips (1400m)

1. Plaintiff has an unbeaten run of four to open her career, and she handled the rise to Group level via her PJ Bell Stakes resumption on April 4, when taken to the rear from a wide draw and sustaining a long, wide run.

1400m looks no issue against similar opposition, and she’s out of Prompt Response, a Group 1 winner at this trip. Has been ridden back from wide alleys in her past two runs, but showed in her first two starts that she can settle much closer in the run.

9. Beside The Ocean was the runner we were with at huge odds in the PJ Bell Stakes, where the filly was back and then held up when momentum needed to be built. Draws kinder here, and sharp improvement wouldn't shock.

3. Karinska got home first-up with the fastest closing sectionals of the Light Fingers Stakes and has been freshened right up since a plain Surround Stakes effort. The April 10 trial was sound.

4. Tomato Toastie also resumed in the PJ Bell Stakes, and she was the second-best closer in that Group 3.

Selections: 1-9-3-4.

Race 5 - 1:50PM Toyota Forklifts Frank Packer Plate Tips (2000m)

1. Matias arguably should have won the Carbine Club Stakes on day one of the Championships, where he was held up on straightening and chased hard late for a close-up third after switching inside runners at the 200m.

2000m is a logical progression, and he improved with every run last campaign, including a third-up win over Viewpoint, who bolted in with his next two, while the prep culminated with a Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes victory over 1800m.

7. Pictor gave the impression that he was looking for this trip going off his chasing performance in the Carbine Club Stakes, where he did hit a flat spot before getting warm late over the mile, and he's approaching peak fitness.

4. Olympian is another unlucky runner from the Carbine Club, when back and held up from the 400m to the 200m. He ran the fastest closing sectionals of that race.

2. Providence has had a spaced prep and closed strongly when second to Observer in the Moonee Valley Vase over a similar trip.

Selections: 1-7-4-2.

Race 6 - 2:25PM Myplates JRA Plate Tips (2000m)

9. Portland has improved with every run in Australia, going around at big odds over 1300m and 1500m in his first two runs for the Matthew Smith stable, both of which were pass marks, before stepping to 2000m in the Neville Sellwood Stakes.

He came from the rear to grab third with the fastest last 400m and 200m of that race. Perhaps looking for further, but this is a little weaker than what he faced at Rosehill, and he's one of many chances in a very open race.

4. She's A Dealer arrives here off a New Zealand Group 1 victory over a mile and, while yet to be proven beyond that distance, the four-year-old warrants respect from an astute yard and is the most lightly tried runner in the field.

5. Travolta never runs a bad race, and while effective over 2600m when deep into the spring, coming back in trip could suit going off his last two efforts.

13. You Wahng has been freshened and needs to improve sharply, albeit her form at 2000m+ is very consistent.

Selections: 9-4-5-13.

Race 7 - 3:00PM Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes Tips (1600m)

12. Salann found 1200m too sharp, but her Flemington debut was still eye-catching when closing late for second, and that Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes form has held up strongly, with third-placed Gin Twist winning at Listed level either side, while winner Satono Glow was a good thing beaten in the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes.

She then caught the eye from the rear in last Saturday’s Fernhill Stakes, stepping from six furlongs to a mile, and that looks an ideal lead-up to the Champagne Stakes with both a 1600m run and a clockwise outing now under her belt.

1. Campione D’Italia comes through the Inglis Sires, a race that has completed the Champagne Stakes double 42 times, most recently by stablemate Militarize in 2023, and while 1600m is a query on breeding, his Group 1 win, soft draw and class make him a deserved favourite, with firmer ground a potential positive.

13. Sumac comes through the Baillieu and Fernhill and was luckless in both, held up behind tiring runners in the Baillieu before another tough run in the Fernhill where she struck traffic on the inside and only saw clear air late.

4. Southend is aiming for a hat-trick, and this youngster is timing his Champagne Stakes bid perfectly, with the step to a mile no issue on breeding.

Selections: 12-1-13-4.

Race 8 - 3:40PM TAB Hall Mark Stakes Tips (1200m)

3. Jokers Grin is one of the most intriguing gallopers on the program, the classy WA galloper now under the care of Chris Waller, with his trial work under James McDonald encouraging and the champion hoop sticking with him for this fresh assignment.

There were some traffic excuses in the Winterbottom, as he’s a big galloper who prefers clear air and the outside, so the draw suits and his record from wide gates supports that. He could simply be the best sprinter in this field.

7. King’s Secret finds a decent test but has been luckless in both runs to open his 2026 account, beaten as favourite each time, and gets a kinder map here. Has race fitness, which could prove crucial against some of his key threats.

1. Private Eye, the older half-brother of King’s Secret, has been a grand campaigner. Would prefer him at 1300m-1400m, but a good track suits and he has a decent fresh record.

11. Bauhinia could be the blowout, a mare with some decent last prep form and a big finish when conditions allow.

Selections: 3-7-1-11.

Race 9 - 4:20PM Schweppes All Aged Stakes Tips (1400m)

8. Angel Capital shapes as one of the key chances in a very strong All Aged Stakes, despite not being among the 12 Group 1 winners in the field, with depth right across the race highlighted by Magic Time sitting around $70 despite being a previous winner and twice Group 1 placed last spring.

James McDonald sticks aboard following a strong trial, and his recent efforts have been encouraging, including a William Reid Stakes run where he produced the fastest last 600m of the Caulfield meeting on inferior ground, suggesting 1400m now suits.

11. Fangirl resumes in the All Aged Stakes after bone chip surgery and, while that’s the query, the four-time Group 1 winner brings proven class, strong fresh stats and an outstanding Randwick 1400m WFA record, and with a sound trial, preferred Good ground and her trademark turn-of-foot, she’s a major player if right.

2. Jimmysstar was poor in the William Reid Stakes but showed improvement in the TJ Smith Stakes when finishing off more encouragingly, and is suited stepping to 1400m as he attempts to defend his All Aged Stakes crown.

4. Tom Kitten is the least favoured of Godolphin’s trio despite strong credentials, with his Australian Cup run over 2000m on a Soft 7 forgiven, and back to 1400m with blinkers on, he looks forgotten off one bad run.

Selections: 8-11-2-4.

Race 10 - 4:55PM HKJC World Pool Handicap Tips (1400m)

1. Tavi Time found the winner’s stall at the end of his last prep at 2000m, further showing his versatility, and is a horse who has been dynamic over shorter distances, with 1400m-1600m generally the sweet spot.

His last fresh run was an unlucky fourth, and the form of that Newcastle trifecta was superb, with Headley Grange completing a hat-trick next start when beating Gringotts, Vivy Air winning two of her next three, while Fully Lit was then second to Autumn Glow in the Group 1 Epsom.

16. God’s Window showed enough in his first Australian campaign, though 1400m may be on the sharp side, his autumn trials have been terrific, profiling as a Chris Waller type building towards the Brisbane Carnival.

19. Formal Display is progressive and has saluted for us in both runs this time in, will push forward with no weight and is dangerous if he gains a start.

2. Zambardo was okay in his last jump-out behind a pair of sharper types, it’s not an ideal set-up, but he’s classy.

Selections: 1-16-19-2.

Verdict

Randwick - April 18

Our best & value bets for Saturday's Randwick meeting are:

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Tavi Time

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