Country Championships Final Preview and Tips 05/04/25

The Autumn Racing Carnival kicks up another gear as we enter Day One of The Championships at Randwick Racecourse. We see four Group One races on top of the Country Championships Final, which features the best country horses in Australia. It’s going to be a very busy day at Randwick, that’s for sure, with the Doncaster Mile as the headline.

As always, we see a full field of 16 runners confirmed for the Country Championships Final and there are also six emergencies (there were originally seven but Craving Magic has been scratched). Gallant Star is the current pre-race favourite with PlayUp and there is a massive $1 million worth of prize money on the line in this one.

It may be a massive day of racing but my Saturday tips have you completely covered for all the key races at Randwick. My best bets for OnlyRacing cover the Country Championships Final along with the other four Group One races, so make sure you check out all my tips before the action kicks off on Saturday.

There are a few runners in this one with some barrier speed and I’m expecting a moderate tempo. Most of the runners with barrier speed are jumping from an inside barrier as well, so watch for the likes of Canny Hell, Intervarsity, Ticklebelly and Zarizatycoon all fighting it out early in this one to see who will take the leader position.

Gallant Star currently holds the favouritism in this one and jumping from barrier four, he’ll probably settle in the middle of the field with cover. He’ll likely need to wait for the right breaks at the right time to let down in the closing stages of the race. Know Thyself, who is currently on the second line of betting, will probably settle in around Gallant Star.

Gallant Star is the clear top pick for mine in a field full of live chances. I always have enjoyed the Country Championships Final as it gives country horses and trainers a chance to shine on one of the biggest stages of all. The 5YO comes into this one as the favourite and you can get odds of $3.30 for him to take the win, thanks to PlayUp.

The gelding is part owned by former Aussie cricketer and legendary commentator Kerry "Skull" O'Keefe. Jason Collett retains the saddles after the Country Championships Qualifier in March, where the pair won by 4.3L. He maps pretty well for the race and jumping from barrier four, he’ll have plenty of options.

Know Thyself is another that deserves serious consideration and the 4YO comes into this one as a result of winning the Country Championships Wild Card Plate by 2.3L back on March 21st in Scone. Bet365 currently has Know Thyself on the second line of betting with odds of $4.20.

The gelding tackles the Country Championships Final third-up and he seems to have progressed nicely throughout this prep. He gets a 3kg swing in his favour at the weights to Gallant Star as well. Looks like he does his best work on Heavy tracks, but this one is looking like it will be rated in the Soft range, where he has a record of 1:0-1-0.

If you’re looking for value in the 2025 Country Championships Final, there are plenty of options. I think Tribeca Star is the standout value pick though. The gelding won the Country Championships Qualifier Plate by 0.8L back in February to book his place in this final field on Saturday.

At the moment, Dabble is offering $11 for Tribeca Star to claim victory in the Country Championships Final. Seems to be able to handle all conditions and his Soft record currently stands at 3:1-1-0. Put a line through his last run on the Gold Coast and focus on his versatility with Nash Rawiller stepping up for the first time.

I don’t think you can overlook Intervarsity for this one. She’s one of the few females in this one and only has to carry 54kg on her back, which is the equal lightest and a fairly significant difference compared to the top weight of 59kg. Intervarsity opened with odds of $8.50 with QuestBet and now she is going around at $7.00.

She impressed in the Country Championships Qualifier in Tamworth, winning by 1L. There are not a lot of races to go off, but she is two from two so far on Soft-rated tracks. She draws barrier five and has good barrier speed giving jockey Damian Lane a few options from the get-go. She can surprise.

Burrandana is one runner that is going around with massive odds that I think is worth considering for wider exotics or even a place bet just in case. The 6YO was the favourite going into the Country Championships Qualifier in Wagga and he ended up going down to Canny Hell by 0.8L, but second place was still good enough to qualify.

If you’re interested in Burrandana, Bet Right is currently offering $61 for the gelding to take the win. With a career record of 14: 3-4-3, he is fairly lightly raced for a 6YO and I don’t think fitness will be an issue here. He is yet to place in his two attempts on a Soft-rated track and draws fairly wide, but you get what you pay for.

All my Country Championships Final horse racing tips and their odds can be found here:

Bookmaker	Tip	Odds
	Gallant Star (win)	$3.30
	Know Thyself (each-way)	$4.20/$1.85
	Tribeca Star (place)	$3.50
	Intervarsity (place)	$2.45
	Burrandana (place)	$11