Sydney Cup Preview and Tips 12/04/25

We have entered Day Two of The Championships and if Day One was any indication, we’re in for a cracker. There are four Group One races in total to feast on, including the Sydney Cup, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the Queen of the Turf Stakes and the Australian Oaks. There’s also the Provincial-Midway Championships Final as well, worth a cool $1 million.

For the Sydney Cup on Saturday at Randwick Racecourse, we see a massive field of 20 runners confirmed, plus three emergencies, just in case there are any scratchings before the race. There is one runner in particular that bookies have their eye on, Alalcance, who is currently the favourite for the Sydney Cup.

It’s a massive day of racing, so make sure you check out all my preview and tips articles here at OnlyRacing for all the key races on the track at Randwick today. My Saturday tips cover all four Group One races and the Provincial-Midway Championships Final. For the Sydney Cup, in particular, I have five best bets, so there is something for everyone.

It’s a massive field, so race tactics and the barrier draw really come into play for the 2025 Sydney Cup. Alalcance, who is currently the favourite, has led in her last three runs and has still had something left in the tank for the closing stages. Jumping from barrier 15, it’s likely that Tim Clark will look to jump out well, cut across and lead.

There are a few others that have barrier speed as well, so I’m expecting this one to be run at a fairly fast tempo. The likes of River Of Stars, Duke De Sessa and Zarir all might give Alalcance a run for her money and take up a leading position. Zardozi, who is on the second line of betting, will probably settle around the middle of the field with cover.

This race will be a massive test for the current pre-race favourite Alalcance and I’m willing to take her on because Zardozi looks the goods right now as well. Zardozi is the far more experienced runner in situations like this and has a Group One race record of 10: 1-2-2, while this is the first Group One that Alalcance will contest in her career.

The mare is quite deep into her campaign and she has WFA form after coming through the Australian Cup, where she finished third. The 4kg swing from that race will certainly help her out as well and Kerrin McEvoy jumps into the saddle. I think she is more than capable of winning this one and she’s currently going around with odds of $8.00, thanks to PlayUp.

While I didn’t put Alalcance on top, I still think she has a massive chance of winning. She may be inexperienced at this level, but she has some serious form coming into the Sydney Cup. The 5YO will be looking to claim her fourth win in a row and she has been steadily improving this prep.

Last time out, she won the Chairman’s Quality, which is one of the ideal lead-up races, with 19 of the last 35 winners of the Sydney Cup coming through that race. The wide draw means that Tim Clark will have to get her going fast to cut across and hopefully look to lead this one. Bet365 has Alalcance as the favourite, going around with odds of $2.60.

For a little bit of value, I think Circle Of Fire stands out. Gets no favours from the barrier draw, but the stallion won this race last year from a wide barrier, so who’s to say he can’t do it again? The bookies don’t have that much confidence in him and you can pick up Circle Of Fire with odds of $18 at Dabble.

He has been going through the gears nicely so far this prep but is yet to break through for a top-three finish. Last time out we saw him finish fifth in the Tancred Stakes, behind classy runners like Dubai Honour, Duke De Sessa and Vauban. As long as being out wide for some of the race doesn’t impact him too badly, he should be right in the finish.

The ever-consistent Duke De Sessa carries the top weight in this one, but I consider him one of the biggest dangers. He presents some value as well, currently going around with odds of $11 with QuestBet to take out the win on Saturday. He comes into the Sydney Cup fourth up and has been there or thereabouts in all three runs so far.

Last time out, he finished second in the Tancred Stakes, just 0.8L behind Dubai Honour. The distance might be a touch too long, but he is a very classy horse, so I’m willing to take a chance on him, especially considering the ideal barrier draw and the fact that jockey Harry Coffey sticks with him here.

From the top weight to the equal-lightest weight, Strathtay gets my vote as the best roughie in the 2025 Sydney Cup and will only have to carry around 50kg for this one. Opened with odds of $31 but has now shortened to $26 with Bet Right, but that is still more than good enough for me.

He’s another that is coming through the Chairman’s Quality and he finished sixth in that one. The gelding finished strongly and recorded the fastest final 200m, so the rise in trip shouldn’t be of any concern. He also recently finished third in the Manion Cup (Group Three) and I think he is worth a shot at decent odds.

All my Sydney Cup horse racing tips and their odds can be found here:

Bookmaker	Tip	Odds
	Zardozi (win)	$8.00
	Alalcance (each-way)	$2.60/$1.60
	Circle Of Fire (place)	$5.00
	Duke De Sessa (place)	$3.40
	Strathtay (place)	$6.50