We are back for another week and personally, I have still not recovered from the sickness that came from Fawkner Park losing the way he did. Can somebody please explain why Gibbons was taken off!? Rumours have it Lloyd is still waiting to get going and press the button.
Track Report: The weather is fine, the track is a Good 4 and the rail is out three metres for the entire circuit which means we should get a rock-hard deck with a slight bias potentially headed in the on-pace types.
Race 1 – 1300M Inglis Pink Bonus (Bm72)
The Little Pumper will do me in the first. He was one of the more consistent benchmark 2YO’s through last season and I expect similar things out of him in his 3YO season. He has to carry a bit of weight, but he will go straight to the front and set a strong pace as he typically does every start. His recent trial looked clean, he can continue adding to the picket fence here.
Callabus is the danger here, obviously, as favourite. He ran a strong race a couple of weeks ago at Randwick where he gave them a 4-length start headed into the straight and rounded them up nicely with some left in the tank it seemed. Up in distance now, if he finds a cushy spot in the run he can stretch his legs out further and put them away.
Ganbare was running around with some of the country’s best 2YO’s in the Autumn. Albeit he was constantly outclassed by the likes of Learning To Fly and Shinzo. This is more his grade and with a bit more experience under his belt perhaps he can find his way back into the winner’s stalls again.
Waverly is still a maiden but was running in strong enough company in Autumn to warrant some respect here with the drop back down to Benchmark grade.
Selections: 1-2-4-3
Suggested Bet: The Little Pumper Win
Race 2 – 1500M Midway (Bm72)
Elettrica was painfully unlucky to not have been announced the winner after her last start. Held up massively in the straight and when finally clear she went into overdrive and missed by a genuine whisker. She has been good throughout the prep without winning and I think that win comes here.
Dreamdeal is one I can certainly entertain with the inside draw. Should bounce from the gates and get right on the speed, potentially even taking a clean lead. Was super tough when winning last start at 1600M and with less ground now, potentially he can win this time without having to fight so hard at the death.
Super Friendship is in an interesting position here. 2-midweek wins catapulted him to the Saturday benchmark level but he fell flat on his face. Drops back to midweek where Prebble jumps aboard for a stable he doesn’t often ride for, so potentially he is really confident. Has to carry a lot of weight but can get the job done with his best efforts.
Dimmaggio rounds out selections as the blinkers go back on.
Selections: 9-11-1-3
Suggested Bet: Elettrica Each Way
Race 3 – 1800M Acy Securities (Bm78)
Wineglass Bay has to be the play here and one of the better chances of the day. He won’t be my best bet as it takes a much better horse for me to take a deep dive with those odds, but he is the best horse in the field for sure. He should be racing in much better company in my opinion but he keeps running into bad luck. He can sit just off them and launch late down the outside for a strong win.
Bazooka is a horse who is quite consistent, very much a know what you’re going to get horse. He’ll put in an honest effort as always but can he get the job done? I would say absolutely. Back down to a weaker grade for his usual standards and finds a suitable distance, he is the main danger to the favourite.
Casino Kid used to be a horse that I would automatically be on but gee he’s gone backwards hasn’t he!? Hasn’t run in the top 10, let alone challenge for a win in a while. His best can win here, but perhaps he is past it.
Travelling Kate rounds out selections.
Selections: 5-2-1-7
Suggested Bet: Wineglass Bay Win
Race 4 – 1300M Tab Highway (C3)
Tags will do me in a painfully average Highway field here. Two weeks ago at Randwick he was a couple of lengths off the finish behind Iron Will who finds himself as the favourite in this field. He got way too far back to factor into the finish but if he finished very strongly. Up in distance and fitter he can get closer to the finish here.
Iron Will, as I mentioned is the favourite of the field and is to be respected after a smart win last start at Randwick. He jumped, led, kicked and won, simple as that and sometimes that is really all you need. With the rail out he can definitely use the exact same strategy, especially with his soft draw.
Wizard of Oz also comes out of the same race two weeks ago at Randwick where he finished 4th in a solid outing. He was held up quite a bit til the final stages which kept him out of the finish, but with a clearer run to the line I think he could definitely get his nose in front.
Indicative is a pretty consistent gelding for the Crockett camp and he should put in another decent effort here. Will carry little weight with the apprentice claim and could be the one to challenge the favourite for the lead.
Selections: 8-3-5-10
Suggested Bet: Tags Each Way
Race 5 – 1200M Schweppes (Bm88)
I usually don’t get sucked in by trial form, but Extremely Lucky has hooked me. Ex-SA galloper that is now in the hands of Chris Waller and he seems to have lofty goals for him as he has been sent out in Group company during the trials and he’s held his own, splitting I Am Me and Fangirl in a recent trial where he closed off excellently. I will trust it, for now, one of those ones that could come out and blitz them or fall flat on his face. I am hoping for the former.
Devil’s Throat is in this up to his neck and if he wins I will kick myself as he is my usual bet in these sorts of races. He was flying to start his prep but he came unstuck in his most recent run at Grafton where he got trapped wide and burnt his entire petrol tank and never factored. He can bounce back here in a more familiar setting and a much better draw.
Olentia is a horse who has continually stepped up to the plate and delivered and should be right in the finish again here. Has won in open company which is a good form line to have coming into this and she also comes out of the exact same trial as the favourite, so a bet on her is very respectable.
Vreneli is another who will put a strong run in I feel. He’ll be in the right part of the track to make his own luck right at the front and Hyeronimous is really starting to come into his own now after a couple of months back in the saddle. I think he is the one they will have to run down.
Selections: 2-6-5-3
Suggested Bet: Extremely Lucky Win
Race 6 – 1400M Exceedance @ Vinery Stud-Bm78
I’ll be straight to the point here, it’s Call Di for me and nothing else. Admittedly, it is an omen bet, so fair warning for that. Named after one of my biggest supporters in this Mock endeavour, my Aunty Di. Let’s hope it wins for her.
Selections: 8
Suggested Bet: Call Di Win
Race 7 – 1400M Ranvet (Bm78)
Freedom Rally is the dangerous one here. Beware the even-money horse on a dominant streak. He deserves to be the favourite considering how he has absolutely dominated his way through the grades in QLD. But, I am unconvinced as he hasn’t really beaten anyone. Feel like he’ll either win in dominant fashion yet again or he will crumble under the higher pressure.
Wategos is the one I prefer despite the large weight he will have to carry. He is in fantastic form with 2 straight wins, the first of which has had its form franked with Brudnell winning last weekend. He will have to work from the wide barrier but Hyeronimous will make sure he gets towards the front and I think he can definitely make it 3 on the trot.
Chorlton Lane has a horrible racing pattern for this sort of track set up, but as long as he doesn’t swing too wide going around the bend and get a cushy run in transit, he can most definitely use his turn of foot to run them down.
Green Shadows hasn’t run in yonks but he never took a spell so he is basically first up, just not officially. He is always there or thereabouts so expect him to be in the finish.
Selections: 3-5-9-7
Suggested Bet: Wategos Win
Race 8 – 1100M The Rosebud
Having a throw at the stumps with Infatuation in this one. She’s a horse that is always there or thereabouts and I think with her excellent draw she can park on the heels of the pace and make a lunge for the line late. I would forgive her last start, word out of the camp was that she wasn’t 100% fit and she pulled up sick, but she is rested and recovered now. I am happy to be on her side.
Tiz Invincible and Cigar Flick are the two that everyone seems to be spruiking. They’ll most likely have quite similar runs as they grab a spot amongst the chasing pack and show that hands late, hopefully benefitting off what should be a fast pace set by the leaders. They are talented types and should be hard to beat, but I feel s though they have been too well found by the market now, especially Tiz Invincible.
Introducing was strong in the Autumn without blowing the world away. He impressed me in a solid 4th when he finished 2 lengths off the eventual Golden Slipper winner Shinzo in Group company. He will ping out of the gates and go straight to the front and Tim Clark is the right jockey to keep him there the entire time.
Selections: 6-2-5-4
Suggested Bet: Infatuation Each Way
Race 9 – 1400M Tab Hcp
Here comes my best bet and I am confident that the blue army can get a strong win here with Pericles. He is head and shoulders above this pack class wise and I think that is all he will need. He was stuck in the stayers ranks looking for Derb win in Autumn and I always thought 1400-1800 was his sweet spot so I am not concerned one bit with this drop in distance. I think he can smash them.
Kalino is the epitome of consistency. He is one of Waller’s better benchmark horses and he deserves to get the chance to take the scalp of Pericles here. I think 1400 is probably the very edge of his range so as long as he runs it out he can definitely be the one to take down the Cummings horse, especially with fitness on his side.
Madame Pommery is one I want to keep an eye on. She was a serious player last Spring but was never the same in Autumn. Her latest trials look slick and if she brings her best she could be a serious knockout chance.
Perfect Thought rounds out selections but honestly, I can’t see one of the top 3 selections not winning.
Selections: 2-4-3-9
Suggested Bet: Pericles Win (BEST BET)
Race 10 – 1100M Rosehill Bowling Club (Bm78)
I am a big Garza Blanca fan, I just love the way he goes about it, would have won the Magic Millions if he got a start in my mind. We last saw him closing off very well behind Yoshino and he would give this crew a romping if he were here so the favourite just has to be the play here.
Smashing Eagle goes in as the second selection purely off the form behind one Mogo Magic who I have a whole tonne of respect for. He could potentially run them all down in the end if the leaders go too hard up front.
Kir Royale and Troach round out selections as solid chances that will be the ones that the field will have to run down.
Selections: 8-13-1-2
Suggested Bet: Garza Blanca Win
Top Selections For The Card
Race 1: The Little Pumper
Race 2: Elettrica
Race 3: Wineglass Bay
Race 4: Tags
Race 5: Extremely Lucky
Race 6: Call Di
Race 7: Wategos
Race 8: Infatuation
Race 9: Pericles (BEST BET)
Race 10: Garza Blanca
Quaddie
Race 7:3,5,7,9
Race 8:1,2,4,5,6,8
Race 9:2,4
Race 10:8,13
GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY. CHANCES ARE YOU ARE ABOUT TO LOSE. SET A DEPOSIT LIMIT.