Another day last weekend where things didn’t quite go our way. But we have arrived at Golden Eagle day, one of my favourite days on the calendar, so I am very keen to get stuck in, tip some winners and get back in the green.
Track Report: Rain is expected on Friday night and all throughout race day, so expect it to be soft conditions at least. Rail goes in the true position, so racing should be as fair as fair can be.
Race 1 – 1200M Tab Highway Hcp (C3)
Dollar Magic For Me. Yes, he has to carry 61 kilos, which is alot, but quite honestly, he has been racing really well in races much stronger than this. On the week back up after a solid 2nd in a BM78 only going down by a nose, so I struggle to see why a massive drop in class has him at this price. Happy to take him each way.
Tribeca Star is a very short favourite for a highway and hence I am staying away. However, he is 100%a strong winning chance. He is lightly raced and has a tonne of upside. Coming from his position in the track however, he will need to do it the tough way.
Love Shuck went around without even stretching out last week, essentially a glorified barrier trial thanks to the traffic he got stuck in. From that middle barrier he should be able to get into whatever position he wants.
Zaru is a very consistent horse at this grade, very happy to put him in the selections to pop into exotics.
Selections: 1-6-5-3
Suggested Bet: Dollar Magic Win
Race 2 – 1500M Canadian Club (Bm78)
I am happy to go with the form behind Gringotts and take Fall For Cindy, week back up here, likes to get the toe in the ground, gets Damien Lane and another 100 metres to stretch out, all signs point to a strong run,
Scared to death of Nails Murphy after a pleasing Aussie debut on Everest day, however, that Sequestered form didn’t really hold up last weekend so I am not quite sure what to do with him. he internationals are often quite better than us, so a win wouldn’t shock.
Peace Officer jumps out of the midway grade for the first time and if he brings his best he can most certainly be a serious player. As long as the track doesn’t get too saturated he is one of the main chances.
Dream Hour has form around Epsom winner Rediener, so of course he has to be a player here. Wants it as dry as possible and with Dylan Gibbons on his back he should get every chance.
Selections: 5-4-1-2
Suggested Bet: Fall For Cindy Win
Race 3 – 1900M Tab (Bm78)
Queenmaker for me in probably the worst race of the day, literally anything could win this slog. Back in trip is something that shouldn’t phase it, raced in a much stronger race than this when beating Marquess home and finishing a couple lengths off Stroke Of Luck. Held up all the way down the straight as well, so with a clear run to the line I am happy to take her.
Caboche has the exact same formlines so of course he has to be a contender as well here. He was able to win a few decent races in the Autumn and despite starting only fairly this prep, he finds a very winnable race.
Peshmerga and Mountain Guest are the only others I would want to entertain as a winning chance.
Selections: 5-1-4-8
Suggested Bet: Queenmaker Win
Race 4 – 1200M Chandon (Bm78)
Miss Hellfire for me. She had a huge winter carnival where she really showed she can be a solid benchmark horse. I expect to her to be a major player during this late Spring, early Summer racing period. She should sit right behind the pace and be some of the strongest late.
Shohei is lightly raced and has a lot of upside, especially considering she has only missed the placings once in her short career. She should jump, push right to the front and kick all the way down the straight and prove very hard to run down.
I literally could copy and paste everything I just said for Salisano. 4/5 in her career, this is her pet distance and Koby Jennings/Nathan Doyle is a winning combination, so don’t count her out.
Ruby Kisses has to be in my first 4, I think legally, as it is Nick’s family owned horse. $100 doesn’t reflect its chances to run in the exotics as it is quite a weak field and her best work comes in the wet.
Selections: 1-2-4-6
Suggested Bet: Miss Hellfire Each Way
Race 5 – 1300M Toyota Forklifts (Bm78)
Happy to take Robusto at odds here. Has to carry a bit of weight but the rise in distance suits a plenty and the way he closed off in his last race was solid without threatening behind Much Much Better. Does a lot of his best work when 2nd up as most Waller horses do, drops in grade, gets his toe in the ground. If he can sit just off them going around the turn I think he can run over the top of them.
Wizard Of Oz is running really really well this prep without winning too many races and his last few starts have been in tougher contests than this I think so a strong showing wouldn’t shock. He will be right towards the front and he will be the one they have to run down.
Overriding comes out of a race behind Kazou and Commemorative which is some really strong form to have, especially for a race like this, but she is getting a bit short in the market for such an open field. Gets another 100m to try and run over the top of them.
Pioneer River is always to be respected, however, he needs the weathermen to get it wrong as he hates the wet.
Selections: 1-10-5-2
Suggested Bet: Robusto Each Way
Race 6 – 1500M Four Pillars Midway
Happy to take Satness here in a very open field, as it is of course, a glorified Midway race. He has been racing well without winning many races this prep, but he has always been very close to the finish, push to the front, hopefully look the winner for a long way and hold on, won’t mind the wet conditions either.
Resistible is another horse that can push right to the front and prove hard to beat. Ran really well last start behind Salisano, who I mentioned is a solid chance earlier in the day. Plus she has plenty of strong form behind some horses who are much stronger than this from the Winter prep.
Sweet Mercy has the form behind Gringotts and the drop back in grade could take him a long way here. Dylan Gibbons on board will give her every chance and it just so happens that all her best work happens when on the quick back up, with all 3 career wins coming with this set up.
Oakfield Arrow has fallen off a cliff since this time last year when he won this race, was in desperate need of a drop in grade and gets it here.
Selections: 13-20-18-5
Suggested Bet: Satness Each Way
Race 7 – 1300M Giga Kick Stakes
Private Eye and Think About It are the clear quinella chances here you would think. The Pride pair have been nothing short of phenomenal in the last 12 months. Private Eye looks to make it 2 years straight in this race and I am confident he can. Think About It is looking for what, the 10th straight race win now as he just continues to build that picket fence. It is insane and this is the sort of race that suits him to a tee. However, I will take Private Eye due to the favourite being too short for my blood.
The only possible challenger is Bella Nipotina if the rain really comes down, but she is almost a lock for that 3rd spot, so much so I think I will have quite a large play on her to place as you can get pretty decent odds on her. As long as this stays a race with 3 dividends, she should be a great place play.
Anything outside those 3 can’t win, Cascadian is potentially a great place chance. But nothing should be beating the Pride pair and Bella if the rain comes down hard.
Selections: 4-1-6-2
Suggested Bet: Private Eye Win, Bella Nipotina Place (BEST BET)
Race 8 – 1500M Golden Eagle
Osipenko for me. How is it not shorter? Alligator Blood, Romantic Warrior, Mr Brightside and Fangirl, 4 of the most in form and strongest horses over the 1500-1600 range in the country if not the world right now. Osipenko has finished close behind all of them. He has the best form possible and gets a barrier that will allow him to get in a stalking position to launch late. Would be shocked if he isn’t thereabouts.
Hawaii Five-Oh is a serious contender here. Drawn an absolute peach, gets Nash back on and is back out to a distance that is probably more its style at the 1400-1500 range. Never gone beyond 1400 but he is racing like it should be his peak. 4th up here and has had this race in mind for the majority of the prep, the everest was just a little side step. Conditions wont scare him, he’s one of the most versatile runners in my opinion.
Kovalica is a chance here. If he had drawn a better barrier, I would have him much higher on my list, potentially even as my top selection, however, thanks to his fantastic turn of foot he remains a solid winning chance. Tommy Berry will need to be proactive and make sure he doesn’t give them as big of a start as he has had in other races this prep. I think he is definitely going to find his way into the top 4.
Legarto rounds out selections. Absolutely drawn perfectly has the Kiwi girl. Genuine G1 winner, will get the trip, has a strong rider, can deal with whatever conditions get thrown her way and will be one of the strongest late, so if she gets a clear run to the line, watch out. Ticks every box and should be somewhere in the finish.
Selections: 7-1-5-18
Suggested Bet: Osipenko Each Way
Race 9 – 2000M Rosehill Gold Cup
Canberra Legend surely just wins right? His benchmark rating is just 90, but Hidden Legend absolutely smashed some of our stronger staying horses on Everest day and his stable mate can most definitely do the same here. McEvoy rides, low weight, the tricky draw is the only issue, but He just wins in my opinion, especially with the predicted wet deck.
No Compromise has to be a chance to bounce back here and get back to her very best as he hasn’t gotten to see a wet track for quite some time. He is at his very best when on rain effected tracks and will be one of the strongest late.
Stroke Of Luck is a formidable contender here due to the bottom weight and the progression to come in its career. Has the form behind Kovalica, which is really strong for a race like this, should be finding his way into the money.
Shibli can round out the exotics. Flying in QLD right now and can go on with it.
Selections: 6-1-9-7
Suggested Bet: Canberra Legend Win
Race 10 – 1100 Schweppes (Bm78)
Gimme Smashing Eagle in the last, I think he was poor last start but I am happy to forgive him as he gets back to his much preferred track of Rosehill where he has only missed the placings once out of 5 starts. As long as he doesn’t get too far back I can 100% see him featuring here.
Jedibeel is flying right now and can certainly be a serious player. Inside barrier will allow him to get nice and proactive and sit right behind the leaders tail and try and run over them in the final stages.
Tristate wants it dry and if it does stay that way he can certainly play a part. He is out wide, but he has the speed to overcome it. Back to his pet distance at his best track. If it is wet, stay away, dry, he is a winning chance.
Way To The Stars certainly a handy sprinter on its day. Just got run down and beaten by a lip last start, which was a career best effort. Just needs to hold that form or go a touch better to be in the finish here.
Selections: 8-9-2-3
Suggested Bet: Smashing Eagle Each Way
Top Selections For Each Race
Race 1: Dollar Magic
Race 2: Fall For Cindy
Race 3: Queenmaker
Race 4: Miss Hellfire
Race 5: Robusto
Race 6: Satness
Race 7: Private Eye
Race 8: Osipenko
Race 9: Canberra Legend
Race 10: Smashing Eagle
Quaddie
Race 7: 1,4
Race 8: 1,3,5,7,16,18
Race 9: 6
Race 10: 3,8,9
$50 gets you 138%
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