Posted by David on October 29th , 2009 under Horse racing | 
The Group 1 AAMI Victoria Derby is the premier staying event for 3 year olds on the Australian racing calendar. Run over 2500m, each colt and gelding has 55.5kg and each filly carries 53kg to ensure the best horse really does win. There is over 1 and a half million dollars in prizemoney and trophies to be shared between the top eight runners. It takes a champion three year old to win this race. Most winners are male; the last time a filly won this race was in 1923. Previous winners of the Derby have gone onto win Caulfield Cups Cox Plates and Melbourne Cups and generally have outstanding careers. Some champion winners of the race include Phar Lap, Dulcify and, in more recent times, Nothin’ Leica Dane, Helenus and Efficient.
It seems likely that this year’s field will provide more than one champion horse. Shamoline Warrior is the next big thing in the Mark Kavanagh stables, and he is being touted as better than Maldivian and Whobegotyou. He has already won a group race in Melbourne, the Group 3 Norman Robinson Stakes, beating his 3 year old contenders, including Onemorenomore, who is racing in the Derby. Shamoline Warrior is currently the favourite at $3.40 with Betfair.
I like Monaco Consul ($5.50). Racing in Sydney, he won the Group 1 Champion Stakes at Randwick earlier this month. He has not raced over this distance before, but neither have any of his competitors. The major query will be the track – he has not raced in Melbourne before. His previous form shows that he might be better suited to a heavy or slow track, so don’t be afraid to bet on him if we get some rain. Read more of this article »
Posted by David on under Horse racing |
While most important races on Derby Day are ran over longer distances, the length of the $500,000 Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes is perfect for attracting some of the best quality 3 year olds in Australian racing. The 1200 metres are run down the straight track, which showcases some of the best sprinters of the future. This race has a fantastic record for providing fantastic sprinters with one of their first Group 1 victories. Famous winners of this race include champion Encosta de Lago, Alinghi, Gold Edition and Weekend Hussler.
Phelan Ready ($12.50 with Betfair) is racing this year, quite possibly in career-worst form. He is yet to win a race this Spring Carnival, and apart from finishing second in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes, he been very disappointing this spring. He finished 7th in a Group 2 last start; he was a champion racer as a two year old, but there are serious doubts about him now he is a three year old. However, saying that, he is such a quality horse that it would be very unwise to discount him as a chance.
Shellscrape ($11.00) has had a fantastic Spring Carnival in Sydney so far. He won the Group 2 Roman Consul last start at Randwick, and also won another Group 3 earlier in the Carnival. His one attempt at a Group 1, The Golden Rose, resulted in a 5th against some very good quality opponents. He should perform better in this race considering it will be at his preferred distance, 1200m. It will be interesting to see how he handles racing in Melbourne, something other Sydney runners have struggled at. Read more of this article »
Posted by David on under Horse racing |
The Group 1 Myer Classic is the most prestigious all female race in the Spring Carnival as well as being the only opportunity for fillies to race against mares. The mile-long event is weight-for-age, so fillies have a better chance racing against the more experienced mares. There is $500,000 in prizemoney on offer as well as the honour of a Group 1 victory. The fillies in the race will be looking towards the Group 1 Crown Oaks on Thursday 5th November, while the mares may go onto the Emirates Stakes or end their carnival after this race. Past winners of this race include Bonanova, Miss Potential and Divine Madonna.
Typhoon Tracy has been the mare of the Spring Carnival, despite the fact she has only one race. She is easily favourite with Betfair here at $2.25. Her win last start in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes was impressive, over some of her rivals here. However, those odds are just a little short for me at the moment.
Hot Danish ($4.40) finished second to Typhoon Tracy in the Tristarc Stakes. She has an excellent record, winning 11 of her 20 starts. It will be interesting to see how she handles the distance. She has won two races over 1600m before, but neither of them were a Group 1 and, importantly, they were both well over 2 years ago. Read more of this article »
Posted by David on under Horse racing |
The $750,000 Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes is widely renowned for its status as the lead-up race to the Melbourne Cup. Many horses have raced in the 2000m Stakes before making the tough Melbourne Cup run, after which they most definitely deserve a break.. It is rather ironic to note that the horses who do well in the Melbourne Cup do not always perform here – last year’s Cup winner, Viewed, finished last in this race before going on to win the big one. Previous winners of this race include Empire Rose, Let’s Elope, Rogan Josh and Lonhro.
Like every year, this Mackinnon Stakes is very open, with almost all of the 13 racers considered a chance. The favourite is Rangirangdoo ($3.60 with Betfair), who has had an excellent Spring Carnival, topped off by winning the Group 2 Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley last start. He is not headed for the Melbourne Cup, so this might be his “Grand Final” or perhaps the Sandown Guineas.
Viewed, however, will race in the Melbourne Cup, where he is equal favourite. Here he is at odds of $9. There will be a lot of eyes on him no matter where he finishes, seeing how he handles the track and whether he is up to the form that saw him win the Cup last year. Read more of this article »
Posted by David on October 23rd , 2009 under Horse racing |
Formerly known as the Moonee Valley Cup, the Cathay Pacific Airways Cup is the only major long distance event held at Moonee Valley during the Spring Carnival. Because of this it is an important race for stayers, despite its Group 2 status. This race is not considered a great guide to any race in particular. However, it takes a good horse to win the race, and horses who have done well in this race have performed well in other events such as the Melbourne Cup, Sandown Classic and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Previous winners of the race include Kingston Rule, Court of Honour and Zipping.
This is considered an open race, with favourite Hissing Sid at $3.90 with Betfair. He is favourite despite the fact that he has not won a race in his 5 starts since the Warnambool Cup in May, and has only placed in one of them. He finished 3rd in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes, which has seen him into favouritism here, but there are still many queries hanging above his head.
At $5.40 is Lodge the Deeds, whose form in Sydney has been fantastic. He finished second in the Group 1 Metropolitan behind Cox Plate fancy Speed Gifted, and has not been out of the top three in a race since the start of August. He has not won over 2000m, but his effort in the 2400m Metropolitan showed that he could run the distance. The only other query will be the track, as this will be his first race at the Valley. Read more of this article »
Posted by David on October 22nd , 2009 under Horse racing |
The Group 2 AAMI Vase is another tough Group 2 race that makes up Cox Plate Day. All 8 horses racing will be guaranteed a share in $200,000 for the 2040m race specifically for 3 year olds. This race is for horses heading for the Victorian Derby next week, and several winners of this race have gone on to win the Derby. Famous winners of the AAMI Vase include Helenus, Efficient and Whobegotyou.
One horse that is favoured for the Victorian Derby is Extra Zero, who is $3.40 for this race with Betfair. He has only won once, in a listed race earlier this year, but he has shown a lot of promise. However his odds seem too short here considering he has not won a race this Spring Carnival.
Carrara was very impressive in the Caulfield Guineas, finishing second to Starspangledbanner. He has an excellent record racing in Queensland and his performance in the Guineas shows that he can race in Victoria as well. He is at $5.10, and has the best form of any horse in this race. Read more of this article »
Posted by David on under Horse racing |
The Group 2 Schweppes Stakes is one of the premier short to middle distance races in the country. It may not have the prestige of Group 1 races such as the Manikato Stakes, but there is still $200,000 in prizemoney, and the race attracts big name sprinters each year. Famous winners of this race include Our Egyptian Raine, Miss Andretti and Lucky Secret. Several winners of this race have gone on to win the Salinger Stakes on Victoria Derby Day.
It comes as no surprise that Apache Cat is racing here. The 7 year old veteran of 40 starts can always be found at big short distance races throughout Victoria and New South Wales. The Schillaci Stakes is always considered a good guide as to how horses will race in the Schweppes Stakes and, after finishing 2nd in the Schillaci, Apache Cat is one of the favoured horses here ($3.80) and will challenge Lucky Secret for favouritism.
As mentioned earlier, Lucky Secret won this race last year, and now he’s back for more. Usually when a horse attempts a Group 2 he has won earlier it shows that he has progressed little in the year that has passed. However, this is not the case with Lucky Secret. He has won more races and performed well even in Group 1 races. His effort in the Manikato Stakes was disappointing, but his win in the Schillaci Stakes has seen him jump to favouritism here with Betfair at $3.75 Read more of this article »
Posted by David on under Horse racing |
The Group 1 Tatts Cox Plate is the most prestigious weight-for-age race in Australia. The 2040m race is worth over 3 million dollars in prizemoney and trophies, but it is the honour of winning such an important race that drags the big named horses and trainers to the race. The Cox Plate is characteristically won by a top quality horse – past winners include Kingston Town (3 times), Sunline (2 times), Northerly (2 times) and Makybe Diva. Perhaps the most famous winner of the race is Fields of Omagh, who raced in the Plate 5 times for two wins, including the 2006 Plate when, as a nine year old, he became the oldest winner of the race.
As for this race, quality horses are bountiful. The favourite is Whobegotyou, currently at $3.25 with Betfair (some pretty juicy odds). I made the mistake of betting against Whobegotyou when he was favourite in the Yalumba Stakes, but I will not make it again. Despite drawing a wide barrier, Whobegotyou is a star and I have every confidence in him to win this race.
I bet against Whobegotyou last time for Heart of Dreams, the 4 year old gelding who, in the end, finished second. He has drawn well and will jump from barrier 3, which is one advantage he has over Whobegotyou. Heart of Dreams is certainly a chance, and is at $6.00 with Betfair. This race could easily turn into a showdown between him and Whobegotyou. Read more of this article »
Posted by David on October 15th , 2009 under Horse racing |
Group racing really heats up this week with the Group 1 BMW Caulfield Cup at Caulfield Racecourse. With two and a half million dollars at stake, Australian racing has provided some of its best horses to run out this 2400m race. The Caulfield Cup – Melbourne Cup double is acknowledged as probably the greatest feat a horse can achieve over one Spring Carnival. Horses to have done this in the past include Let’s Elope, Doriemus and Might and Power. The most recent horse to have achieved the double was Ethereal in 2001.
While the big news about this year’s Caulfield Cup has been more about who’s not racing than who is, the race is still sure to be a cracker. There are several horses vying for favouritism, and at the time of writing, it’s a three way tie.
Vigor is at $10, and was nothing but disappointing in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes, finishing 13th. It will be interesting to see how he fares in this race considering he is favourite over horses that beat him in both the Turnbull Stakes and the Underwood Stakes earlier in the Carnival. He is at $13 with Betfair for the Melbourne Cup, but those odds will change dramatically depending on his result here. Read more of this article »
Posted by David on under Horse racing |
While the main event this weekend is undisputedly the Caulfield Cup, the race following it is also very prestigious. The Group 2 Caulfield Sprint, as the name suggests, is a short-distance race, and is dominated by sprinters.
Favouritism lies with First Command, who is $3.80 with Betfair. He is in good form, finishing second in his last race, the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes, and winning before that. He is up against some tough competition this time, but he is definitely capable of winning this race.
A horse that I mention a lot in this column, (Indeed, it could be said I have a “horse-crush” on him) is More Than Great. This 3 year is an exciting young horse who has shown plenty of promise this spring. He has won two of his past four, and placed in the other two, so there has never been a better time for him to contest this race against some strong horses. More Than Great is $9.00 with Betfair.
Phelan Ready is a position that he is not used to, the one where he is not the one to beat. At $8.00, there are a few horses more favoured than him. He finished second in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes, but his effort in the Golden Rose was dismal. He’s got a bit of work to do to get himself into the same form he was in this April when he won the Golden Slipper. Read more of this article »
