Sportsbet Blog

This Saturday’s 2009 Group 1 Golden Rose is the epiphany of races for three year old horses in Australia. Worth one million dollars, the event is a major crowd-puller for Australian racing. 15 horses have been accepted from a nomination field of 63, and the list is far from disappointing.

Star gelding Phelan Ready (with odds of $6.00 at Centrebet) will race, hoping to do better than his third in the Premiere Stakes two weeks ago. He is back to racing against horses his age, which will be a major factor considering the two horses that beat him in the Premiere Stakes, Kroner and Mentality are 5 and 6 year olds respectively.

The impressive Shellscrape (with odds of $14.00), who has won four races and failed to place in only one of his 11 starts, will jump from barrier 8. He finished a close second to surprise winner Rarefied in last week’s Up and Coming Stakes, and ran a fantastic race to win the San Domenico Stakes earlier this month.

Headway ($10.00), who finished second to Phelan Ready in this year’s Golden Slipper, also looks like some value. She finished second in the listed Quezette Stakes two weeks ago after coming off a four month spell. She is up against the boys this week, which will be tough, but consider her for an each way bet.

I like Denman (2.70), the colt who has won his last four starts. The Golden Rose will be a major step up in class, considering his only race at Group level was a Group 3, and it will also be the first time he has raced 1400m. But you can’t fault his racing so far, or his pedigree – his father is champion Lonhro – and I think he will be right up there with the more experienced racers.

Another one to watch out for is Trusting ($5.00), who may be without number one jockey Chris Munce, but certainly not without a chance. The colt won the Warwick Stakes last Saturday at Randwick ahead of older and more experienced runners. While he may have only raced three times, Trusting has jumped straight into Group Racing and performed well.

I think the favourite Denman should win, but I think he may be a little short. There are plenty of horses that could beat him, including Shellscrape and Headway. I also think Trusting will run a good race and you can count on Phelan Ready to give it his all. With so many horses, it looks like a job for a box trifecta.

Centrebet is the place to got for this weekends Golden Rose. They have introduced a new product that give punters the best odds. The odds they give you are the top fluctuation or the best tote price from all 3 totes. This insures you will get the best bang for you buck. They also double your first deposit up to $50!, check the Centrebet site out here for more info on this great offer.

My Tips:

Denman

Trusting

Phelan Ready

Shellscrape

The Up and Coming Stakes is one of two Group 3 races at Randwick on Saturday. Run over 1200m, there is a cool $125,000 in prize money up for grabs. The race is specifically for three year old colts and geldings.

Of all the racers in the Up and Coming Stakes, I like Sniplaz the best. While I didn’t give him a chance in the San Domenico Stakes a few weeks ago, he came out and proved me wrong, and probably would have won if he wasn’t blocked for a run. He still managed an impressive second, and will be back to his preferred 1200m, where he has won twice. He is currently paying $8.50 at Centrebet so at these odds there’s plenty of value for him this weekend.

You can’t discount Shellcrape ($3.20), who did win the San Domenico Stakes. He beat several horses in this race and is very experienced for a three year old. From his ten starts, he has won four times, and placed in five others.

Another one to watch for is the Gai Waterhouse Judicial ($35.00). Unlike other three year olds in the race, he has had hardly any experience. He has raced once for a win, but this will be a significant step up in class for him, though I am sure Waterhouse would not enter him into a race like this unless she had confidence in him.

I’d stay away from the accident prone Winter King ($7.50). He has had problems in four of his seven starts, and although he may have won three races, this is a major step up in class.

I’m going to go for Sniplaz in this race. Hopefully he can get out into the open easily and run away with it. Then I’m going with Shellscrape, and the “Up and Coming” Judicial. My fourth tip is the impressive Onemorenomore, who is coming off a three month break, but has probably the best result of any of the runners, a first in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes.

My Tips:

1st. Sniplaz

2nd. Shellscrape

3rd. Judicial

All the classy races and horses this weekend can be found at Randwick, with three Group races on the card. The 2009 Group 2 Warwick Stakes is probably the best example, with big name horses, trainers and jockeys to fight out the $150,000 race, run over 1400m.

16 horses have been nominated, the field limit, but there are sure to be scratchings leading up to the day. Horses nominated include one Gai Waterhouse’s five runners for the day, Dreamscape; veteran gelding Vision and Power; and last year’s winner, Racing to Win.

There will be a nostalgic feeling about the race if the relatively untried O’Lonhro races. The Hawkes trained stallion is the son of Lonhro, a former winner of this race, and of course, a champion racehorse.

Court Command, the experienced stallion, has not really impressed at Group level recently and hasn’t won a race above Group 3. However, after a much-needed spell and an impressive win first-up, this might be the time for Court Command to step it up a level.

Unlike Court Command, New Zealand gelding Metal Bender has impressed at a Group level, and has won two Group ones and placed in another. However, he will be racing first-up after a three month break so it will be interesting to see how he copes.

More Than Great, who was ran second in last week’s Run to The Rose is another one to watch.  However, if his owners and trainer still plan on running him in next week’s Golden Rose at Rosehill, it will be unlikely that he will race on Saturday. If he does race, though, he will definitely be one to look out for.

This race will be a milestone for 8 year old Mr. Baritone. The Warwick Stakes will be the gelding’s 50th race. However, he has not won for over a year and although I hope he can get over the top here, I think it might be past him.

This race could be won by any of five or six horses. I like Metal Bender, but if you take a bet on him, remember the first-up factor. I think that Court Commander should take his racing to another level here, and Racing to Win, who hasn’t raced a lot since winning this race, should perform. I also like the thought of an each-way bet on More Than Great, if he races.

My Tips:

Court Command
Metal Bender
Racing to Win
Vision and Power

There is some juicy prices for this race and Betfair always offer the best odds. Checkout the Betfair site for the latest odds for this race

If you’re off to Rosehill in Sydney for the races this Saturday, it’d be wise to turn up early. The first two races on the card are the most prestigious, especially race 1, the Group 2 Premiere Stakes. The $150,000 event has drawn some of the best sprinters from around Australia and New Zealand.

Star gelding Phelan Ready, who at only three years old, has won over 3.2 million dollars, looks set for this one. His two wins, including last year’s Group 1 AAMI Golden Slipper, have come over the 1200m and he has been racing at a higher standard than other competitors in the Stakes. He has not raced since a disastrous attempt at the Sires Produce Stakes in April, but impressed in a barrier trial last Friday.

7 year old Fritz’s Princess may not have won a sum anywhere near Phelan Ready’s fortune, but the experience of 9 wins, especially the three over 1200m is one advantage she will happily take.

More Than Great looks another genuine chance, and his owners are looking to move him on to the Golden Rose later this month. The colt has only raced three times, but has won two of them and placed the other. The Premiere stakes will be a major step up in class for him, but he’s been racing so well I think he’ll be able to handle it.

Pay no heed to the nomination of Pillar of Hercules. Trainer Peter Moody has confirmed that the 5 year old will not race. Unfortunately, the horse that was once so promising now looks like being destined for smaller and smaller races.

Last year’s winner, Triple Honour, is back for seconds, but after remaining win-less since the event, is not in top form. It should be noted, though, that he has been racing in Group 1 events, and the Group 2 Premiere Stakes should prove a little more to his liking.

I think this race will be tough to bet on. Phelan Ready should start at small odds, but he is far from a safe bet. Although he oozes class, so do does young up-and-comer More Than Great. For an each-way bet I like the Hawkes trained Mentality. The 6 year old is no stranger to Group races, and the distance should suit it better than recent attempts at middle-distance races.

My Tips for the Premiere Stakes at Rose Hill:

5- More Than Great
6- Phelan Ready
4- Mentality
1- Centennial Park

If you looking at having a bet on this race it might be worth while making an account with IASbet. SportsbetBlog has organised a special promo with IASbet giving new customers a $100 free bet. Simply use the promo code SBLOG100 when joining and make $50 worth of bets and your account will be credited with a $100 free bet. Checkout their site for more info on this offer.

Saturday’s J.J Liston Stakes is sure to be closely watched by many punters, especially those keen on Cox Plate favourite Whobegotyou. The star three year old is the big name heading into the race, but he is not without competition. 7 year old Caufield Cup winner Master O’Reilly has been nominated, and so has the unbeaten Typhoon Tracy both with some great racing behind them.

New Zealand horses dominate the field, with 10 of the 23 entries coming from across the Tasman. Master O’Reilly, Zarita and Orange County head the Kiwi attack, with other group 1 winners Mr. Baritone and Ista Kareem not far behind.

But the Australian horses are not without hope. The brilliant Whobegotyou looks our best chance, but a change of jockey may prove costly. Although having Damien Oliver on board is far from a disadvantage, he has only ridden the star once, and punters would have been feeling a lot more confident if Michael Rodd was still riding.

Another group 1 winner to look out for is Gallica. While recent experiments over a longer distance have failed, the mare has had excellent form over 1600m races, which will hopefully transfer to Saturday’s 1400m race.

The New Zealand mare Zarita has not won a race since April 2008 and although she has been unlucky is probably not worth the risk if she gets a run. Master O’Reilly also looks past his use-by-date, and has not won below 1700m.

One to watch for is Fifth Avenue Lady. The 5 year old mare has placed in her past 6 starts, and won 3 of them, including the group 3 Patinack Farm Stakes. She is an expert over middle distance races such as this.
Shadowed by the recent retirement of his brother, Takeover Target, 4 year old Predatory Pricer will be looking to make a few headlines of his own. While he has only won three races, and none since September 2008, Predatory Pricer has impressed in both the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the AJC Australian Derby.

I think Whobegotyou will be too strong, but Gallica and Fifth Avenue Lady will be two to watch out for and worth a place bet. Checkout Australia’s leading horse racing bookmaker IASbet for the latest odd for the big race.

My Tips for the 2009 J.J Liston Stakes

15- Whobegotyou
20- Fifth Avenue Lady
4- Orange County
21- Gallica

The $150,000 Aurie’s star Handicap is a very important horse race coming upto the spring carnival. Alot of the top spring runners are starting to come out of their break and events like the Auries Star stakes is a great opportunity for them to start their preparation.

With a cracking field of Spring Carnival contenders on show in the Aurie’s Star Stakes at Flemington on Saturday, IASbet bookmaker Mark Read is tipping in form sprinter Gran Sasso to be first past the post.

Mark Read is a massive horse racing fanatic and shares with SportsbetBlog his thoughts on major races each week.

“Gran Sasso ($2.70) is a proven straight course specialist, and comes into this race at the peak of his preparation,” said Read. “He was unlucky not to win last start, and has a level of class that this field will find difficult to match.”

According to the market, boom youngster Mic Mac ($2.70) is the horse to beat, however Read reveals that his price is undervalued, whilst also dismissing the chances of crowd hero El Segundo.

“El Segundo ($17.00) will need a lot of pace early up front to finish amongst the placings, let alone win here, and, given the weight he has to carry, I suggest holding out until later in his preparation.”

Looking at Gran Sasso’s form he has had a great leadup to the race winning three of his last four outings. He loves the 1200 meter races and once he hits the front is very hard to pull back, he will be the one to beat.

There will be some great racing in Saturday’s big race with some classy horses that could shape the Spring Carnival over the next few months.

Mark Read’s IASbet has given SportbetBlog readers a special free bet offer thats hard to refuse. Simply use the promo code SBLOG100 when joinging IASbet. Then make $50 worth of bets and your account will be credited with a $100 free bet. Get more info about this great offer here.

Checkout the full form guide of the Aurie’s Handicap for more info on the race.

Heres the odds for the race.

1 El Segundo 21.00
2 Gran Sasso 3.00
3 Grand Duels 5.00
4 Mic Mac 2.70
5 Majestical 51.00
6 Rios 20.00
7 All American 14.00
8 Prospect 51.00
9 Oronero 101.00

Checkout the latest odds as IASbet here.

Rosehill Racecourse in Sydney will come alight on Saturday with the $125,000 Missile Stakes that is set to be one of the biggest with a host of classy runners. The 1100 meter race is placed perfectly in the racing calendar for both winter sprinters and spring racers resuming after a long break and attracts the big group 3 names. There are five horses tipped to be in the running. Dreamscape, Kroner, Fritz’s Princess, Olonana and last years Missile Stakes runner up Typhoon Zed all paying under $10 with the bookies.

After looking at the recent form and trial times Dreamscape is the one to beat here. I expect him to lead early from barrier four and should be well and truly up the front come the home straight. He’s also got what it takes to hold the competition out with a great 10.9 split in the final 200 meters of a 800 meter run recently.

It will be a battle of the big trainers with Gai Waterhouse and Bart Cummings training the favourites. IASbet has installed the Waterhouse trained Dream Scape as clear favourite to win over Bart Cummings Kroner.

Since Dreamscape hit the track he looked destine for a big future after he won the Group Three Up And Coming Stakes on debut in August last year and has continued to impress to this day with some great racing.

Our tips for the race

Dreamscape to win paying 2.80 with IASbet. He has earnt the respect from the field and is definitely the one to beat

Kroner will be up there with Dreamscape but may just miss with a place. There’s plenty of value for him at 5.00 with IASbet. He hasn’t raced in over a month where he was beaten as the favourite at the Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford where he previously had a great lead up to the race winning 3 of his last 4 races.

IASbet is the place to go for race betting. More times than not they have the best odds and cover all Australian and International racing events. They also give new members a $100 free racing bet when you make $50 worth of bets, simply use the promo code SBLOG100 when joining. Check their site out here for more info and the latest odds for the 2009 Missile Stakes.