Sportsbet Blog

Randwick’s Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes is a big name puller this week, with several big names. The $150,000 race has a reasonably small field, with only 10 runners after Dreamscape was scratched.

Several big names have won the Chelmsford Stakes, including Lonhro, Pasta Express and last year’s winner, Gallant Tess. The Chelmsford is traditionally a good lead up race to the Group 1 George Main Stakes at Randwick in three weeks time.

O’Lonhro ($2.80 with Betfair) will start as the favourite, and looking at his recent form it is easy to see why. He impressed in his first taste of group racing two weeks ago, where he narrowly lost to Trusting in the Warwick Stakes. His sire, the great Lonhro, won this race twice, so the race may become a bit of a family favourite.

Not too far behind him is Court Command with odds of  $4.50. He finished 5^th in the Warwick Stakes, but won before that. He will be looking to win his first group race since May this year, where he beat a field of 17 to win the Group 3 Darley BTC Sprint.

Despite the small field, there has been no love for Moody Avenue, who is at $251. The 4 year old made his debut late compared to the others, and won his first race three weeks ago, albeit a maiden. He has not had experience racing against horses of the calibre of this field, and I feel like entering in the Chelmsford Stakes in like jumping in at the deep end before you’ve learnt to swim.

Another one at short odds is Triple Honour ($6). Despite not winning since last year’s Premiere Stakes, he is considered a good chance.  He is at short odds considering his trainer is not anticipated a win. Triple Honour could definitely finish in the top three, but those odds are not looking juicy enough for me yet.

Trainer Joseph Pride has two horses in this race, Vision and Power ($7) and Miss Marielle ($10). They are both good chances, although Miss Marielle has not run in a group race for some time. Vision and Power disappointed in the Warwick Stakes but has an excellent record before then.

I think that although O’Lonhro is still inexperienced, he has shown that he can fight out the group races and I think the Chelmsford will become his first group win. I think Vision and Power and Court Command are the next two in the race, and my other tip will go to the Anthony Cummings trained Miss Darcey ($21).

My tips:

1st. O’Lonhro

2nd. Vision and Power

3rd. Court Command

4th. Miss Darcey

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.