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 October 15th , 2009 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 »
Posted by David on under Horse racing |
The first of two Group 2 races at Caulfield this week is the Tristarc Stakes, run over 1400m. The total prizemoney is $180,000, and while this might not rival that of the Caulfield Cup, it is still a lot. This race is usually considered a good form guide for the Myer Classic, which will be held this year at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day. Past winners of this race include Infinite Grace and Mimi Lebrock.
Typhoon Tracy has been one of the horses of the spring, and is $3.60 with Betfair for this race. She has raced 3 times this spring, for 1 win and 1 place. She underperformed in her last race, the Underwood Stakes, finishing 8th, but you can expect better from her this time.
The favourite is Hot Danish, who is no stranger to the Spring Carnival. She finished fifth in her last race, but won the Group 3 Research Stakes before that, adding to her claim as one of Australia’s best mares. Hot Danish is $2.80 with Betfair. Read more of this article »
Posted by David on October 9th , 2009 under Horse racing |
The biggest Group 2 race this week is the $200,000 Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield. Run over 1000m, it’s a premier race for sprinters. Some great sprinters have won this race, such as Mahogany, Miss Andretti and Gold Edition. The Stakes is considered a good form guide for several sprint races later in the carnival including the Schweppes Stakes on Cox Plate Day.
Some of the horses in this year’s Stakes are already great, including star gelding Apache Cat. He surprisingly disappointed in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes, but he is a much better horse than that result suggests. He also has the advantage of 5 wins on this track before. Apache Cat is currently favourite with Betfair at $4.80, some pretty juicy odds.
Lucky Secret is at $5.10. He also disappointed in the Manikato Stakes, finishing 9th, but some quality middle distances runners such as Phelan Ready were also racing, making it hard for a sprinter. The 6 year old has an incredible record, winning 12 of his 20 starts. Read more of this article »
Posted by David on September 17th , 2009 under Horse racing |
While all the Group 1 races may be at Caulfield this week, Rosehill still has three top class Group 2s. The 1500m Shannon Stakes is a premier race for three year olds and upwards, with a $150,000 prize pool, and features some very good racers.
Rangirangdoo ($3.70 with Betfair) has been nominated for the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup. He has been in great form of late, although this will be his first real test. He won the Group 3 Tramway Handicap, which elevated him into view for the major races in Melbourne this spring. This race may prove whether he is worth a place as a contender or not.
Strat’s Flyer ($4.80) finished second to Rangirangdoo in the Tramway Handicap, and also looks a good racer. However, he has not had a great deal of experience at Group level, and this race will probably decide whether he continues to aim towards the Epsom Handicap or continue at a smaller level.
Drumbeats ($7.00) may be inexperienced, but he has already proved himself to be a handy horse. He has only won once but has placed in all of his other 4 starts, including a second place in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes. Read more of this article »
Posted by David on September 10th , 2009 under Horse racing |
Saturday’s Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes, run over 1400m, is one of the more even races this weekend. Very few in the field of 11 are not legitimate chances, and there is not one clear favourite. The race is worth a nice $200,000, but most horses will be looking further ahead to the Group 1 Epsom Handicap to be held at Randwick on October 3.
Triple Honour, who finished third in last week’s Chelmsford Stakes, is one of the three horses battling for favouritism with Betfair, and is currently winning the race at $4.40. The five year old is a veteran of Group races, but his record in them is less than wonderful.
Another short priced horse is Racing to Win ($5.00), who has overcome past injuries to be at his peak for this spring. The gelding had a reasonable first-up race in the Warwick Stakes, but is now looking to improve and move on to the Epsom Handicap or the Cox Plate. Read more of this article »
Posted by David on September 4th , 2009 under Horse racing |
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. Read more of this article »
Tags: Chelmsford Stakes, Dreamscape, Group 2, Horse racing, Lonhro, Miss Marielle, O'Lohnro, Spring Racing Carnival, tips, Triple Honour, Vision and Power
Posted by David on September 3rd , 2009 under Horse racing |
The Group 2 Danehill Stakes, run over 1200m, is an exciting part of 3 year old racing this spring. The future for Australian racing looks bright, with names like Manhattan Rain, Delago Bolt and Rostova sure to feature in years to come. The race has usually been won by a handy three year old, such as Tan Tat de Lago and last year’s winner, Aichi, rather than a big name horse.
Filly Rostova is also racing, and will be trying to improve on a disappointing sixth at Caulfield a few races ago. She has won one Group 2 before, but has not placed in her two starts over this distance. She is right out to around $11 with Betfair, and worth a dip.
Black Caviar is untried at group level, but has won all of his three races, including the listed Arrow Training Services Plate two weeks ago, over filly Miraculous Miss, who is also racing in the Danehill Stakes. He is currently at very short odds at $1.75, and deserves to be, but there are other horses that could snatch the win from him. Read more of this article »
