Sportsbet Blog

It’s the first week of spring, and it’s when the Spring Horse Racing Carnival really starts to heat up. The $400,000 Makybe Diva Stakes has always been a good marker for races further into spring, with past winners including Sky Heights, Northerly and Weekend Hussler.

Although Makybe Diva made a name for herself in races twice the distance, the Makybe Diva Stakes is run over 1600m. There are several Melbourne Cup racers in this year’s field, including Zipping and Master O’Reilly.

5 year old gelding Vigor (expect $10 with Betfair) has a good record, but is very inexperienced in group races. He jumped straight into a Group 1 last year, and finished sixth, but this will be his first group race since then.

C’est La Guerra ($26) is a good nomination. The gelding has not raced since a disappointing autumn, but is due for a good race and if he wants to make a good impression on the Spring Carnival, he’d better start here.

One of the few in-form horses is Heart of Dreams ($4.50) who, unlike C’est La Guerre, had an excellent autumn, winning both a Group 1 and 2. He was not disappointing in a first-up fourth against strong competition in the Group 2 J.J Liston Stakes a few weeks ago.

4 year old mare Typhoon Tracy (with odds around  $2.75 at Betfair) finished ahead of Heart of Dreams in the J.J Liston, and looks set for an impressive spring. She has raced only five times, but for four wins and the one placing. She may be a little out of depth in this race, but that hasn’t stopped others before her.

Predatory Pricer ($4.00) beat both Typhoon Tracy and Heart of Dreams in the J.J Liston Stakes, and should definitely not be discounted here. Neither should you forget Maco’Reilly (not to be confused with Master O’Reilly), who has been racing very well in New Zealand. This may be his first time on Australian soil, but by the way he has been racing over the past year, he’ll be right up there. He is at $26.00 and excellent value.

I like Heart of Dreams and Typhoon Tracy for the win, though I’m not sure which one of them I like better. There is a very open field, but I also like Maco’Reilly and Predatory Pricer.

My Tips:

1st. Heart of Dreams

2nd. Typhoon Tracy

3rd. Predatory Pricer

4th. Maco’Reilly

Melbourne looks set to rival Sydney on stars this weekend, with many famous names at Caulfield to race. The Group 2 1400m Memsie Stakes has most of these stars, including last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Viewed and Cox Plate winner El Segundo.

The Memsie Stakes is traditionally a warm-up race for horses that are really looking further ahead in the Spring Carnival. Last year’s winner was Weekend Hussler, and other winners include Miss Finland, Sunline and Makybe Diva, who went on to win her third Melbourne Cup later on that year.

Typhoon Tracy is one of the babies of the race. The Coolmore Classic winner, who came third in the J.J Liston Stakes a few weeks ago, is no stranger to challenge. But it will be interesting to see how she copes with this race.

I like experienced racer Orange County. Although he has not won since September last year, he has done well in recent races, including the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes, he is a tough runner and should be near to his best racing, unlike those coming straight off a spell.

El Segundo is out for revenge. He hopes to beat Mic Mac, the four year old who beat him earlier this month in the Aurie’s Star Handicap. He will prefer the weight-for-age system of the Memsie Stakes, and is a big chance to join Sir Boom and Sunline as the only horses to have won two Memsie Stakes.

Fiumicino looks a good horse, but I think he is better suited to longer distance races. He has raced 1400m five times, and only managed one place. Like so many others, Efficent has not raced well since his last win. He has not even managed a place since the 2007 Melbourne Cup, so hopefully he can get a good result here.

El Segundo and Orange County are my first two picks, because they both run well over this distance and have much-needed experience. I also like Whobegotyou and the old warhorse Valedictum and is worth an each-way bet.

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My Tips:

El Segundo
Orange County
Whobegotyou
Valedictum

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

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