Posted by David on November 12th , 2009 under Horse racing | 
As the Spring Carnival draws to an end, there is one race day left that should not go unnoticed. There will be several top-class races at Sandown this Saturday, and the Group 2 Sandown Guineas, run over 1600m, is no exception. A handicapped race for 3 year olds, the Guineas has long been known as the race for those too weak to win at Flemington, but you can be sure that only quality horses make it into this race. Some quality horses to have won in the past include King Ivor, Binding, Schilling and Caymans.
This year’s horses include Kidnapped, who has won at Group level before. While he may not be quite to the standard of some other 3 year olds, like those who raced in the Victoria Derby, he is a classy gelding who might progress to Group 1 level next year. His form has been good; he won the Group 3 Inglis Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day. Kidnapped is favourite with Betfair at $2.75
Turf Express ($12.00) has also won at Flemington last start, in the listed Myer Spring Fashion Stakes last week. The Gai Waterhouse-trained colt is used to life in Sydney, but his win at Flemington proves he can race here as well. This will be his first Group race, and he has not won at this distance before, but he is still a chance. Read more of this article »
Posted by David on November 6th , 2009 under Horse racing |
While the main attraction is over for this spring, Flemington’s Carnival finishes of with a bang with the one and a half million dollar Group 1 Emirates Stakes. It will also be family day, with lots of entertainment for adults and kids alike. The Emirates Stakes is run over 1600m, and it showcases some of the best handicap racing horses. Previous winners of the race include Better Loosen Up, Shaftesbury Avenue, Testa Rossa and Tears I Cry.
Favourite for this year’s race is 3 year old Cox Plate winner So You Think. He is clearly favourite with Betfair at $3.35, and even then they are probably going to be the best odds you’ll find for him. His form has been good – he won a Group 3 and finishing 5th in the Caulfield Guineas before winning the Cox Plate. He has raced at this distance before; the only query is the track, and even then only if it rains.
Gold Salute is next best at $8.60. He has not raced for nearly a month, but his second in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap was very impressive. His form before that was also very good, although not at a standard similar to this. He has won on this track and over this distance before, though 1600m is at about the edge of his capacities, as he prefers races between 1200 and 1400m. Read more of this article »
Posted by David on under Horse racing |
The Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic, held annually on Emirates Stakes Day, is worth $500,000. It is run straight down the track at Flemington, with no turns over the 1200m, meaning it is a true test of speed. It is one of the best races in the Carnival for sprinters, and is generally considered the next race for performers in the Group1 Coolmore Stud Stakes of Derby Day. Previous winners of the race include Hareeba, Takeover Target, Dance Hero and Miss Andretti.
All Silent is the favourite for this year’s race with Betfair at $4.30. Interestingly, he won the main race on this day, the Emirates Stakes, last year. He has only raced once this spring, when he won the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes first-up over similar conditions to this. He is a bit short for my liking, considering the horses that he is up against.
Apache Cat is in an unfamiliar position – one where he is not the favourite! He probably should deserve favouritism, considering his effort in the Group 2 Schweppes Stakes on Cox Plate Day when he beat arch-rival Mic Mac. He is at $4.80, which are excellent odds considering the Cat’s form and history. Read more of this article »
Posted by David on November 4th , 2009 under Horse racing |
It’s Ladies Day at Flemington tomorrow, and the crowds will be out to see the running of the Group 1 Crown Oaks for fillies. The Oaks is an all-female version of the Victorian Derby. It is run over 2500m, which is a big distance for 3 year old fillies, and the prizemoney totals $1,000,000. The Oaks has uncovered some fillies that go on to perform as mares. Famous winners of the Crown Oaks include Special Harmony, Serenade Rose, Miss Finland, Arapaho Miss and 2008 winner Samantha Miss.
Bart Cummings’ Faint Perfume ($1.80 with Betfair) is the clear favourite, and with her win in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes last Saturday it’s easy to see why. The Wakeful Stakes is considered the best lead up race to the Oaks; 9 of the past 20 winners of the race have raced in the Stakes. Faint Perfume dominated the race, winning by 3 lengths. The Oaks might turn out to be a consolation for Bart after the dismal effort of his horses in the Melbourne Cup (I hope you followed my advice and backed Shocking).
Faint Perfume’s nearest rival is right out at $10.50 with Betfair. Livia, who did not race in the Wakeful Stakes, is unexperienced compared to her rivals, finishing 4th in her only attempt at Group level, but the signs have been promising. Again, the Oaks could prove consolation for Livia’s trainer, David Hayes, after his horse Changingoftheguard was scratched from the Melbourne Cup. Read more of this article »
Posted by David on November 2nd , 2009 under Horse racing |
It’s finally here. After all our waiting, the “race that stops the nation” has arrived. The Group 1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington is like no other race in the world. Run over 2 miles (3200m), it boasts an astonishing 5.5 million dollars. A huge field of 24 makes tipping a winner as hard as it gets, but that doesn’t stop millions of Australians from taking a punt. Those millions will be stuffed into their local TABs today and tomorrow, so take the smart option and bet online with Betfair – where you’ll also get better odds.
Only champion horses win Melbourne Cups. Past champions include Kingston Rule, Might and Power, Rogan Josh and, of course, Makybe Diva, who won the race three times.
It takes a real champion to win this race twice in a row, and Viewed is looking to achieve that status this year. Winning the Cup last year with odds of $41, he is favourite this time at $5.60. It is hard to find a fault in his preparation this spring. He won the Caulfield Cup by two and a half lengths, and his final few hundred metres in Saturday’s Mackinnon Stakes proved that he was in career best form. Read more of this article »
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 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 »
