Star Stable coaches around the country watched on in shock last week, as Caulfield Guineas odds-on favourite Rich Enuff ran out of gas in the final 100 metres of the Group 1.
Well, I did anyway. Those of you clever enough to not only have Shooting To Win in your stable, congratulations. A bigger tick if you had him stable champion.
But not all hope is lost for us battlers at the moment.
If there’s one lesson I’ve learnt in Star Stable (that may or may not stack up in punting parlay), ‘you can always chase your losses’.
The saying is never more true this weekend, with the Caulfield Cup a cool $3 million for the winner. Yes, triple that of the Caulfield Guineas.
What does that mean? Well, if our stable champion snares top prize, we’re back in the game!
MORE CAULFIELD CUP:
» How not to lose your money at the Caulfield Cup
» Bande scratched from 2014 Caulfield Cup
» Caulfield Cup: Heavyweights against topweights
» Full day preview, other races
» Full runner-by-runner preview
Current Stable
Week 2: Fawkner (1st), Rich Enuff (second), Almalad (unplaced), Dissident (unplaced), Afleet Esprit (unplaced).
Didn’t run: Spillway, First Seal (not in Melbourne), Hallowed Crown, Maastrict, Chautauqua.
A good star stable player nails his line-up from Week 1, and unfortunately, luck has not been in my favour. Puissance de Lune, Dissident and Hallowed Crown have all been ruled out of the Spring after one run. So was Winx, while First Seal won’t make the trip to Melbourne and Spillway missed a place in the Caulfield Cup.
But as they say, ‘it’s time to get back on the horse’.
Trading for Round 3
If you’ve got plenty to trade with, then you’d be silly not to get in two Caulfield Cup runners. Unfortunately for me, I probably don’t have that luxury.
Dissident is an easy trade out after being ruled out for the Spring.
I’ve limited the Caulfield Cup to four ‘Aussie’ (really one French and three New Zealand) chances – Lucia Valentina, Rising Romance, Lidari and Brambles – plus the two internationals Bande and Admire Ratki. I also give Moriarty a slight place hope.
While every man and his horse will have Lucia Valentina in this week, I’ll go for an outsider, trying to learn from my mistakes of last week. So I’m bringing in Rising Romance, trading out Dissident and the extra $50,000 I had spare.
My advice: trust your gut instinct and pick your top tip. My job is to help you plan, not to help you pick the winners!
My second trade is not so simple, with little money to play with.
I’m going to target the Edward Manifold as a race (albeit a Listed race). It will be hard to find a solid bargain anywhere else that could go onto cause more damage in the spring, and the Manifold is a great form reference for the Oaks.
I’ve already got Maastrict, but I think Hipster Girl is a blow out hope, and a bargain at $25,000. So is Little Hottie.
Hallowed Crown is ruled out for the Spring, so there’s a trade there, giving me $50,000 left in the bank.
Time to use a Wildcard?
Short answer, if you’re in my position, is yes. Two Caulfield Cup hopes is ideal, and if you can’t afford them without a wildcard then you might as well get them in now.
But make it a Melbourne Cup tip as such – a horse that could run top three in the Caulfield Cup then back up on the first Tuesday in November. Search the Melbourne Cup markets/order of entry so you can get your hands on one.
I’ve already got Fawkner who might not win the Cox Plate, but will certainly give the Melbourne Cup a shake.
Horses that could do the double include Green Moon, Sea Moon, Admire Ratki, Bande, Lucia Valentina, Who Shot Thebarman, the list goes on. The Offer will be best suited to the 3200 metres. Note: Lidari, Brambles and Stipulate would have to win on Saturday to guarantee a Melbourne Cup start.
I’m going to bring in Bande who’s well respected in both markets. Don’t know a lot about him but he might be my diamond in the rough. Out goes First Seal.
How does my stable look?
Running this week: Rising Romance, Bande, Maastrict, Hipster Girl
Not running: Chautauqua (Manikato not included in Star Stable, then Darley Classic), Almalad (Cox Plate possibly), Afleet Esprit (Oaks campaign maybe?), Spillway (MacKinnon next start), Rich Enuff (Coolmore Stud next start)
Good luck, feel free to contact me on Facebook for more advice.
Damien Ractliffe is a journalist working for News Limited. Former radio producer at RSN Racing and Sport. Lover of all sport, particularly AFL, cricket and horse racing. Twitter @DamienRactliffe, Podcast at Facebook.com/TalkoftheTrack
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