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Racing is highlighted with the running of the Alice Springs Cup today, thankfully late on in the day to allow most of us to watch it.
It’s hardly a must-see event on the Australian racing calendar, but it holds a bit of interest traditionally, and personally I have a Blackbooker engaged, and there’s a competitive field prepared to do battle.
The first thing you need to be aware of in this race is the amazing record of jockey Dom Tourneur. He has won the race six times since 2005, and finished second at least once. He is aboard the pre-post favourite PRINCE ALBERT this year.
The market indicates five main hopes;
2. ADJUSTER is in great form over the shorter mile distances but I’m not sure 2000m is really his go. His form isn’t great at a middle distance and he is at the top of the weights.
5. KAYNO is my Blackbooker and was beaten by Adjuster two runs back. I actually dropped him out of the Blackbook, then he won his next start by 12.3L which was one of the main lead up races for this.
He led there for the first time since I blackbooked him (at 1200m) and that seemed to suit him. He ran faster time than Adjuster did at the same distance that day, carrying the same weight.
He has barrier 1 in this, as he did there so you’d imagine similar tactics would be employed. Oddly he has had barrier 1 three times in races this preparation and won them all. The only thing that might stop him doing the same here is the distance, but he has won at 1800m and placed at 2200m earlier in his career up in Queensland.
9. PRINCE ALBERT as mentioned is the pre-post favourite but is that merely because of the Tourneur factor?
He does look to be the best suited to the distance with good recent form at middle distance trips and a 3/6 record at 2000m. He is in good form at present, the jockey knows him well, but the negative could be he has never been on this type of surface, which is a unique one.
Interestingly he is a full brother to Group 1 winner Albert The Fat.
10. SIRBIBLE is a three-year-old has won nearly half of his 11 starts, and never missed a placing. He was just beaten by Adjuster last start, but meets him 1kg worse here and has never attempted this distance. Not sure he can win at the weights but a placing is well and truly on the cards.
12. SAKHERO was a narrow victor over Prince Albert at Morphettville two starts agoover 1800m, and meets that horse 0.5kg better at the weights here. Since then he has finished three lengths away at this distance at the same track behind Capodecino.
That horse was a decent second to Gamblin Guru at Morphettvile yesterday in a stronger race. This horse might be al little suspect at the distance but he has won four races in Darwin so at least has experience on a track that isn’t turf based.
He would seem to be the value runner in the race at a double figure price in some markets. He is a get back run on type of horse who might get the last crack at them.
13. WHISTLE STOP had a great second at Flemington over this distance on his resume leading into his first run on this track. No wonder he was an odds on shot, and he looked to be cruising back in the field, and in a great striking position to the turn.
But from there he hit a brick wall, and maybe didn’t enjoy the surface. He does get a 2.5kg weight pull off Kayno in this but gee it’s hard to see him turning the tables. Extra distance supposedly in his favour but you wouldn’t think so looking at how he went backwards in the straight last start.
Selections;
1. KAYNO- A 12.3L victory leading in, and that amazing record from barrier 1 has me leaning his way. He should take some running down providing he leads.
2. SAKHERO- Looks the best value at twice the price of the two favourites
3. PRINCE ALBERT- Has the best recent form at the distance and although he isn’t familiar with the surface Tourneur is, and that could make a huge difference.
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