The champ that is Winx continues her charge towards the Cox Plate this Saturday at Randwick in the time honoured Colgate Optic White Stakes (1600m)…tongue in cheek of course.
That’s the George Main Stakes, in case you think I’ve lost my mind.
Getting back on track how can you look away from the obvious which is the mare. The win first up was breathtaking, and from what Bowman said, she has gotten quicker.
She has the older horses covered in the Cox Plate. If she is to get beat, it will be courtesy of a three year old. $1.15 this Saturday… well it buffs up your multis.
I think the obvious threat is Tosen Stardom. He was one of many eye catchers in the Dato Tan Chin Nam, but was the most obvious given the severe interference he copped and the way he attacked the line.
The Japanese horse performed well here during the Championships last year and I am sure there is a Group l in him. It’s just not here, I don’t think. But he should fill a place spot.
If you’re looking for one at value to include in exotics, I think the horse could be It’s Somewhat. He resumed in the Tramway and was far from disgraced I thought when running fourth to stablemate Hauraki. 1600m second up is ideal and with the assumption that Great Esteem stays in Melbourne, the lead will be his and his only. He could run a cheeky race.
But Winx to win, ahead of Tosen Stardom, It’s Somewhat and Hauraki.
The feature sprint race of the day at Randwick is The Shorts (1100m), and I think the $9 on offer for Ball Of Muscle is outstanding shopping. Didn’t really set the world on fire in two runs during the Autumn, but he has been given a good spell and he has really looked the part in a couple of trials.
He holds all the aces from gate one, he’ll get a great run regardless and for mine, $9 is a great each way bet.
Looking for some value and I think one horse to include is Boss Lane. He looked to have a belly on him when resuming in the Show County behind form mare Tycoon Tara, so I think he will improve sharply off that. Loves racing on his home track and he does have an excellent second up record.
The horse at silly odds, $26 roughly, is Sarajevo. He was narrowly beaten first up at Rosehill behind His Majesty in what has turned out to be a really good form race since with several very good runs coming out of that event. I’ll agree he is poorly weighted, but on potential, he is right up to this, and the stable is flying.
In a tough race, I’ll go with Ball Of Muscle, over Boss Lane, Sarajevo and the watch horse, Clearly Innocent.
The princess series continues with the Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) and I am going to give Awoke another chance. I was really keen on her in the Furious off the back of an outstanding trial but she let me down badly, though I will say she didn’t have a great deal of luck. Up to 1400m is a big tick and if she brings her best, she just about beats these.
Global Glamour was the best run of the beaten brigade in the Furious. She was on speed before drifting back to near last on the turn and you thought she was gone, but she picked up and savaged the line to run third. She has Flight Stakes written all over. Whether she wins it is another story, but she is capable of winning this for sure.
Chipanda wasn’t too bad I thought in the Furious. She got a suck run nearer the inside and eventually got clear to hit the line okay without setting the world on fire. $19 for her is a silly price given her potential, and I think she could be a big improver here at odds.
Awoke on top, to beat home Global Glamour, Chipanda and Foxplay.
The Naturalism Stakes (2000m) is the lone race I’ll look at on the monster ten race card in Melbourne. I’ll be keen to see how Second Bullet measures up. He resumed in the Heatherlie (1700m) off the back of an impressive jump out and was a real eye catcher, making up a stack of ground to finish fifth to Great Esteem.
He’ll love the step up to 2000m, draws well and he will be strong late. I can certainly entertain him.
I think a horse to keep an eye on is Gabella. I was on her at a price last Saturday at Flemington and she was very good in defeat behind Royal Rapture given she was tardy to begin with then got held up at a vital stage when appearing to have plenty to offer. The 2000m is perfect, she’s drawn to sit wide with cover, and hopefully with a clear run. I think she can run a massive race.
One from the trials to watch is Berisha, who is already assured a Caulfield Cup start via his Mornington Cup triumph. His two runs this time in have been pretty solid, but he really looked sharp in a Cranbourne trial last Friday, going through the line strongly under no pressure. There is a win in him. Won’t be the Caulfield Cup, but could potentially be here.
The trial runners fired last weekend with Ravi and Denmagic running crackers in the Sheraco before Invinzabeel was backed off the map in the last and bolted in. There are more to follow this Saturday. Here they are down below:
Peacock – Newcastle R3
No Pushover – Newcastle R5
Chase The Horizon – Caulfield R1
Berisha – Caulfield R8
Plot The Course – Caulfield R9
Hair Trigger – Randwick R3
Ball Of Muscle, Takedown, English, Kaepernick – Randwick R7
Good luck and happy punting!
Adam Page
Roar Guru
Form around her is very good Tim. I was on her fresh and she was strong in winning, beating home a subsequent winner from last Saturday and the third horse has serious form fro Victoria. I am more keen on her stablemate though Miss Gunpowder
Adam Page
Roar Guru
Very cautious re Tsaritsa Razzar. The ride probably beat her fresh. If she brings her best, she's right in the contest for sure. The mares race does look a lottery. I think Vibrant Rouge each way could run a bold race. Hard fit, good gate, handles all conditions.
Tim
Guest
I reckon the horse drawn wider at caulfield will be to the fore on Saturday, rail out 9m, most likely heavy or slow7 track. I like serenely discreet in the 3rd $6.50. Gets back a bit and handles the soft, and stokes has a good record of bringing them over and winning.
Swanny
Guest
Bacarella in the fillies race at Randwick And. La muse in the tibbie at Newcastle in my humble opinion both are decent each way chances.
Razzar
Guest
Great enthusiasm Adam...good work. In the Bill Ritchie hcp, a race with a likely moderate tempo, Happy Clapper although only 2nd up enjoys a good class drop. He'll settle well back, but with a roomy straight, he can figure.$3.50 chance. Tsaritsa is in fine form, also settles back but with a wght pull is in with good chance $6.00 chance. Testashadow is my long shot pick, should be on pace all way, last run a forgive (bog Trk). So rates a $10 chance for mine. Caufield the Mares sprint looks a good betting race. Been a lot of extra rain Thursday, track could get into the heavy 8 or 9 . Plenty of speed here, many runners may battle for position. So do like runers on here. Miss promiscuity is so honest, has that touch of class. But could race to close to speed battle. $6.00 rating. My Poppette is quality can figure, sitting back off pace. $9.00 rating A Lotta love can come into this now it's wet, & can sit away from the speed, (wide last strt on firm trk) $9.00 rating. Secret Agenda is solidl in betting, but if we get a full field, she is likely to be up in the pressure cooker. Enduring that, won't help her cause, so at her present price, she is too short. Winx should win again, and It's Somewhat racing forward could be the quinella. Good luck Punters.