Hallelujah! Racing Victoria finally got with the program this week when it announced that all jumpouts will now be required to be filmed and uploaded online.
From October 1, clubs with jumpouts scheduled will be required to film each jumpout they conduct and publish the vision – along with appropriate identification for each horse and trainer participating in the jumpout – on their respective websites within 48 hours of completion.
Many already do, including Ballarat, Flemington, Caulfield, Sandown and Mornington, but the new ruling means the likes of Cranbourne, Geelong, Bendigo and Pakenham will now come on board.
So what does this mean? It means better access to form for punters.
Cranbourne, in particular, holds hundreds of jumpouts each year and has never released colours or horse names for punters to follow. Only the extremely astute punters were able to get any kind of edge.
While it won’t benefit 90 per cent of the punting population, this ruling will allow the dedicated bettors a chance to find an advantage over the bookmakers.
Racing Victoria’s general manager of racing, Greg Carpenter, agreed.
“Today’s announcement is an important step forward in providing greater transparency around jumpouts for punters who are integral to the funding of the industry,” he said.
“We have taken on board the feedback provided by punters and believe this decision will benefit punters by equipping them with more information to make their wagering decisions.
“We are currently working with Country Racing Victoria on the implementation of a system to assist clubs in the online presentation of their jumpouts and to ensure they have the necessary training to deliver the service for punters.
“Our primary focus in this initial stage is to ensure the clubs are able to provide identifiable vision on their websites.
“Longer term, we’re keen to ensure options to consolidate the vision from across the state and see the quality of the vision continue to improve.”
Good news all round, I think.
Back to the on-track action and Saturday’s racing program goes down a rung compared to last week, where we were blessed with the Group 1 Winx Stakes and Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes.
But there’s still some top action at both Moonee Valley and Rosehill. See below for my selections.
Moonee Valley (VIC) – Good 4 at time of writing. Rail out 4m. No rain forecast.
Race 5 – 2:45pm Benchmark 84 Handicap (1200m): Super competitive race here and it was about $7 the field at the time of writing. You’d imagine they’ll go quick up front so I’m looking for a horse that won’t get stuck on the rails and won’t get too far back over the tight confines of the Valley.
The value might the grey mare Costa Bomb, who has enough tactical speed from the gates to find a spot one-out, one-back if all goes to plan for Jordan Childs.
She’s been good in the city when taken to town by Horsham trainer Paul Preusker and because he’s a no-name trainer, expect the odds to be generous. She’s right in this race. Realistically there are a dozen chances, though.
Suggested bet: Costa Bomb each-way.
Race 7 – 4:05pm Listed McKenzie Stakes (1200m): Nothing beats Brutal here if he’s as good as the hype. On debut at Caulfield he smashed Ronan’s Rock and Humma Humma by five lengths.
However, Ronan’s Rock was disappointing next start as favourite, so the form might not be as strong as we first thought. I think Brutal is a smart horse, but I don’t want to be taking him at odds-on.
Topweight Marcel from Madrid has won both his career starts and if he turns up fit he could be a challenger. I’d rather be on him each-way than Brutal at the short odds.
Suggested bet: Marcel From Madrid each-way.
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Rosehill (NSW) – Good 4 at time of writing. Rail out 6m. Showers forecast.
Race 3 – 1:10pm Highway Handicap (1100m): Good field of country horses here and there look to be two main chances. Favourite Common Purpose is probably the best horse in the field for trainer John Bateman. But he has to jump from the car park, having been drawn the outside barrier.
I think Highway Sixtysix can beat him, provided James McDonald can avoid trouble in transit. She was very good last time in slightly easier company and she probably likes some sting out of the ground. With showers forecast, I think she can lead all the way in this good race.
Suggested bet: Highway Sixtysix to win.
Race 4 – 1:55pm Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m): Tough race this, but once again I’m keen to take on the favourite. That’s She Knows for Danny Williams. The four-year-old mare has been racing well and likes the wet tracks, but I don’t mind Single Bullet to run a big race.
The four-year-old gelding doesn’t win very often – in fact, he’s only won once in 13 starts – but he’s finished second six times and third twice. He goes well fresh and comes into the race on the back of a trial win.
He’ll be in the first few horses and I don’t think they’ll be swooping on Saturday so he gets his chance to add win number two.
Suggested bet: Single Bullet to win.
Race 5 – Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m): Good three-year-old race and probably eight hopes out of the nine runners. I’m putting a line through Ringerdingding at the bottom.
It’s hard to be confident about any of these horses, as some are first-up, but I think when you are split in your decisions you lean towards the best trainer.
In my opinion, Peter Snowden is the best trainer in Australia. He has two horses running, Tchaikovsky and Neutrality. I’m leaning towards the latter with the gun draw and McEvoy in the saddle. He is a smart horse and probably has a Group 1 in him later in the spring.
Suggested bet: Neutrality to win.
Total spend in 2018: $700*
Total return in 2018: $1083*
* Based on $20 spend per selection and BetEasy’s top tote dividend.
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