Opinion
Darkness – after a duck last week (it happens, hopefully not often), we are down for the first time this year. Four bets in Melbourne for three seconds hit hard.
I’ve decided to leave Flemington alone and focus on a great Randwick card, led by a superb Chipping Norton with chances all over the place.
I have changed the game plan, giving myself ten units to play with, and hopefully we are back on the right side of things for Sha Tin Sunday.
No bets in races 1-3, I saw the Highway and was had the gong out before seeing Dixie (that’s me), which was an obvious selection until doing the form, getting barrier 21 and (thankfully) then being scratched. I’ll be on it at Grafton on Tuesday.
Races 2 and 3 face a lot of inexperienced horses, it won’t be long until we’ll add them, I promise.
Units bet: 62
Units won: 56.30
Total: +4.3 (based on one unit being equal to $1 win bet – NSW dividends)
Race 4 – 10 Vegadaze (two units)
Up in class but with a big weight drop, Vegadaze might get a soft lead here and should go on with it after a nice win last start. I’m very worried about Imaging having his first start in Australia, he was top notch in high-grade UK races before coming over.
Rock and Quackerjack are the other main chances.
Race 5 – 1 Reelem In Ruby (one unit)
The favourites will battle this out, I have Reelem In Ruby on top based on a better price, being three of five at the trip and better second-up. No knock on Sweet Deal, great distance stats too but one from five second-up.
Race 6 – 2 Lyre (one unit)
I had Lyre last time when she was beaten by Flit over 1200 metres, she had the best late sectionals so she can take over at 1400. I’m risking Funstar fresh, the other Godolphin horses and Probabeel are in the mix.
(AAP Image/Mark Dadswell)
Race 7 – 5 Fierce Impact (two units)
What a race! So many of my favourites against each other. Avilius at $6.50 is ridiculous, maybe he prefers wet but he’s 6/14 on dry. Dreamforce was superb first-up and has excellent second-up and mile stats – tick-tick.
And I’m leaving them out. Fierce Impact is a ripper and went next-level last prep, following a second to Kolding with two Group 1 wins in Melbourne over the carnival. His run at weight-for-age first-up in the Orr was superb and I think he takes the next step here.
And yes, I’m leaving out Happy Clapper and Te Akau Shark.
Race 8 – 10 Chains of Honour (three units)
Amazing ratings here for Chains of Honour, mainly from his Group 3 win over the Brisbane Summer carnival at 2200 metres. By two-and-a-half lengths in fast time.
Yes he’s a three-year-old against older horses, yes he’s first-up at 2000 metres, and yes I think he’ll win with a leg in the air. I was declaring him (all ten units) but have heard he will go back from the start, and not lead as I’d mapped.
Attorney and Ilwendo are the dangers if you think my lad will get a stitch.
Race 9 – 11 Juventus (one unit)
Dolan in the last!=. Juventus rated positively all last-prep, normally in 78 grade but with big weights but also at this level, where he wasn’t far away after a bad start.
He is two from five fresh and I’m happy to have him in. Roheryn is the class but rises in weight again, Trumbull and Asharani are the quaddie keepers.
Have you ever tried your skills in a Racing daily fantasy competition? Put your best picks to the test for one day and see if you can scoop the pot with Draftstars. Looking for great odds on racing and sport? PlayUp is your best bet. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Without a Fight completed the rare Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double on Tuesday as star jockey Mark Zahra went back-to-back in the big one after…
The race that stops the nation is upon us again. Every horse in the Melbourne Cup has reasons they can win, and reasons they…
Those who want to have a really big collect on Australia’s greatest race, without risking too much, have to look at the exotic bets.
While most of the attention is on Ciaron Maher and David Eustace's Gold Trip, there's no reason why stablemate Future History cannot upstage him.
Champion jockey Damien Oliver is quietly confident his Melbourne Cup mount Alenquer will be passed fit to give him a farewell ride in the…
Melbourne Cup day is here again, and it’s never anything less than exciting. The Cup itself will of course be full of drama and…
