SuperCoach Racing: Which horses to pick in Melbourne Cup week
There is no time to waste in SuperCoach Racing with Round 7 on Thursday featuring nine races at Flemington. Here’s who the experts are picking.
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There’s no time to celebrate your Melbourne Cup day success in SuperCoach Racing.
Round 7 is upon us on Thursday with another big day of racing at Flemington.
The Oaks is the only Group 1 on the program, but with five horses under $10 in the odds is that where we should focus our attention?
Scroll down to see who the experts are selecting, including Jett Hatton who put up a huge 208 points on Cup day.
JACK FITZPATRICK’S TEAM
Malkovich $225,000
Race: Listed G.H Mumm Century Stakes
Runner-up in a good race at Caulfield first-up where the jockey dropped the whip in the closing stages. This looks no harder and he’s unbeaten second-up.
Sirileo Miss $200,000
Race: Handicap
This promising mare is three from three this campaign, including a win at G3 level last time, and only has six rivals to overcome here.
Robodira $175,000
Race: G3 Network 10 Red Roses Stakes
One of many chances in what’s an open G3 for 3YO fillies. She’s had limited luck at her past couple but could be suited racing down the straight the first time.
Najmaty $175,000
Race: G3 Network 10 Red Roses Stakes
Have a big opinion of this filly who was competitive in the best 3YO fillies races at the start of the spring. Freshened up, back to 1100m and down in grade, she can win at each-way odds.
Elusive Express $150,000
Race: G1 VRC Oaks
Looks to have the strongest form on the board finishing second in the Thousand Guineas last time out. The query is she hasn’t raced beyond a mile but that didn’t stop Hitotsu in the Derby ...
Willowy $150,000
Race: G1 VRC Oaks
Burst onto the scene by winning the Wakeful on Saturday, where she hit the line strongly. It’s always a good form reference for this and the 2500m should pose no issue based on that.
Daisies $75,000
Race: G1 VRC Oaks
Looked home in the Wakeful before being nabbed late by Willowy. Won the Ethereal over 2000m prior. The form is there and she has James McDonald aboard.
Espiona $50,000
Race: Listed Off The Track Desirable Stakes
Looked good at the trials and was super impressive in her debut win – she could have a big future. She’s drawn perfectly in gate 5 and gets the Chris Waller/James McDonald combination – they’re going OK at the moment!
Jockey: Jockey challenge favourite
Will confirm on Thursday morning after scratchings and see who the jockey challenge favourite is. However it’s getting to the point where you just select J-Mac and leave it as is.
JETT HATTON’S TEAM
BISCAYNE BAY $175,000
Race: G1 VRC Oaks
Sat three deep in the Ethereal but kept hitting the line behind Daises. The stable is flying and they can add another three-year-old feature with this filly.
ELUSIVE EXPRESS $150,000
Race: G1 VRC Oaks
Has to take a big step up in trip, but we saw Hitotsu do that successfully and she’s bred to stay. Fought hard in the Thousand Guineas when second to Yearning, so class shouldn’t be an issue.
WILLOWY $150,000
Race: G1 VRC Oaks
Strong win in the Wakeful Stakes has Willowy as a deserved favourite here. Should relish the rise in trip and be there when the whips are cracking.
WRITTEN BEAUTY $250,000
Race: Listed Mumm Stakes
Having her first run for the Chris Waller stable and gets the most important gear change - James McDonald jumping aboard. This mare has a stack of ability and J-mac can get Written Beauty back to her best in a winnable race.
NAJMATY $175,000
Race: G3 Red Roses Stakes
If you’re willing to forgive of her last two runs, her form in Melbourne has Najmaty right in this. In a race with an even bunch of fillies, Najmaty can be the one flying home late.
NEW YORK BABY $150,000
Race: Listed Desirable Stakes
Unlucky not to win last time out but she can atone here. One from one down the Flemington straight and it was an easy watch that day.
MAGIC CARPET $100,000
Race: G3 Ottawa Stakes
Chased solidly last time out in a race that has already produced subsequent formlines, with Brereton and Renosu fighting out the finish on Cup day.
TIM MICHELL’S TEAM
Sirileo Miss $200,000
Seradess $150,000
Elusive Express $150,000
Dream Queen $150,000
Willowy $150,000 (captain)
Magic Carpet $100,000
Daisies $75,000
Espiona $50,000
Jockey: James McDonald
I’m starting to feel the pressure after my lead in the work league was cut to about 40 points by the man I dedicated my stable to – the great Simon Moy. I have $1.425m left over which is like leaving Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy on the bench, but Oaks Day is often like that.
Willowy could hardly have been more impressive in its last outing and gets my captaincy on the back of that, although I’m taking three hopes in the Oaks who all have genuine claims.
In the other races I’ve focused on horses with racing experience, in particular those who have won. You have to find something with these lightly-raced horses which might give them an edge and I’m hoping that extra experience might be it.
Al Paton asks me every round who my jockey is but I haven’t changed it once all season.
J-Mac is the man.
AL PATON’S TEAM
Sirileo Miss $200,000
Foxy Friday $200,000
Biscayne bay $175,000
Elusive Express $150,000
Willowy $150,000
Magic Carpet $100,000
Daisies $75,000 (captain)
Espiona $50,000
Jockey: James McDonald
Money is no issue with more than $1 million left in the bank. I’ve taken the top four hopes in the only Group 1 of the day but splitting them is hard which makes captaincy choice crucial this round, I’m whacking the C on Daisies purely due to the James McDonald factor. There are two Group 3s but both have huge fields so I’m turning my attention to the seven horses in race two, throwing in the first two in betting.
HOW JETT AND JACK NAILED CUP DAY
With one red-hot favourite and wide open fields, the SuperCoach Racing round prize of up to $1000 is up for grabs on Melbourne Cup day.
The 10 races on Cup Day make up Round 6 in the SuperCoach Racing season, but even if you haven’t signed up yet, you can still win big.
The highest score every round wins $500 – doubled to $1000 for SuperCoach Plus subscribers – so you don’t have to rely on the Melbourne Cup sweep to clean up. And it’s free to play – join now at supercoach.com.au and pick eight horses under your salary cap, plus a jockey and you’re good to go.
Group 1 races are worth the most points so you’ll want 3-4 Cup chances plus the best hopes in the other races on the day. With large fields and many of the horses unknown quantities, anyone can win!
To help give you the edge, check our out expert stables below.
SUPERCOACH PLUS: LET THE MAGIC METRIC PICK YOUR CUP STABLE
JACK FITZPATRICK’S TEAM
Spanish Mission $450,000 (captain)
Race: Group 1 Melbourne Cup
As far as I’m concerned, it’s a matter of whether or not the leg issue will hinder him. If it doesn’t, his formlines are clearly better than anything else in the race and I’d expect him to win.
Sir Lucan $400,000
Race: Group 1 Melbourne Cup
International staying form is simply better than that of our own, and horses of this profile have an excellent recent record in the race - think Tiger Moth, Cross Counter and Rekindling!
Delphi $350,000
Race: Group 1 Melbourne Cup
Thought he was tracking along perfectly for this before his Caulfield Cup failure, where he started a $5.50 hope behind Incentivise. If you forgive that, and I can find one or two excuses, he’s a leading contender.
Incentivise $300,000
Race: Group 1 Melbourne Cup
What is there to say about him that hasn’t already been said? Clearly the leading contender of the local hopes, the main query is 3200m the first time with 57kg.
Promise Of Success $175,000
Race: Group 3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes
A promising import for John O’Shea who has impressed since arriving in Australia. Looks well-placed here and is drawn perfectly with James McDonald to ride carrying just 55kg.
Brereton $100,000
Race: Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate
The expensive colt was narrowly beaten on debut at Caulfield and should be better for the race experience.
Lascars $50,000
Race: Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate
The Godolphin colt was beaten 2L on debut but does already have experience racing down the straight and gets Damien Oliver on board.
Renosu $50,000
Race: Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate
The second Godolphin runner was third on debut at Caulfield. Despite finishing 0.5L behind Brereton, I thought his was the better run and he can turn the tables if he handles the straight.
Jockey: Jockey challenge favourite
Will confirm on Tuesday morning after scratchings and see who the jockey challenge favourite is. However, it’s getting to the point where you just select J-Mac and move on.
JETT HATTON’S TEAM
INCENTIVISE $300,000
Race: Group 1 Melbourne Cup
Does this pick need much explanation? Deserved favourite for the Cup and he’ll take some beating – add in that he’s only $300,000.
VERRY ELLEEGANT $500,000
Race: Group 1 Melbourne Cup
Top-class mare that is always a chance and she’s got to go in. This nine-time Group 1 winner may well be the forgotten horse heading into Tuesday’s big one.
SPANISH MISSION $450,000
Race: Group 1 Melbourne Cup
Brings some outstanding international formlines into this, including pushing the world’s best stayer Stradivarius all the way in the Lonsdale Cup.
BEST OF DAYS $350,000
Race: Listed Melbourne Cup Day Plate
This old campaigner can notch up one more win in the Listed Melbourne Cup Day Plate. Has been racing well without winning this time in and strikes a weak field here.
ENTHAAR $200,000
Race: 3YO Plate
Classy filly that was at the pointy end of the market for all major juvenile contests before being tipped out after her Blue Diamond effort. The stable has been holding her for a suitable race and this looks it.
PROMISE OF SUCCESS $175,000
Race: Group 3 HKJ Stakes
John O’Shea has had good success bringing horses to Melbourne this spring, Minhaaj being the most recent example, and Promise Of Success looks highly talented. While she’s only graduating out of benchmark grade, her win was electric and J-Mac siding with her over the talented April Rain is telling.
BRERETON $100,000
Race: Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate
These early two-year-old contests can be a lottery but this Peter Moody-trained colt looks to have upside judging by his debut run at Caulfield. Fought strongly to just miss and he’ll benefit with race experience and be tough to hold out.
SPIRIT OF GAYLARD $75,000
Race: Listed Trophy Stakes
Three-year-old colt on the up and thought his last start run behind Forgot You was good after being held up. Has some upside and should be in the finish here.
TIM MICHELL’S TEAM
Spanish Mission $450,000
Grand Promenade $300,000
Incentivise $300,000 (Captain)
Pandemic $250,000
Promise of Success $175,000
Agreeable $175,000
Housay $175,000
Brereton $100,000
Jockey: James McDonald
Much like Mark Yates on its namesake in the 1989 Grand Final, many SuperCoaches will be hoping Brereton can land a hefty blow and the maximum G3 points in the Melbourne Cup Day opener. The top three chances in this race are hard to split and you can make a case for taking two horses. I prefer to have two cracks at the other G3 with Promise of Success and Agreeable. Agreeable won over 1400m last start at Caulfield and I think is the best EW bet of the day. You could easily take four horses in the Cup but like many I’ve settled on three of the best winning hopes. As Bob Hawke said, if you don’t captain Incentivise this round, you’re a bum. Or something to that effect, anyway. There aren’t many short favourites on an open day but Housay stands out and Pandemic is an omen bet.
AL PATON’S TEAM
Spanish Mission $450,000
Pondus $325,000
Grand Promenade $300,000
Incentivise $300,000 (Captain)
Tralee Rose $250,000
Promise of Success $175,000
Profiteer $175,000
Spirit of Garlard $75,000
Jockey: James McDonald
Is five horses in the Cup too many? It seems one or two more than most but the other races on Cup Day aren’t worth many points and I would be absolutely throwing darts trying to pick winners there, apart from a couple of standouts. Incentivise is the no-brainer captain pick and for my other Cup runners I’m shamelessly following Gilbert Gardiner’s tips after he brained us all on Derby Day, picking all the key winners and racking up a huge 226 SuperCoach points. I’m also throwing in Geelong Cup winner Tralee Rose at an attractive $250,000.
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