Friday formline: A state-by-state guide to the horses, jockeys and trainers to follow this weekend

VIDEO/BEST BETS: OUR experts around the country pinpoint the horses, jockeys and trainers to follow this weekend.

5 min read

September 18, 2015 - 3:54PM

News Corp Australia Network

Racing

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OUR experts around the country pinpoint the horses, jockeys and trainers to follow this weekend.

Saturday meetings: CAULFIELD (9 races, start 12.25pm), RANDWICK (8 races, start 12.40pm), MORPHETTVILLE (8 races, start 1.03pm), DOOMBEN (7 races, start 1.23pm), BELMONT (8 races, 2.34pm). AEST times.

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THE EARLY OIL: CAULFIELD

MAIN BOUT: WALLER V WATERHOUSE

THE RATINGS: KERMADEC ON FAMILIAR PATH TO GLORY

SHAYNE O’CASS (The Sportsman)

Randwick

FULL SET OF EXPERTS’ SELECTIONS: RANDWICK

THE BANKER: Delectation (Race 4, No. 5). Won the G2 ATC Arrowfield Stakes here over The Championships and was previously third to stablemate Zoustar in a Coolmore Stud Classic so his class is unquestionable. The Chris Waller-trained galloper has been trialling exceedingly well for this and looks wound-up for a huge run.

IN THE FRAME: Kasiano Lad (Race 3, No. 8). Made an outstanding return to racing off the long break with a powerful win in the Springtime at Wyong. He’s second-up now off that extended absence but he is with a terribly astute trainer in Jason Coyle and there’s a touch of quality about this horse.

THE RISK: Ottoman (Race 5, No. 1). A classy filly who loomed up big time first-up in the Furious but didn’t or couldn’t go on with it. Maybe it was fitness — that’s entirely acceptable — but you shouldn’t really lose from where she was at the 200m that day.

STABLE (ON FIRE): Chris Waller and John O’Shea dead-heat; if it’s not one, it’s the other. They could split the Quaddie between them on Saturday.

JOCKEY (ON FIRE): Blake Shinn — the best jockey in the world — if you don’t believe me, go to www.racingnsw.com.au, type in Muraqaba and see what happened at Canterbury on Wednesday. Shinn’s best on Saturday? Maybe Hollywood Bound on the last.

Blake Shinn hopes his good form continues on Saturday.

DANNY RUSSELL (Herald Sun)

Caulfield

FULL SET OF EXPERTS’ SELECTIONS: CAULFIELD

THE BANKER: E-Kiwi Sardaaj (Race 4, No. 5) was held up more times than a cute rabbit in a petting zoo at its first start at Moonee Valley for Team Hawkes so just needs a clear run at them at Caulfield on Saturday. The winner of that race, Churchill Dancer, has since won the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis. Sardaaj has bigger fish to fry this spring, so should be winning a benchmark 90 against mares.

IN THE FRAME: Fell Swoop (Race 6, No. 5) is the fastest horse in the nation’s capital, and has all the makings of a “people’s horse”. If he continues winning his way up to Group class as expected at Caulfield, he’ll want to be careful he’s not approached to challenge for the Liberal leadership. Aiming for four in a row.

THE RISK: It’s hard to knock a horse that has won its past two starts by a combined total of 15 lengths, but we’re bringing the hammer down on $2.30 favourite Keen Array (Race Race 1, No. 5) in the first race. Both those wins have been on provincial synthetic tracks and he takes on three smart ones here in Bassett, Ability and Mawahibb.

STABLE (ON FIRE): Lloyd Williams’ Macedon Lodge is pumping out the winners. Classy import The United States is aiming to qualify for the Caulfield Cup by winning the 2000m Naturalism Stakes, while stablemates Gallante and Chance To Dance have journeyed north to Randwick for the 2000m Hill Stakes. Williams’ trainer Robert Hickmott has also sent a quartet to Morphettville — Doumaran, Wexford Town, Granddukeoftuscany and Amralah.

JOCKEY (ON FIRE): Overlooking the obvious in Damien Oliver, who is in such vintage form he could land a Group 1 on a carousel pony, Luke Currie is a chance to jag a long-shot winner for those shopping for value. His mounts to follow: Stoker, Don’t Doubt Mamma, Tycoon Tara, Magnapal and Polish Tiger.

Fell Swoop is shooting for four wins in a row on Saturday. Picture: Simon Bullard

BEN SCADDEN (The Advertiser)

Morphettville

FULL SET OF EXPERTS’ SELECTIONS: MORPHETTVILLE

THE BANKER: American Star (Race 2, No. 2). He set tongues wagging with a brilliant win on debut when he pounced on the lead and ran impressive sectionals. Expect him to go on with it here.

IN THE FRAME: Jim’s Journey (Race 5, No. 1). Made good ground first-up when beaten just over three lengths in a 1250m race at Morphettville a fortnight ago. Quickly out to a more suitable 1600m and should be finishing off his race strongly with the help of 2kg claim for apprentice Ryan Hurdle.

THE RISK: Eclair Choice (Race 8, No. 8). No doubting this bloke’s ability (he smashed Alpine Eagle in a trial last month and had no luck in the Norman Carlyon at the Valley) but he’s facing a tough task from the outside barrier against a classy group in the Wylie Handicap. Could be trapped wide — and that’d be the end of him.

STABLE (ON FIRE): The Robert Hickmott team has been in great form and he looks like he could play a strong hand at Morphettville with four runners. They’re all imports with strong credentials. Doumaran and Wexford Town should both be competitive in the opening race, Granddukeoftuscany is among the main fancies in the fourth, while Amralah is early favourite for the Listed Penang Trophy.

JOCKEY (ON FIRE): Jason Holder holds a clear lead on the metro jockeys premiership. He’s been booked for five rides on Saturday, the best on paper Flying Casino in the opening race for in-form trainer John Hickmott.

Eclair Choice faces a tough task from a wide draw on Saturday. Picture: Atkins Photography

NATHAN EXELBY (The Courier-Mail)

Doomben

FULL SET OF EXPERTS’ SELECTIONS: DOOMBEN

THE BANKER: Pinch River (Race 5, No. 5). Has just shaded into the red in most markets now but that still seems a fair price for a horse destined for far better races than this. Simply awesome doing it at both ends last time. Will roll forward again here and should be too good.

IN THE FRAME: Sarajevo (Randwick, Race 3, No. 3). Stable opts to run here over a stronger race in Melbourne. Has a class edge on his rivals here and beautifully placed to make a winning return after short Queensland winter campaign.

THE RISK: Casual Choice (Race 2, No. 12). Trying to break a 441-day run of outs here at first run for the top Brisbane stable. Form around Shiraz reads well but he will get back in the field here and that’s not the greatest recipe for success around here.

STABLE (ON FIRE): Toby Edmonds is enjoying his best ever start to a season and could spring a surprise in Melbourne with Lesley’s Choice (Caulfield, Race 7, No. 11), who won a hot form race last time out. On the home front, Siegfried and Pop A Bottle loom as value hopes at double figure odds at Doomben.

JOCKEY (ON FIRE): Damian Browne has only had the nine rides back from injury, but already has four winners on the board. Only has the two rides at Doomben, on Glendara (Race 2, No. 7) and Forgotten Years (Race 7, No. 5). The latter is likely to start favourite, on which Browne has a 40 per cent strike rate from his past 1000 rides.