Weekend Best Bets: Randwick, Caulfield, Toowoomba, Morphettville Parks
Our experts give you an early shot at finding a winner at the major races around the nation this weekend, highlighted by day one of The Championships. LATEST BETTING MARKETS
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Our experts give you an early shot at finding a winner as they look at the major races around the nation this weekend.
Last week … Two winners. Glenn McFarlane missed out at Bendigo but was on the money with Star Of The Seas ($2.35) at Rosehill, while Chris Vernuccio helped punters blast out in the last with Antah ($4.40).
SATURDAY (AEDT times)
RANDWICK (10 races, 12.10pm), CAULFIELD (9 races, start 12.25pm), MORPHETTVILLE PARKS (8 races, 1.11pm), TOOWOOMBA (9 races, 1.28pm), ASCOT (X races, 3.18pm).
THE EARLY OIL: CAULFIELD
THE CHAMPIONSHIPS: FORM AND BEST BETS
WONDER RACE: WINX FAVOURITE TO BEAT BEST
ROYAL RANDWICK
RAY THOMAS (Daily Telegraph). Form: 17144
AMANGIRI (Race 3, No. 6 — $2.60)
Amangiri won her maiden at just her second start at the Kensington track then made a mess of older rivals at Hawkesbury last start. She is a highly promising filly with obvious staying potential and should more than handle the significant jump to Group 3 level. Despite the wide draw she can keep winning.
Value bet: STARS OF CARRUM (Race 7, No. 9 — $10)
MATT JONES (Daily Telegraph). Form: 51704
SUPERNOVA (Race 5, No. 19 — $3.90)
This horse has been superb since arriving in Australia and will be even better at 2600m now after winning well last start over 1900m on a heavy track and he drops 6.5kg in the weights.
Value bet: LE ROMAIN (Race 9, No. 2 — $21)
SHAYNE O’CASS (Sportsman). Form: s594s
SHOALS (Race 8, No. 9 — $11)
One of six runners here that ran in The Everest last year. I was quite keen on Shoals that day and so were a lot of other punters because she started favourite. She beat just the one, Vega Magic, home but we start again here and judge her on her excellent first-up second to last year’s TJ winner Trapeze Artist in the Canterbury Stakes on March 9. Her second-up form is 4s: 2-2-0.
Value bet: COSTELLO (Race 7, No. 15 — $23)
DARREN PRENDERGAST (SuperRacing). Form: s2306
BIVOUAC (Race 1, No. 1 — $4.80)
Talented Godolphin colt defeated Cosmic Force on a heavy track two starts back then not beaten far by Yes Yes Yes and Bellevue Hill in the Todman. Good odds.
Value bet: GLOBAL EXCHANGE (Race 7, No. 8 — $9.50)
SIMON MOY (SuperRacing). Form: x3333
PIERATA (Race 8, No. 4 — $6)
Powerful to the line in The Galaxy to be denied in a photo. Unbeaten track and distance.
Value bet: STAR MISSILE (Caulfield, Race 4, No. 4 — $5.50)
MARKETS: TAB FIXED ODDS
CAULFIELD
GLENN McFARLANE (Herald Sun). Form: 15318
MR QUICKIE (Race 4, No. 1 — $1.85)
Highly-talented horse who is on a pathway towards the SA Derby. Has won six in a row and seven from nine in total.
Value bet: FIDELIA (Race 5, No. 10 — $6)
CHRIS VERNUCCIO (SuperRacing). Form: 13330
LADY PLUCK (Race 5, No. 5 — $3.70)
The Tasmanian filly showed last spring she can measure up to the Victorian fillies after running third in a Listed race at Flemington behind Smart Melody. She heads to the mainland off a dominant three-length win at Launceston.
Value bet: HELLOVA STREET (Race 8, No. 1 — $5.50)
NICK QUINN (TAB). Form: 13520
MR QUICKIE (Race 4, No. 1 — $1.85)
Terrific three year-old who has won his past six starts and should extend that winning streak to seven. Gets weight relief after the claim for star apprentice Ethan Brown and looks a lovely way to more than double your money.
Value bet: WIDGEE TURF (Randwick, Race 9, No. 9 — $23)
MARKETS: TAB FIXED ODDS
TOOWOOMBA
NATHAN EXELBY (Courier Mail). Form: 2313x
VELADERO (Race 6, No. 1 — $6.50)
He’s going along nicely this preparation and should relish the big drop in grade for this average looking Benchmark 80 race after mixing it in Open company. Up to the mile gives him more time to wind up and round this lot up.
Value bet: FIRST CRUSH (Race 7, No. 2 — $23)
MARKETS: TAB FIXED ODDS
MORPHETTVILLE PARKS
LINCOLN MOORE (The Advertiser). Form: 211x7
EAST INDIAMAN (Race 8, No. 9 — $2.50)
Back to Adelaide with more than handy Victorian form.
Drawn a nice gate this is a drop in class and he gets his chance each-way.
Value bet: STOLEN AWAY (Race 5, No. 10 — $10)
MARKETS: TAB FIXED ODDS
*Note: TAB Fixed Odds prices correct at time of publishing
THE CHAMPIONSHIPS: DAY ONE
Leo Schlink looks at the four Group 1s.
SIRES’ PRODUCE
1400M, 3.15PM
LOVING GABY ($4.80) finished powerfully when fourth to KIAMICHI ($7) in the Golden Slipper. Will relish the step up to 1400m and is perfectly drawn in barrier five. Hard to knock her form. MICROPHONE ($6) steamed home in the Slipper and has the talent to overcome a tricky draw. DUBIOUS ($26) covered plenty of ground in the Slipper but is drawn for a kinder run. BELLEVUE HILL ($7) handled the heavy conditions with aplomb last start and is a chance, as is CASTELVECCHIO ($10).
TIPS: LOVING GABY, Microphone, Kiamichi, Bellevue Hill.
AUSTRALIAN DERBY
2400M, 3.55PM
GLOBAL EXCHANGE ($8.50) finished strongly to win the 2040m Alister Clark Stakes three weeks ago. He’s a progressive colt with the jockey (Kerrin McEvoy) and pedigree to contend here. ARROGANT ($5.50) shapes as the testing material after a NZ Derby fourth. CHAPADA ($5.50) has been well found in the market and has Damien Oliver. MADISON COUNTY ($11) won twice at Group 1 level in NZ and ran second in the Tulloch Stakes. DECLARATIONOFHEART ($13) continues to improve and was brave behind Global Exchange at the Valley.
TIPS: GLOBAL EXCHANGE, Arrogant, Madison County, Declarationofheart.
TJ SMITH STAKES
1200M, 4.35PM
OSBORNE BULLS ($4.40) finished second in both the Lightning and Newmarket and gets back to a track where he has thrived and, critically, around a bend. Sure to be suited by the frenzied tempo and will charge late. PIERATA ($6) is unbeaten over this distance here and just failed to catch Nature Strip in The Galaxy. SUNLIGHT ($8.50) could add another Group 1 to her record. Anthony Freedman has a strong hand with SANTA ANA LANE ($7.50) and SHOALS ($11) are accomplished sprinters and on trial for Royal Ascot. REDZEL ($8.50) has eight wins from 14 Randwick starts and is an obvious player.
TIPS: OSBORNE BULLS, Pierata, Sunlight, Santa Ana Lane.
DONCASTER MILE
1600M, 5.15pm
BRUTAL ($5.50) beat everything but Winx in the George Ryder and drops to 49.5kg for Glen Boss. The obvious query is the wide gate (21 before scratchings), but recent history suggests middle to outside barriers are no impediment. FIFTY STARS ($6.50) fared even worse than Brutal with 24 but he’s flying. Only needs luck to figure strongly. UNFORGOTTEN ($16) hasn’t won for 30 weeks but chased home HARTNELL ($10) in the Epsom Handicap last year. Godolphin pair Hartnell and ALIZEE ($7.50) finished in the placings behind Mystic Journey in the All-Star Mile at Flemingtonand shape to run well again. LAND OF PLENTY ($21), the luckless FUNDAMENTALIST ($10) and Japanese raider KLUGER ($23) have the credentials to contend. Ditto SHILLELAGH ($19), one of the small army of Chris Waller runners
TIPS: BRUTAL, Fifty Stars, Unforgotten, Land Of Plenty.