Friday formline: Horses, jockeys, trainers to follow this weekend

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

5 min read

February 26, 2016 - 11:34AM

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

SATURDAY MEETINGS (AEDT Times)

RANDWICK (9 races, start 12.40pm), CAULFIELD (9 races, start 1pm),

DOOMBEN (8 races, start 1.30pm), MORPHETTVILLE (8 races, start 1.44pm),

ASCOT (8 races, start 3.53pm).

HOT TIPS: WEEKEND BEST BETS

SHAYNE O’CASS (Sportsman)

Randwick

BANKER: GENERALIFE (Race 8, No. 5)

Was placed in the Doomben 10,000 and Stradbroke last winter so that’s a fair measure of his class. He’s been terribly unlucky virtually throughout his career but on his day, he’s a serious horse. Plenty to like about his return in the Southern Cross the other day when slow out, last in the run, finished well to clock in 1.5-lens behind the winner.

RISK: SCARLET RAIN (Race 4, No. 2)

Has the job ahead from the wide alley. She’s won over 1100m then back to the 1000m and is now more than a month between runs going up to the 1200m.

Scarlet Rain’s unbeaten record will be put to the test on Saturday. Picture: Jenny Evans

IN THE FRAME: ZENALICIOUS (Race 4, No. 13)

Is a Les Bridge trained filly by Choisir. Her 2nd Dam is Bridge’s own Miss Zoe who won two G2’s including the race now known as the Myer Classic. This filly has trialled exceedingly well but it will be a big, big performance on her part if she can win the Sweet Embrace first time out.

TRAINER: JOHN O’SHEA

O’Shea’s Godolphin team look set for a huge day on Saturday.

JOCKEY: J-Mac versus William Buick to see who stars in the royal blue.

MICHAEL MANLEY (Herald Sun)

Caulfield

BANKER: AZKADELLIA (Caulfield, Race 9, No.10)

Potential Group 1 performer who just ran out of steam when she finished on strongly for first-up second behind Tuscan Sling over 1200m at Caulfield. Better suited over 1400m and will love the fast speed.

IN THE FRAME: MAHUTA (Caulfield, Race 4, No.1)

Tough free rolling on pacer who has won his past six starts since the blinkers were placed on. From barrier one looks to have the race at his mercy.

THE RISK: PASADENA GIRL (Caulfield, Race 3, No.1)

Classy filly resuming. Ran some great races last time in but didn’t win. Carries more weight than rivals and will drift back and be giving a start.

JOCKEY: DAMIEN OLIVER

The superstar has a big day ahead. He will need to be at the peak of his powers to get Flying Artie home from a wide barrier in the Blue Diamond Stakes. The pressure is on as he opted for him over Extreme Choice. He has other other key rides in Bow Creek and also Azkadellia.

TRAINER: Big day for the injured Phillip Stokes who left for Melbourne by car on Friday with his three broken ribs. His three runners all have chances. Both Hucklebuck in the Futurity Stakes and Samara Dancer in the Blue Diamond appeal as each-way chances. His third runner Eclair Choice is over the odds in the Oakleigh Plate and also worth a dabble each-way.

DARYL TIMMS (Herald Sun)

Caulfield

BANKER: PASADENA GIRL (Race 3, No.1)

Let’s get away early in the meeting with a winner. Sticking with the theme of a Blue Diamond for women, this filly should be able to hold all the challenges from her fairer sex counteparts. She should give comeback jockey Luke Nolen a winner.

IN THE FRAME: OUR IVANHOWE (Race 5, No.4)

A potential Cup horse who is getting used to the Australian way of training with Lee and Anthony Freedman. Some say this will be too short for the German horse, but Freedman has put some sprint back in his legs and he’ll be charging home at odds.

RISK: EXTREME CHOICE (Race 7, No. 1)

Only a very brave or silly man would go against this potential champion. The knockers are banking on the fact that there will be others in the race better at 1200m.

TRAINER: IT’S a bit of a mixed bag here but Darren Weir seems to have enough quality runners to grab the spoils.

JOCKEY: DAMIEN Oliver again has some nice rides, and couple of long shots too, but he should overhaul the likes of Craig Williams who has some good rides early the meeting. Dwayne Dunn has a consistent book of rides.

Alannah Fancourt guides Satirical Lass to victory at Doomben last August. Picture: Grant Peters

NATHAN EXELBY (The Courier-Mail)

Doomben

BANKER: SATIRICAL LASS (Race 4, No. 6)

May not be fully wound up, but she’s proven out to 1350m, so the two trials should have her forward enough to see out the 1200m fresh. Will have most of these beaten a long way from home.

RISK: HONEY TOAST (Race 1, No. 1)

Gets out to his preferred middle distance range the first time this preparation. He put the writing on the wall last time, but has to concede significant weight to some fit, in form stayers. Seems short enough.

IN THE FRAME: I’M BELUCCI (Race 8, No. 1)

Has a few things against him on paper, notably the 59kg from the outside barrier, but there were encouraging signs last start. He was more than a month between runs and was only found wanting very late. Will be fitter here and has the capacity to outstay them if they push the button early and go forward again.

TRAINER: LIAM BIRCHLEY

Birchley has his Ramornie winner Rock Royalty resuming in race 3 and suggests he will run a “cheeky race” but from their respective barriers, he prefers the chances of stablemate Lady Jetsetter. “That last-start win will do her confidence the world of good and from the inside gate she can sit off them, which I think suits her better than leading like she did last time.”

Liam Birchley favours Lady Jetsetter at Doomben on Saturday. Picture: Mike Batterham

JOCKEY: DAMIAN BROWNE

Has a ripper strike rate when he links with Peter Snowden and in more recent times Team Snowden. He heads south tomorrow to partner Tinto for Rex Lipp in the Guy Walter, but has picked up the key ride on Rich Enuff for the Snowdens in the Liverpool City Cup.

BEN SCADDEN (The Advertiser)

Morphettville

BANKER: ECLAIR ATTACK (Race 2, No. 3)

Gifted three-year-old resuming for the Phillip Stokes stable. Showed plenty when last in work and has an impressive turn of foot. Expect him to be charging home when it counts.

RISK: VICEROY (Race 6, No. 14)

Been very competitive in better races than this but is first-up since November and is yet to test himself on the tricky Parks circuit. Sure to be competitive but drawn wide and likely to be under the odds.

IN THE FRAME: EXCITES ZELADY (Race 5, No. 2)

Quality gelding who’s a two-time winner in Listed grade and also has snared a Group 3 victory. Very versatile and reported to be working well in preparation for strong first-up display. Terrific value at double-figure odds.

TRAINER: LLOYD KENNEWELL

Kennewell is primed to play a strong hand, with six runners across the eight-race card. His best chances include talented two-year-old Bullion Wolf (race 1), smart three-year-olds Abu Dhabi and Space Time in race 3, classy gelding Baligari (race 5) and the smart Fastcar in the last race.

JOCKEY: MATTHEW NEILSON

Neilson is one of the state’s most accomplished riders and teams up with some top trainers on Saturday. He has a couple of rides for the Stokes barn and also will pilot Evangelist for Tony McEvoy. It’d be a surprise if he doesn’t figure in the finish in at least a couple of those races.