SuperCoach Racing 2021: Our experts reveals their Round 1 stables
SuperCoach Racing starts on Saturday with $18,000 up for grabs plus bragging rights all spring. See who our racing and SuperCoach experts are picking in their teams.
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We’re into the home straight in the lead-up to SuperCoach Racing 2021.
Round 1 kicks off with the Midway Handicap at 11.50am AEST on Saturday and wraps up with the Cleanaway Handicap at 5.20pm. In between are 17 other races at Flemington and Randwick for your stable to score points and launch you towards SuperCoch Racing glory — a $10,000 major prize, $500 weekly prizes (doubled to $1000 for SuperCoach Plus subscribers) and bragging rights over your mates all spring.
You’ll need eight horses that fit under a $1.8 million salary cap, plus a jockey.
Who should you pick? See who our experts have selected below.
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CHRIS VERNUCCIO’S STABLE
Verry Elleegant $500,000
Duais $200,000
Incentivise (c) $200,000
Ingratiating $200,000
Mallory $200,000
Startantes $200,000
Ranch Hand $150,000
Coolangatta $100,000
Jockey: Brett Prebble
There may be four Group 1s but I’ll only be targeting the Turnbull Stakes (Flemington) and Flight Stakes (Randwick).
I initially had all four covered but the betting indicates Incentivise and Verry Elleegant are a big chance of running the quinella in the Turnbull. My top pick is Incentivise, who is a bargain at $200k.
The fillies in Sydney aren’t a strong group so Queenslander Startantes could snatch the Flight Stakes, while Mallory has also been added to my original squad.
Turning to the Group 2s, three-year-olds Ingratiating and Ranch Hand are the leading chances in the Danehill Stakes at Flemington and fit nicely inside the salary cap, while Duais is also priced at the lower end and is second favourite in the Hill Stakes at Randwick, which has just eight runners.
Two-year-old Coolangatta is an odds-on favourite in the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick and fills the last spot in the team.
SUPERCOACH PLUS: LET THE BOOKIES PICK YOUR STABLE
GLENN McFARLANE’S STABLE
Verry Elleegant (c) $500,000
She’s Ideel $350,00
Incentivise $200,000
Ingratiating $200,000
Startantes $200,000
Elusive Express $125,000
Coolangatta $100,000
Mornington Glory $50,000
Jockey: James McDonald
MUST HAVE: VERRY ELLEEGANT
Fourteen wins and 23 first three finishes from 31 starts. The quirky queen of the track just knows how to get it done - time and time again. Love her, can’t pick against her!
VALUE PICK: INCENTIVISE
$200,000? Surely, that’s a misprint. Get in quick as this bloke is going to take a power of beating in the Turnbull and the Caulfield Cup.
BEST CHEAPIE: MORNINGTON GLORY
Maybe I’m talking through my pocket – and the $81 price ticket for the Coolmore – but this Shalaa colt looks to be something special.
STEER CLEAR: STREETS OF AVALON
Wish I owned him (almost $2 million in prizemoney), but there are better ways to spend $400,000 in SuperCoach Racing ...
GILBERT GARDINER’S STABLE
Verry Elleegant (c) $500,000
She’s Ideel $350,000
Montefilia $325,000
Four Moves Ahead $200,000
Incentivise $200,000
Fangirl $75,000
Left Reeling $75,000
Mornington Glory $50,000
Jockey: James McDonald
MUST HAVE: VERRY ELLEEGANT
You know what you’re going to get. It is that simple. If she doesn’t win (I think she will) then she runs second.
VALUE PICK: INCENTIVISE
$200,000 for a walk-up Caulfield Cup winner that could easily take out the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes along the way? Yes, please.
BEST CHEAPIE: MORNINGTON GLORY
$50,000 doesn’t buy a lot in Mornington so had to get involved albeit the big, raw sprinter, on a possible Coolmore Stud Stakes path, should be even better next time around.
STEER CLEAR: CLASSIQUE LEGEND
(Puts Victorian hat on) too much going on in Melbourne to worry about a pop-up race up north.
DAN BATTEN’S STABLE
Verry Elleegent (c) $450,000
Think It Over $450,000
Four Moves Ahead $200,000
Incentivise $200,000
Startantes $200,000
Elusive Express $200,000
Gunstock $75,000
Daisies $50,000
Jockey: James McDonald
Playing the percentages and loading up on cheap favourites in Group 1 and 2 races.
It was a strategy that saw this racing novice (somehow) ranked 22nd overall after the first round of SuperCoach Racing last year – sadly, the proudest achievement of my life thus far.
Needless to say my rank dipped from thereon, but I’ll be adopting the same tactics this spring, hunting for value via Rob Sutherland’s marvellous metric system and targeting small fields.
I have put a focus on the Darley Flight Stakes – where there are three $200,000 options priced at fewer than $5 with bookmakers, selecting Startantes and Four Moves Ahead.
Picking G2 sure thing Think It Over is a classic example of how to play the percentages in SuperCoach Racing.
While some may see $450,000 as overs, Think It Over Is priced at under $2 with the bookies in a field of only seven runners, giving it the best possible chance for a maximum return of 32 points.
Verry Elleegant is also too difficult to pass up in a field of 10 and is a top captaincy option, with a 40-point haul up for grabs as the favourite of the G1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington.
Having these two expensive picks means I’ve had to settle for cheapies Daisies and Gunstock.
JETT HATTON’S STABLE
Riodini $275k (C)
Race: Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m)
Hard to go past Riodini off his last two efforts behind Think It Over and Verry Elleegant. Drops 7.5kg and has the speed to overcome a sticky gate. Looks the one to beat – he’s my captain this week.
Rothfire $325k
Race: Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m)
Went huge first-up, but Rothfire is much better on top of the ground and is suited out to 1200m. Expect him to give this field a touch up on his way to the big dance. Would be my skipper if the Premiere Stakes was worth Group 1 points.
Entente $250k
Race: Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m)
Really liked the way Entente hit the line at the end of 2400m last week. He’s drawn more favourably than his main rivals and gets a 5.5kg weight swing on She’s Ideel. Can continue a strong run of form for the stable.
Annavisto $200k
Race: Group 2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes (1410m)
Progressive mare that has improved each time she’s stepped out. This is her toughest test to date, but Annavisto looks up to the class and should be in the finish.
Incentivise $200k
Race: Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m)
Not tipping him over Verry Elleegant, but Toowoomba galloper is cheap as chips so he has to go in. Held off Mo’unga to win the Makybe Diva last time out and that horse did beat Verry Elleegant first-up.
Ingratiating $200k
Race: Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1100m)
Looked as though Ingratiating was going to bolt in last time out before Ranch Hand got to him in the shadows of the post. Should take plenty of benefit for having the run and make amends.
Mallory $200k
Race: Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m)
This filly has had zero luck at her three runs this time in, but I’m hoping that changes on Saturday. Gains the services of Hugh Bowman, drawn well and has the class to be winning this.
Coolangatta $100k
Race: Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes (1000m)
There’s always plenty of questions going into the Gimcrack Stakes but you would be a hard marker if you weren’t impressed with the way Coolangatta trialled. Enthaar won last year’s edition – she’s from the same stable and had the same jockey on board (James McDonald).
Jockey: Tim Clark
Hoping Tim Clark can continue his hot run of form on Saturday fresh off Group 1 victory aboard In The Congo. He’s got a great book of rides and should deliver plenty of points.
AL PATON’S STABLE
Verry Elleegant $500,000
She’s Ideel $350,000
Riodini $275,000
Incentivise $200,000
Ranch Hand $150,000
Elusive Express $125,000
Coolangatta $100,000
Daisies $50,000
Jockey: James McDonald
As someone with no idea about horses but a passion for SuperCoach, I love having a crack at SC Racing over the spring. And it’s a very different game to SuperCoach AFL, starting with the fact you get unlimited trades each week to completely remake your team.
I try to play the percentages and just put points in the bank – Verry Elleegant is verry expensive but is one of two standouts in a group 1 with just 10 runners, and I’m picking the other one (Incentivise) as well.
Coolangatta is running in a Group 3 but is just about the shortest-priced favourite of the day so that could be a very handy 24 points – equivalent to third in a Group 1.
Having said that, it’s all a bit of a lottery which is why I just pick the jockey with the most rides.
The best part is it’s free to play so there is no cash on the line – sign up and have a crack!
TIM MICHELL’S STABLE
She’s Ideel $350k (C)
Montefilia $325k
Riodini $275k
Four Moves Ahead $200k
Jamaea $200k
Incentivise $200k
Ingratiating $200k
More Coverage
Profondo $50k
Jockey: TBA
I’ll generally check the odds then look at what a few trusted tipsters (Chris Vernuccio is king) are doing then see what fits into my SuperCoach budget.
I would have loved Very Elleegant this round but the price tag is just too high.
Instead I’ve tried to spread the wealth around to give myself as many shots at those all important Group races.
I don’t know much about Profondo but it seems to be the go-to cheapie which is good enough for me.
I know I’m unlikely to be the No. 1 ranked SuperCoach stable at the end of spring, but there’s few things better than kicking back and watching your horses rack up points on a weekend.
Unless of course you’re playing SuperCoach BBL, but let’s talk about that later.
Giddy up punters!
Originally published as SuperCoach Racing 2021: Our experts reveals their Round 1 stables