SuperCoach Racing formguide: Round 5 preview and trade advice
Just because there’s a lack of Group 1 races doesn’t mean a huge score is out of our reach. Find out how that can be achieved at the Valley this week with out Round 5 formguide.
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So, scoring 300 was possible last week.
With only two Group 1 races in play, Jason showed how it could be done when his NOSAJ LODGE stable amassed 301 points after finding the quinella in both Group 1 races — The Everest and the Caulfield Cup — as well as the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint.
Again, there are just two Group 1 races this week with back-to-back meetings at the Valley on Friday night and Saturday, but four Group 2 features provide ample options to rake in a big tally.
This week’s approach is to have at least two runners each from the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (Friday night) and Cox Plate (Saturday) and fill the remaining six slots from the Fillies Classic, Vase and Moonee Valley Gold Cup.
The captaincy is a toss of the coin between LYS GRACIEUX and BIVOUAC.
Note, Round 5 lockout is 6pm Friday and does not include Sydney’s Randwick meeting.
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MUST-HAVE HORSE
BATTENBURG ($75,000)
Still a maiden after four starts but the young stayer but threw the challenge out to star pair Shadow Hero and Castelvecchio when third in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes. At 75k, he will be crucial to adding that extra Group 1 gun in your stable.
RACE TO TARGET
MANIKATO STAKES
The most expensive runner in the Group 1 sprint is THE BOSTONIAN at $375k closely followed by raging favourite BIVOUAC at 350k, so two or three runners can be included without stretching the budget if you pick one of the two.
PREMIUM PICK
LYS GRACIEUX ($400,000)
The star Japanese mare has firmed into a dominant favourite for the Group 1 Cox Plate and also $100k below the maximum price.
VALUE PICK
TROPE ($175,000)
Two seconds this prep behind Deprive, who won again last week in the Sydney Stakes, and star WA filly Arcadia Queen. A top three chance in the Manikato.
THE DILEMMA
MR QUICKIE, unlucky in last week’s Caulfield Cup, and Irish raider DOWNDRAFT are both $275k in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup. One of them goes in.
RACE TO AVOID
CRYSTAL MILE
Looks a trap race and the majority of field will put a big dent in your salary cap. There are three other Group 2s to select from.
JOCKEY TIP
KERRIN McEVOY
Too early to make a definitive call. For the moment leaning to McEvoy, who rides Bivvouac in the Manikato Stakes on Friday night and has a solid book the following day. James McDonald also has some good winning chances on Saturday.
ROUND 5 TEAM
Mystic Journey $500,000
Lys Gracieux $400,000
Bivouac $350,000
Mr Quickie $275,000
Downdraft $275,000
Trope $175,000
Soul Patch $150,000
Fascino $125,000
Aspect Ratio $125,000
Battenburg $75,000
Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy
Salary cap: $2,450,000
LAST WEEK’S TEAM
Santa Ana Lane 64 (c)
Arcadia Queen 0
Mer De Glace 40
Pohutukawa 14
Savatiano 32
Royal Meeting 14
Vegas Jewel 18
Celestial Falls 13
Hilo 14
Warning 18
Jockey: Tommy Berry 9
Total: 237
Overall total: 1057