Ken Callander: Japanese star World apart from rivals in The BMW

KEN CALLANDER: IF To The World is the best of the Japanese contingent to hit Sydney for this year’s carnival, the opposition will want to watch out in The BMW.

International Japan's To The World training at Canterbury Park ,Canterbury .Picture Gregg Porteous

IF To The World is the best of the Japanese contingent to hit Sydney for this year’s racing carnival, the opposition will want to watch out in Saturday’s The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens.

Last week, we saw Real Impact take out the George Ryder and Tosen Stardom finish a great second in the Ranvet and the tip is this bloke is a better galloper.

To The World finished second in the Japanese 2000 Guineas last April and fifth in the Japanese Derby in June. At his latest run, on December 28, he was beaten less than a length when runner-up in a 2500m Group 1 weight-for-age race and, take my tip, Japanese Group 1 staying races are far superior to their Aussie counterparts.

RACE 1: THE SCHWEPPERVESCENCE QUALITY (1400m)

Betting: $6 Takedown, Delawar, $7 Inner Circle, Street Rapper, $8 Wolf Cry, Italy

Comment: Takedown has a bit of weight, but who is to say he cannot run 1400m after his easy Black Opal win at 1200m? Inner Circle, Italy and Mine Two come out of good races and Street Rapper, Delawar and Lighthouse Keeper are likely big improvers.

Bet: 1 Takedown

Exotics: Quinella 1 Takedown, 10 Street Rapper

Inner Circle is one of two Godolphin runners in the first race. Picture: Mark Evans

RACE 2: THERACES.COM.AU HANDICAP (1400m)

Betting: $3.80 Sure And Fast, $5 Frespanol, $6 Medcaut, $9.50 Zin Zan Eddie, Laohu

Comment: Fespanol goes good fresh and comes into this after two trial wins while Sure And Fast blitzed them in a Provincial Championship race last start. Medcaut goes good and could sprint well fresh while Beauty’s Beast is a last-start winner here but has 61kg to hump. Zin Zan Eddie and Laohu are worth a thought and, if the track is dry, watch out for a good run from Boss Lane.

Bet: 2 Boss Lane

Exotics: Box trifecta 2 Boss Lane, 4 Zin Zan Eddie, 7 Frespanol, 8 Medcaut

RACE 3: DONCASTER PRELUDE (1500m)

Betting: $3.50 Leebaz, $4.60 Rudy, $6 Bull Point, $7 San Diego, $8 Excess Knowledge

Comment: No designated leader, but Leebaz should be on the speed and he is back in class after three of his past four have been in Group 1 races. Rudy went terrific first-up and had no luck when wide second-up. Bull Point is in the most suitable race he has been in for a while and San Diego and Snippets Land are on the up and should go well. Don’t discard Excess Knowledge.

Bet: 2 Leebaz

Exotics: Box trifecta 2 Leebaz, 3 Bull Point, 7 San Diego, 8 Snippets Land

RACE 4: EMANCIPATION STAKES (1500m)

Betting: $1.80 Catkins, $7 Madam Gangster, $9.50 Mahara, $13 Gypsy Diamond, My Sabeel

Comment: The wonderful mare Catkins (14 from 30) needs to find the right spot from her draw, but she does look to have the edge on this lot. I see her trailing Any Day Will Do with Madam Gangster, impressive winning past four in Melbourne, also up close. Mahara should improve on her last-start flop and look for big runs from Gypsy Diamond and Amanpour.

Bet: 1 Catkins

Exotics: 1 Catkins as standout in trifectas with 5 Gypsy Diamond, 7 Madam Gangster, 10 Amanpour

Madam Gangster heads north after winning her past four starts in Melbourne.

RACE 5: STAR KINGDOM STAKES (1200m)

Betting: $3.80 Generalife, Target In Sight, $6 Sidestep, $8 Hot Snitzel, Heart Testa

Comment: Rain Affair will run them along and Target In Sight is in another race to suit if he can find a spot from his alley. Generalife is good on his day, but is one from eight at 1200m and one from six first-up. Sidestep, the other Godolphin runner, has had two trials and is the big query. Hot Snitzel, Heart Testa and Tahitian Black are good honest sprinters.

Bet: 7 Target In Sight

Exotics: Box trifecta 4 Generalife, 5 Heart Testa, 6 Sidestep, 7 Target In Sight

RACE 6: VINERY STUD STAKES (2000m)

Betting: $1.80 First Seal, $7 Winx, $8 Set Square, $9.50 Adrift

Comment: First Seal had excuses at her only try at 2000m and, with her ability to relax, should have the edge on the other fillies at set weights. Winx is also classy and her return to form was impressive. Watch for blinkers to improve Adrift and it is hard to fault Set Square’s Melbourne form. Best of the rest is Amicus.

Bet: 1 First Seal

Exotics: 1 First Seal as standout in quinellas with 4 Winx, 8 Adrift

Winx returned to form with a strong win in the Phar Lap Stakes.

RACE 7: THE BMW (2400m)

Betting: $2.25 To The World, $3.20 Hartnell, $8 Protectionist, $9.50 Lucia Valentina

Comment: The race should be truly run with Fast Dragon in front. To The World’s form in Japan is A1 and reports are he is doing well in Australia. He could be too strong. Hartnell has done well since arriving from the UK and won well last start while the Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist will appreciate the step up to 2400m. Lucia Valentina is best of the rest.

Bet: 7 To The World

Exotics: Quinella 1 Protectionist, 7 To The World

RACE 8: TULLOCH STAKES (2000m)

Betting: $4.60 Hauraki, $5 Caped Crusader, $7 Diamond Valores, Ruling Dynasty, Omeros

Comment: The Gai Waterhouse galloper Caped Crusader led all the way at Randwick last run and that will be the tactics again. Hauraki’s Phar Lap Stakes second was a sign of good things to come and I have loved the provincial wins of Ruling Dynasty and Omeros. It is time for Diamond Valores to stand up if he is any good and respect should be paid to Merion.

Bet: 9 Ruling Dynasty

Exotics: Box trifecta 1 Merion, 3 Hauraki, 9 Ruling Dynasty, 14 Omeros

RACE 9: NEVILLE SELLWOOD STAKES (2000m)

Betting: $4.60 Pornichet, $5 Foreteller, $6 Dear Demi, $8 Hawkspur, Himalaya Dream

Comment: A few out of form horses who would run well at their best, but Foreteller and Hawkspur ran encouraging races in good class at their latest outings. Could be the right race for Pornichet, but Dear Demi would need to improve sharply. Himalaya Dream is an emerging talent and likely leader.

Bet: 1 Foreteller

Exotics: Box quinella 1 Foreteller, 5 Pornichet, 12 Himalaya Dream

Foreteller, right, is dropping back in grade and is worth another chance.

BEST BET: To The World

VALUE: Ruling Dynasty

WHO’S HOT

Punters were quick to take the $3.50 early price put up by TAB Fixed Odds on Japanese galloper To The World. He’s now $2.25

WHO’S NOT

Caped Crusader, the $5 second favourite in the Tulloch Stakes, looked good winning last start, but against weaker opposition. He’s under the odds.

DROP A HINT

The Waterhouse stable has always had an opinion of Street Rapper and he was very impressive winning at Wyong. He runs in race one.

EYE CATCHER

Inexperience (only third start) is against Omeros in the Tulloch Stakes, but he sure did catch the eye winning at Wyong.

Originally published as Ken Callander: Japanese star World apart from rivals in The BMW