Warwick Farm with the Duff

Sky Sports Radio’s form guru Ron Dufficy dissects Saturday’s meeting at Warwick Farm, including the day’s big bets from the TAB.

Former jockey now racing tipster Ron Dufficy during race meeting at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.

Sky Sports Radio’s form guru Ron Dufficy dissects Saturday’s meeting at Warwick Farm, including the day’s big bets from the TAB.

WARWICK FARM

Track: races 1-5 Soft (5), 6-8 Good (4)

Bias: Off the rail the best going

RACE 1: SCHWEPPES HCP 2400m

1 SASENKILE Back second last early, seemed to be struggling when they sprinted but he outstayed them at the finish.

2 PHRASES Controlled the speed up front and tried hard but was beaten in the last few strides.

3 DANJEU Put into a great spot just off the speed, loomed up and had his chance.

THE FAVOURITE: Danjeu was put into a perfect trialling position by jockey Jason Collett and after looming up to win on the turn he disappointed in not finishing his race off.

PROMISING: Sasenkile is an improving stayer who did a great job here at his first try at 2400m putting two strong wins together now.

THE RIDE: Apprentice Serg Lisnyy really showed he has developed into an experienced apprentice with a well judged ride.

THE BETTING: Punters only had eyes for Danjeu. Backed in from an opening price of $3 to even money, Danjeu proved to be a costly conveyance. One TAB customer did splash out heavily on Artibai ($6.50-$4.60) to the tune of $5,000 @ $4.80. Sasenkile drifted from $5.50 to $7 mainly due to the support of the favourite.

BIG MOVE:Danjeu accounted for just over 60% of all bets on the race

Sasenkile, right, outstayed his rivals to record back to back wins.

RACE 2: SKYLINE STAKES 1200m

1 EXOSPHERE Settled back along the rail, into the clear approaching the turn and won with his head on his chest.

2 ODYSSEY MOON Settled fourth on the rail and battled on without threatening.

3 WOLF CRY Found a good spot one-out, one-back and was very dour down the straight, eventually getting third on protest.

THE REAL DEAL: Exosphere really stamped himself as a Golden Slipper prospect with a dominant performance, winning by a big space. He is a big laid-back colt who is going to be a real force over The Championships.

DISAPPOINTMENTS: Sebring Sun and Wolf Cry went into this race with their reputations intact but after the race and considering the big margins, the jury’s out on them at the top level now.

THE BETTING: Most of the attention was on Sebring Sun ($4.40 into $3.80) but some of the bigger bets were focused on the winner, Exosphere ($2.35 out to $2.45). Bets included $5,000 @ $2.40.

BIG BET: $2,000 @ $14 on Odyssey Moon, $1,900 @ $4.40 on Sebring Sun, $1,000 @ $26 on Salerno.

RACE 3: SWEET EMBRACE STAKES 1200m

1 ALWAYS ALLISON Found a good spot just behind them, into the clear on the point of the turn and finished best.

2 SPEAK FONDLY Up outside the lead and was left without excuses.

3 TIBROGARGAN MISS Dictated terms in front and ran a cheeky race only to tire late.

DESIRE: Always Allison is yet to be beaten in three trials and two races and has plenty of guts and determination, which is a great asset. She is not nominated for the Golden Slipper so her connections need to pay $150,000 for a late entry if they want to run.

THE BOYS OR THE GIRLS?: Always Allison ran one tenth of a second slower than the colts, won by Exosphere in the previous race, and the boys did run half a second quicker the last 600m.

THE BETTING: Always Allison was backed almost immediately when the market first came out on Wednesday ($3 into $2.80). Eventually backed into $2.60, off the back of a $4,200 bet @ $2.80, she then drifted significantly out to $3.80 in the lead-up to the race because of the money for Speak Fondly ($4.20 — $3.50).

Always Allison showed plenty of guts and determination. Picture: Simon Bullard

RACE 4: SURROUND STAKES 1400m

1 FIRST SEAL Relaxed nicely back in the field, cruised up and toyed with the opposition.

2 SUPARA Sat third on the rail, got an inside run and ran an improved race.

3 SLIGHTLY SWEET Sat three back along the inside and worked home nicely.

PRINCESS: First Seal showed champion quality with a brilliant win, outclassing her own age with an effortless win with her head on her chest. Her next test will be against the cream of the crop in the Coolmore Classic, where she will take a stack of beating.

EYE CATCHER: Wine Tales resumed after only having had one trial leading in and caught the eye hitting the line well after being hampered in the straight. She looks to have come up well.

THE BETTING: All First Seal here and backed to the exclusion of all others.

Opened up at $2.40 earlier in the week but that was quickly taken and she was crunched into $1.55 by start time. Held 76% of the money.

BIG BET: $5,000 @ $1.85, $5,000 @ $1.55 on First Seal

BIG BET: $3,000 @ $7.50 on Adrift

BIG BET: $2,000 @ $21 on Slightly Sweet

RACE 5: LIVERPOOL CITY CUP 1300m

1 IT’S SOMEWHAT Settled closer than midfield, saved ground on the turn and was strong late.

2 RUDY Sat midfield and kept hitting the line with a good first up performance.

3 GYPSY DIAMOND Well back near the tail and charged home hard out wide late.

THE IMPORT: Godolphin produced another astute tried European horse in It’s Somewhat who did a great job at his first Australian start winning impressively here. He could develop into a lightweight Doncaster Mile chance.

THE BEATEN BRIGADE: The Queenslander Rudy was good first up, Gypsy Diamond didn’t come up last preparation but produced a pleasing return here, while the highly touted Pornichet looked well but didn’t perform up to his best.

THE BETTING: Red Excitement was the one wanted by most punters in the lead-up to the race. It held 44% of the money on the fifth event. Those TAB customers that jumped on the $21 offered for It’s Somewhat earlier in the week were on very good terms with themselves, with the John O’Shea-trained galloper starting at $6.50. Thump also had backing and was $9 into $5.50.

It’s Somewhat could develop into a lightweight Doncaster chance. Picture: Simon Bullard

RACE 6: CHIPPING NORTON STAKES 1600m

1 CONTRIBUTER Sat three pairs back in a great trialling position, loomed on the turn and asserted his superiority.

2 HARTNELL Eased back from a wide draw and caught the eye charging home along the inside.

3 HE’S YOUR MAN Got across from his wide draw to park in a perfect spot and had his chance.

COMBINATION: The James McDonald and John O’Shea combination was really on show at Warwick Farm with Contributer being their third winner for the day, this time at Group 1 level. McDonald is in outstanding form and his confidence is sky high at the moment.

SYDNEY CUP: Another Godolphin import, Hartnell, really captured everyone’s attention with his second placing, while the other stayer Who Shot Thebarman has had a great preparation and is in great shape.

THE BETTING: Punters were all over Contributer in the Chipping Norton. TAB opened him up at $3.20 and he was subsequently smashed in betting, eventually jumping at $2.50. One of the many stars from the O’Shea stable, he was responsible for around 45% of all bets on the race.

BIG BET: $5,000 @ $3 on Contributer, $5,000 @ $5.50 on Lucia Valentina

RACE 7: GUY WALTER STAKES 1400m

1 DANESIRI Found a good spot midfield with cover and chimed in at the right time to win well.

2 COSMIC ENDEAVOUR Found a good spot just off the speed and has her foot on the till now.

3 MAHARA Settled worse than midfield and did a good job running on well late.

BACK IN BUSINESS: A winning feature double to top trainer John Thompson who deserves a huge pat on the back for building his stable back up after the demise of Paternak Farm. He is a terrific trainer.

READY NOW: Although it’s very strong in the filly and mares class at the moment, Cosmic Endeavour and Mahara are ready to peak at their next start and will be the ones to watch.

THE BETTING: Difficult race for punters to sort out with Arabian Gold ($7-$5.50) holding the most money. Cosmic Endeavour drifted from $4.40 to $5.50 before attracting good money late ($4.60), while Dear Demi ($11-$7.50) and Tarloshan ($14-$9.50) also had their admirers. Danesiri drifted from $21 to $26 before firming back late to $21.

Danesiri, right, chimed in at the right time to win.

RACE 8: CAL REI HCP 1200m

1 PRESS REPORT Eased back to find cover and savaged the line late to win well.

2 EARNEST ERNEST Settled well back along the inside, charged through and looked the winner but couldn’t hold off the challenge.

3 FLORAL INSIGHT Rolled along in front and stuck on well.

WELL PLACED: Press Report was beautifully placed on the limit weight and was very impressive winning here. She was eased back from a wide draw and was great chasing down the leader late in the race.

THE FAVOURITE: Le Cordon Bleu was solid in the market and was put in a perfect position by Tommy Berry but he disappointed in not finishing his race off.

THE BETTING: Market was reshuffled after Darciwood was scratched. Le Cordon Bleu was backed into $2.60 favourite with one TAB customer splashing out $5,000 @ $2.70. Earnest Ernest was $11-$7.50 and the second most popular, while Press Report was $6.50 into $4.60.

BIG BET: $5,000 @ $1.34 (place) on Le Cordon Bleu

Originally published as Warwick Farm with the Duff