Must-watch racing: Five things you can’t miss this weekend

Exciting sprinter Marabi shooting for eight wins in a row is the highlight of the weekend. Here are five things to look forward to in racing.

Marabi is aiming for back-to-back Group 1 wins. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

The final Group 1 in Melbourne of the season, a potential match race in the Mornington Cup and an Australian Cup rematch in Sydney, here are five things I’m looking forward to this weekend.

1. THE VALLEY

The William Stakes meeting concludes the The Valley’s night racing season, with the feature race also the final Group 1 of the Melbourne autumn. Oakleigh Plate winner Marabi is the odds-on favourite to stretch her unbeaten record to eight wins. However, the William Reid has been a tough race for favourites with just two winners in the past 10 years – Sunlight (2019) and Black Caviar (2013) – while Hay List was rolled at $1.55 in 2012 and Bivouac jumped out at $2.10 when beaten three years ago. Although Marabi is four from four at 1200m, which includes the Group 2 Australia Stakes, she is taking on better credentialed sprinters. This is a great challenge for her but still think she wins. The other highlights are the Group 2 Sunline Stakes – where Flying Mascot and Barb Raider are both shooting for three wins in a row – and the Group 3 Alexandra Stakes is an interesting betting race.

2. PONDUS V CRYSTAL PEGASUS

The bookies aren’t giving much of an edge with either runner in early betting for the Mornington Cup. Pondus didn’t perform to expectations in the spring but was back to his best form, which included two Group 3 placings the previous spring, with a dominant win last Saturday at Flemington. Crystal Pegasus is the up-and-coming stayer who faces his toughest rival as he chases a fourth straight win.

Pondus gave the opposition a hiding last week at Flemington. Picture: Getty Images

3. DUAIS

The Australian Cup winner has a big task in front of her in the Tancred Stakes with Makybe Diva the only mare to win the double. However, Duais did beat Tancred rivals Think It Over and Spanish Mission emphatically in the Cup and a similar performance here will see her emerge as a Queen Elizabeth contender. The formguide shows she’s unplaced on heavy tracks but two starts back she was unlucky when 1½ lengths behind Verry Elleegant in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes on a H10.

4. GYPSY GODDESS

The unbeaten filly toyed with her rivals on resumption over the mile at Eagle Farm. If she wins the Group 1 Vinery Stakes at Rosehill she’ll have a firm grip on the Australian Oaks.

5. DUBAI WORLD CUP NIGHT

One of the most spectacular nights in racing, although Australian interest in the event has waned over the years. Still, the Dubai World Cup is the world’s second richest race at $US12m ($16.1m). Life Is Good, winner of the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes earlier this year, is the formidable favourite for the 26th running of the Cup and has drawn barrier one in the 11-horse field.

CHRIS VERNUCCIO’S BEST BETS (UPDATED)

PONDUS – Mornington R6 No.2

ANNAVISTO – Rosehill R5 No.7

MIDWEST – Mornington R3 No.2

Originally published as Must-watch racing: Five things you can’t miss this weekend