Ray Thomas delivers your must-read guide to today race meetings
HE’S done the form and racing editor Ray Thomas gives you his best hopes, big bets and warnings for punters ahead of today’s races.
ROSEHILL GARDENS
Weather: Warm, partly cloudy day with a chance of showers later in the day with a forecast top temperature of 26c.
Track: Heavy (9)
Rail: 2m out
MOONEE VALLEY
Weather: Warm, partly cloudy day with the likelihood of showers in the afternoon with a forecast top temperature of 26c.
Track: Dead (4)
Rail: 5m out
BE WARY: After a week of consistent rain, it is no surprise Rosehill’s track surface is well into the heavy range. Finally some blue sky in Sydney this morning but the track is unlikely to improve much during the day.
The rail has been shifted out 2 today but I still expect jockeys to steer towards the centre of the track in the straight. At Moonee Valley, the rail is out 5m so hopefully this will provide an even racing surface but at recent meetings those hard up against the rail have been favoured.
ROSEHILL GARDENS
THE BEST BET: Mr Cha Cha (race 2) has showed promise in his three runs to date, winning his maiden on debut at Wyong then chasing home the very talented Fighting Sun in the Canonbury Stakes before his excellent second to Lucky Raquie in the Black Opal Stakes in Canberra.
He comes out of a strong form race last start with fifth placegetter Ghibellines winning the Todman Stakes last week. Mr Cha Cha endured a tough run in the Black Opal and was only just run down near the line.
Unknown in heavy going but handled the slow track well in the Canonbury Stakes. He’s an on-pace type which will be an advantage on a heavy track. The one to beat.
THE NEXT BEST: Opinion (race 1) produced a brilliant effort to run down Carlton House and win the Parramatta Cup on a slow track two starts back.
Carlton House then confirmed the formline when narrowly beaten by Silent Achiever in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes.
Opinion has had one start since the Parramatta Cup when beaten five lengths by Junoob in the Randwick City Stakes at Randwick. Back to his home track today and the heavy track conditions are his preferred racing surface.
With the scratching of Junoob, he does look a standout.
VALUE BET: Famous Seamus (race 6) ran very well first-up, finishing just over length behind Villa Verde and Snitzerland in the Challenge Stakes at Randwick.
He was unsuited by the weight-for-age conditions of that race but really hit the line well in an eye-catching return.
Talented, underrated sprinter who returns to handicap conditions and gets a heavy track which he enjoys.
This is a good Group 1 sprint but Famous Seamus has the ability to mix it at this level. He has outstanding second-up statistics and is great value at double-figure odds.
THE WHISPER: Epingle (race 9) comes to Sydney in outstanding form after dominating the Tasmanian summer carnival with wins in the Hobart Cup by three lengths before another comfortable win in the Launceston Cup.
Both of those wins were over 2400m and she drops back to 1900m today but she has had 31 days between runs so she is fresh for this race.
Very talented mare with excellent wet track form and significant to note one of her main rivals Diamond Drille has been scratched. Epingle is well weighted only 2.5kg over the limit and can win again.
MOONEE VALLEY
THE BEST BET: Signoff (race 3) is a rising star and the best of good things today. Sure, he is at almost unbackable odds around $1.50 but he just wins. Signoff has only had six starts for five wins and his last two efforts have been particularly impressive, scoring over 2040m here then absolutely romping home at Bendigo when he stepped up to 2400m.
Obviously the further he goes the better so 2500m is no issue today. A real staying find and already there is talk he could be a Melbourne Cup contender later this year. As I wrote earlier, he just wins.
NEXT BEST: May’s Dream (race 5) struck trouble at the 600m but ran on well for a good sixth behind Soosa Rama when resuming at Moonee Valley earlier this month. She won impressively second-up over 1400m at Caulfield last spring then trained on to run seconds in the Thousand Guineas and Wakeful Stakes.
Talented filly fitter now and despite taking on older mares here, she looks to have their measure. May’s Dream gets in well with the apprentice’s claims and she only needs even luck from her inside barrier to prove too good for this field.
VALUE BET: Street View (race 7) could not have been more impressive leading throughout and thrashing his rivals by more than three lengths in a Moonee Valley maiden over the 2040m course start. Emerging colt who won with real authority last start.
This is a stronger race and he has drawn awkwardly but I expect Street View will cross and lead and produce a similar effort to last time out. Promising colt and good value in an open race.
THE WHISPER: Bass Strait (race 6) indicated a return to winning form was imminent in the Bendigo Mile last start when he ranged up alongside Fat Al and Bel Thor but couldn’t quite bridge the gap finishing a close third.
He has been improved by three runs from a spell and the stable has always had an opinion of this galloper. Tough racer with the likes of Le Roi and Sweet As Bro definite dangers but Bass Strait is peaking now and just needs a little luck from his outside barrier to be right in the finish.
THE BIG MONEY
ROSEHILL GARDENS
In race 1, there has been good support on TAB Fixed Odds for Opinion including a wager of Opinion $1000 at $2.90 and The Offer with a bet of $2000 at $3.80.
Race 2, Kuro is $11 to $6.50 after a series of bets including $600 at $9.50.
Race 3, Aerobatics is $14 to $9.50, Avoid Lightning $6.50 to $4.20, Plucky Belle $12 into $5 while there has been support for Single Style who is $8 to $3.80 after bets of $500 at $8, $1000 at $7.50, $900 at $7 and $600 at $6.50, while Shahad is $14 to $9.50 after a bet of $400 at $11.
Race 4, Peggy Jean is $8 to $7 after a bet of $500 each way at $7.50/$2.62, Clifton Red is $15 to $13 after bets of $625 and $400 at $15, Bring Me The Maid is $11 to $7 after bets of $400 at $11 and $450 at $9.50, Lady Sharapova is $8 to $7 after a $1000 wager at $8.
Race 5, Sidestep is $6 to $5.50 after bets of $1000 and $800 at $6, Havana is $8 to $7 after a $700 wager at $8, and Northern Glory is $11 to $9 after a $400 wager at $11.
Race 6, Famous Seamus is $13 to $9.50 after a $400 bet at $11, Rain Affair is a big firmer $9 to $6 after bets of $1200 at $8.50 and $1000 at $8, Temple Of Boom is $11 to $8.50 after a bet of $400 each way at $11/$3.42, See The World is $26 to $11 after a $600 wager at $21.
Race 7, Sacred Falls is $13 to $7.50 after bets of $1150 and $520 at $9.50, $500 at $9 and $500 at $8, Speediness is $31 to $18 after bets of $700 at $26, $500 each way at $21/$5.57, Fat Al is $51 to $41 after a bet of $500 each way at $51/$12.42, Lidari is $35 to $31 after a $500 each way bet at $35/$8.77, Tres Blue is $51 to $26 after a $1200 bet at $35, Red Tracer is $3.80 to $2.90 after bets of $1200 at $3.80, $2000 and $1000 at $3.60, $1200 and $1000 at $3.40, $3400, $1500 and $1000 at $3.20 and $3000 at $3, Streama is $26 to $11 after bets of $630/$370 at $15/$4.20, $600 at $12 and $500 at $11,
Race 8, Shamus Award is $8.50 to $7 with a bet of $500 at $7, Puccini is $4.80 to $4.60, Teronado is $7.50 to $7 after bets of $500 at $7.50, $1000 each way at $7.50/$2.62 and $600 at $7.
Race 9, Scorpio Queen is $6 to $4.80 after bets of $1600 and $1055 at $5.
MOONEE VALLEY
Race 1, Ms Mazetti is $4.80 to $4 after a bet of $2000/$500 at $4.20/$1.67.
Race 2, Octavia is $12 to $7.50 after a bet of $1000 at $12, Siwa Lady is $10 to $7.50 after bets of $500 at $10 and $500 at $9.
Race 3, Signoff is $1.45 to $1.40 after big bets of $5000, $1360 and $1000 [thrice] at $1.45, $2500 and $1300 at $1.40,
Race 4, Just A Bullet is $8.50 to $6.50 after (bets of $400 at $8.50 and $500 at $6.50, Hill Spy is $4.80 to $4.60 after bets of $1500/$500 at $4.60/$1.87.
Race 5, May’s Dream is $3.60 to $3.50 after a bet of $1000 at $3.60, Double Dee is $6 to $4.40 after bets of $600 at $6 and $1500 at $4.80.
Race 6, Banca Mo is $6 to $5.50 after a bet of $600 at $6, Shoreham is $21 to $15 after a bet of $1000 each way at $21/$5.70, Bass Strait is $7 to $6 after a $500 wager at $7, Sweet As Bro is $6 to $3.80 after bets of $600 at $5 and $1250 at $4.20.
Race 7, Bardem is $5 to $4.40 after a bet of $1000 at $4.60, Race 8, Generalife is $7 to $6 after a bet of $500 at $7.
INTERSTATE
Doomben race 3: More Than Money
Doomben race 7: Benny’s Buttons
Morphettville race 1: Choose
Morphettville race 7: Angels Beach
PROVINCIALS
Newcastle race 7: Magnator
Newcastle race 8: Ressurect
#Good luck today and I hope you back plenty of winners.
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