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Almanac Racing: Extra Zero nears the ton

After Weir’s wonderful week at Warrnambool, Victorian racing staggers back to headquarters for a nine-race meeting tomorrow.

 

Extra Zero goes around in the first race at Flemington as an outside chance in his 99th start. With just six wins to his name, including one over the jumps, Extra Zero has won nearly $2m in prizemoney. He was beaten a length by Monaco Consul in the 2009 VRC Derby and a lip by Spillway in the 2015 Australian Cup. With that form, I expect him to be far too good tomorrow. Only kidding, but now ten years of age he still holds his own in town today. I hope that his 100th start is celebrated widely, for he is the most versatile and consistently competitive horse I have seen.

 

The gigantic crowd will probably desert the course after seeing Extra Zero, but there are some competitive races to perhaps persuade some to hang around.

 

De Little Engine in race two gets perhaps his best look at a first win since 2015, but might be a bit too short to back. Zasorceress will run as hot favourite in race six and is probably the safest bet of the day.

 

Clinton McDonald has Good Therapy running in the seventh race and it represents good value at around $31. It broke its maiden three starts ago with a dominant win at Stony Creek and has won again since then. I’ve heard that Stony Creek form tends to hold up relatively well at Flemington, so it might be worth having a minor dabble on.

 

Morphettville tomorrow hosts one of its best meetings for the year, with a pair of Group 1 races headlining the card. The Australasian Oaks has a bit of depth this year, with Kenedna, Egg Tart and Toffee Nose the three main chances. John Allen will ride likely favourite Kenedna just days after steering Regina Coeli to victory in the Grand Annual over 5500 metres. If he were to win it would bring deserved attention to this remarkable jockey.

 

The Robert Sangster Stakes, over 1200 metres, promises to be a fantastic race, and will be the first $1m race held in South Australia. Viddora is now third-up and won impressively at the track a fortnight ago so it’s my value selection. There’s several classy horses that will be more fancied, including Sheidel, to be ridden by Joao Moreira in another coup for the SAJC.

 

I think Moreira will win the fourth race aboard Faatinah, and Ashlor can give Ken’s Dream a run for its money in the lucky last.

 

Share your thoughts on this weekend’s racing and good luck if you’re having a flutter.

About Tom Riordan

Tom Riordan is in his second year of a Bachelor of Journalism at Swinburne University. He loves all sports, and plays for Brunswick Cricket Club. He supports the Western Bulldogs and can be found on weekends among half a dozen others in Q38 on the top level of the MCC.

Comments

  1. Rather than add an “extra zero” to his formline, Extra Zero’s last run indicates he’s still going OK.
    Another longtooth, Le Bonsir, resumes during the day in a weak race …on a weak day.

  2. I’m very keen on Sort After in the 5th in Adelaide back on a dry track and Casino Wizard EW in the 4th-it needs some speed on and should get it.
    Good luck

  3. There’s also the big Gold Coast meeting today – Hollindale Stakes; PM Cup; Guineas) kicking off with the 900m Bat Out Of Hell. Other races include the Silk Stocking and the Ken Russell Memorial. Worth a peek.

  4. Kentucky Derby on @0900 this morning (Sunday)

  5. Speaking of ‘oldies’ it was good seeing Riziz breaking the 1m$ mark last week. It was his second win in a row after a long barren period. He’d been a good horse for me, though a few times I felt he should be retired gracefully. However Ken Sweeney is the trainer, because he knows more about horse than i do. Placed every start in this prep including these two wins. The Goodwood is the next. Let’s see how the old fella goes.

    Glen!

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