It is nowadays commonplace post-Carnivals to give Metropolitan status to a provincial venue, avoiding the City hangover and providing a stimulus for deserving Clubs.
TRSA have followed last Monday’s Adelaide Cup with a Saturday card at Oakbank. Unfortunately they are overcooking the goose there as, by familiarity, the iconic Easter venue is losing its magic – better, I’d reckon, to fixture this weekend at Gawler…on the northern suburban fringe and accessed easily by highway and railway.
The RVL have followed last season’s initiative by again supporting Bendigo’s outstanding “Golden” meeting, conceding to the weird reality that “Autumn” down here has finished (by the second week in March!). As a consequence, Moonee Valley holds an unusually good Alister Clark Stakes night on Friday (especially R7) and then the caravan can head up the Calder to the beautiful Bendigo racecourse where a rich, well balanced programme awaits those willing to get out of town for a day or the weekend….a big 2yo bonus race (2), Stayers (3), the Bracelet for Mares (4), $150k pots for Milers (7) and 3yos (8)…..this is as good a Saturday card as we’ll see down here for a while.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
I’d love to spend time highlighting Bendigo’s meeting but, in honesty, anyone with an interest in the highest quality of horses must turn their focus now, and for the next month, to Sydney, beginning with Randwick’s Guineas day this Saturday.
There’s so much here to look forward to, so I’ll offer some observations now and retire to the verandah with my “Post”!
Rather than run through the whole card, I’ll look at what I reckon are the four best on the 9 race programme:-
SR5- Challenge Stakes (1000m, WFA, G2).
Buffering returns looking to regain his premiere sprinter’s mantle and Snitzerland will be eyeballing him at a cracking pace. The rest of the field are not slouches either…Sessions, Bel Sprinter, Villa Verde, et al. Fantastic race.
SR6- Roy Higgins Tribute (1200m, Quality, G3)
Love that the weights have been raised half kg in Higgs’ memorial, with a 55 min! This is very open. Lilliburlero was impressive first up but now is pretty short and, from a tricky draw, no value. This race deserves some study as it could provide a dividend.
SR7- Randwick Guineas (1600m, 3yo, SW, G1)
I’m probably continuing my Cummings boycott. El Roca, very good, will be unders. 4,7,1.
SR8- Canterbury Stakes (1300m, WFA, G1)
What a ripper race. Zoustar 6/4. NotListenin’tome – little wonder they didn’t hesitate at the 6/4on poison we posted at the Heath!- 7/2. Red Tracer 4/1. Reckon the value is outside these 3. Even back in distance, Appearance, flying, seems overs. And Speediness @20/1 is the best blowout of the day. Do not leave it out of exotics.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
It has been an intense few months so my boss is taking a few weeks’ hiatus. I’m still keen to find another’s bag to swingand/or winners to supplement lost earnings. I’ll be at the Valley tomorrow night, most likely on the lawns with Budge, and then tuned to Randwick on my transistor while enjoying cricket finals at the mighty A G Gillon Oval on Saturday. Any tips or tales welcomed.
Good luck!
Appearance can’t do any more than it has. Only has to give the 3YOs 1 kg. Way overs and each way forever.
The Guineas is a cracker and only more intriguing given that Dissident, El Roca, Romantic Touch and Woodbine have drawn out. El Roca is also on the 7 day backup. Would be keen on Atlante but he had a tough run 1st up here behind Dissident and may be better next start. Savvy Nature appeals each way at odds.
Would love to see El Roca get up (great run last week but found one better) but it’s a lay this week.
Fantastic racing, anyone had a dip at the early quad?
Appearance is a bomb-proof mare. Hot race, but Each Way cert at 1300m with the clappers on, I reckon. They seem to be keeping her to the sprint trips this prep.
Everyone seems to have cooled off on Eurozone but I’m giving it another go. If it really did jar up last time, it got done a length and a half and the previous run was really good. With the Budge on Atlante second up, was such a good run last time but I think I’ll wait for the derby.
Any Bel Sprinter fans? unbeaten at 1000.
Bendigo Hai Lil, M Payne off M Rodd back on, say no more.
Appearance is some horse.
An even better mare, Skip, if my phone account/ circumstances had allowed me to get on.
How good was ‘Time For Julia’? Gun
Bummer, crio. $5.80 she paid. Crazy.
I had credit card issues last week after putting in the wrong PIN three times. Can’t complain, ended up saving me coin.
Appearance is the only result I have heard…9/2 is OK – I can cop that
I’m happy with my weekend on the punt. Didn’t get a chance to outlay many bets, but 3 eachways on the nags for 2 wins, combined with 3 footy bets, all of which won, made it a nice weekend. Very happy with the run of Lucky Symbol in Bendigo. Carried a big weight, first up, cantering to steady win, with plenty in reserve. Not a huge ammount of dollars won, though a good return. Next week the big one; Ardlethan !