Almanac Horseracing: Dunkeld Cup Day – Saturday, 15 November

 

The Carnival may be over at Flemington but its just cranking up in the Western District of Victoria with the running of the Dunkeld Cup tomorrow and seven days later the Penshurst Cup, two time honoured races in country Victoria.

 

Dunkeld racecourse, at the foot of the Grampians, is one of the most picturesque tracks in Australia, if not the World. It’s a tight turning track raced on once a year. The Club doesn’t host jumpouts or trials but will most likely host between 6,000 – 7,000 racegoers tomorrow. The crowd on course has been significantly higher in the past but the course infrastructure, most of which is brought in for the day, honestly struggles to cope with any bigger crowd.

 

The track is currently rated a Heavy 8 after recent rain in the region, but that will be improving with the current fine weather in area.

 

If you can’t get track side tomorrow, do yourself a favour and watch a race or two on Racing.com or Sky Racing.

 

Eight races will be run at Dunkeld, most with a full field of ten starters, and the highlight will be race 7 on the program the bet365 William Thomson Dunkeld Cup over 1800m. Barriers can be important at Dunkeld in view of the tightness of the course but even though he’s drawn wide and will carry topweight I’m tipping 1 Khoekhoe for Matt Cumani in the race. Khoekhoe likes to race on speed these days and comes off a last start first up win in the St Arnaud Cup over 2000m, where he carried 60kgs. He’s a city winner and in his early days looked a very smart horse but hasn’t lived up to his early potential. He’s a well performed country cups horse and the 1800m here should suit him well. He wins from 2 Le Zebra, another city winner, who comes out of the ‘greys’ race at Flemington on Oaks Day. Le Zebra has drawn well in barrier 2 and the step up to 1800m will also suit him. Trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne won the Dunkeld Cup last year with Rhinoceros and Will Gordon taking the ride here won’t hinder his chances. 3 Ocean Beyond will get back and need luck but has the class to be in the finish, whilst 6 Any Luck is always thereabouts in this class and 9 Kokoro ran second at Flemington over 2000m four starts back and comes here in winning form after taking out the Mt. Wycheproof Cup over 1800m last start.

 

1 Khoekhoe – 2 Le Zebra – 3 Ocean Beyond – 9 Kokoro

 

Other races on the day are pretty tough with everybody setting their horse to win at Dunkeld and add to their day out, but 7 Prophet’s Choice appeals each way in race 4.

 

Racing in Melbourne tomorrow is at Caulfield where the last Group 1 race of spring in Victoria, the Sportsbet C.F. Orr Stakes over 1400m, will be run. The race has drawn together a small but solid field, highlighted by Jimmysstar and Angel Capital, both of whom have come through The Everest over 1200m at Randwick. Jimmy has won since, whilst Angel Capital tuned up for the Orr Stakes with a trial at Rosehill. I think these two have the race between them, and against what is probably the popular opinion, I’m siding with 5 Angel Capital. Both horses have terrific records at the track and over the distance but to me Angel Capital is still untapped and really gets his chance to step up tomorrow. He was a good thing beaten in the Rupert Clarke Stakes over 1400m when last here two starts back.

 

My best roughie on the day is 14 Alzaro in race 9. 1 My Gladiola and 2 Inkaruna are the class horses in the race and whilst you can’t fault My Gladiola’s form, she has had a long preparation and barrier 1 may not be the best for her here. I’m siding with Inkaruna out of those two runners but 14 Alzaro won nicely at Horsham before having absolutely no luck at all at Flemington on Oaks Day behind Point Barrow and Inkaruna down the straight over 1100m. The stable backing her up here at Group 3 level may be a throw at the stumps but it suggests she’s taken no harm from the run on Oaks Day, and I’m happy to have a little each way her at big odds.

 

 

Gamble Responsibly. Chances are you’re about to lose.

 

 

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