Greetings All,
So, it’s quiet on the footy front and we enjoyed a full fixture of Shield Cricket with plenty of the Australian squad in action. In a positive for the game the back pages are now riddled with discussion of who will be the new Australian opening batter to accompany Usman Khawaja, of equal if not more importance who will replace Cameron Green? Was good to see no-one took Davy’s bait with his offer to return, the selectors should also resist the temptation to go back to the ‘Tried and Failed’ trio of Harris, Renshaw or Bancroft. Would love to see the selectors bite the bullet and play the teenager Sam Konstas but would not be aggrieved should they shuffle the order and play Nathan McSweeney. As for the all-rounder position it is critical that they can get 10-15 quality overs per day out of them. It is an aging attack that will need relief at various times through the series. Hopefully either Aaron Hardie or Beau Webster has what it takes to step into those huge shoes!
As for racing the circus moves on to Moonee Valley this week after the Caulfield Carnival. A memorable carnival highlighted by Harry Coffey winning the Caulfield Cup on Duke de Sessa, it exposed so many more people to Harry’s story. To be competing at the highest level while suffering from Cystic Fibrosis is amazing. He is a wonderful ambassador for the sport and does a fantastic job with the charities he is involved in. What we won’t be doing is talking too much notice of the form from those meetings where the track on both main days favoured on pace runners so plenty of mulligans to be given to the backmarkers.
What will we get at Moonee Valley where they will run 18 races over 24 hours with the feature being Race 17. At this stage the weather looks kind so we would expect a fair surface on both Friday Night and Saturday Afternoon.
Friday night features the Moonee Valley Gold Cup where most runners will be on trial for the Melbourne Cup. This race in 2022 was the last race Francesco Guardi (R7, #5) won, he went amiss and never made it to the Melbourne Cup. He gets out to a suitable distance for the first time this campaign and looks well placed here.
Saturday is another marathon ten race program with several important group races supporting the main event, the WS Cox Plate. It opens with a sprint where Katsu (R1, #2) and Frilled (R1, #9) are the favoured runners, the inside draw should favour Katsu (R1, #2) but reckon the 5kg pull in the weights makes Frilled (R1, #9) the pick. B Shinn is back on board Bosustow (R2, #3) in the Red Anchor, he rode him to a valiant second here two starts back against a good one, reckon he can measure up here. Will be looking also for any market lead on Wolfgang (R2, #4) returning after the unkindest cut of all, certainly showed talent early. The best of Eneeza (R3, #1) wins the Crockett and a fair price is available, however Savagery Vibe (R3, #8) beat her home last start and gets a 1½ kg advantage. The engagement of M Zahra will give her every chance.
The Fillies Classic is the fourth on the cards with a few new contenders on the block. C Maher pulled off the feat in the Geelong Classic on Wednesday with a lightly raced colt, Shockletz (R4, #6) might repeat the dose here at odds. The wide draw of some concern. Kingswood (R5, #4) drove away from the field in the Coongy, the JRA Cup looks a good destination. The three-year-olds on trial for the Derby step out in the Vase. Red Aces (R6, #2) was well supported last week before being scratched at the barriers, may have been a blessing given the nature of the track and this a better opportunity. Firm Agreement (R6, #3) is a dual acceptor here and in the Spring Champion in Sydney, will be a good chance if they agree to run here.
The McEwen has been moved to this meeting to replace the Manikato, they might not be the very best sprinters, but it is a very competitive field. Going for the outsider of the field here in Talbragar (R7, #6) which probably means they all have chance. He is a lightly raced 7yo only having 13th start, importantly he has crack 1st up record and set for this. Plenty in the quaddie! It will be similar in the Chrystal Mile where Nugget (R7, #4) is the pick in a wide-open affair.
Moonee Valley – Race 9 – WS Cox Plate (G1, 2040m, WFA)
She is not the favourite but everything about this race revolves around Pride of Jenni (6). The opposition are not likely to allow her to romp away as she did in the Lizzie, so the question will be who can stay in touch and who can do the donkey work to lead them up? As an unabashed fan I don’t think they can but am certainly concerned about the quick back up off the soft track last week. The Japanese horse Prognosis (2) must be a chance, second to Romantic Warrior is very good form. Can be tardy away which can be lethal in this event. There must be some concern about Via Sistina (7) after her mishap on Tuesday, trusting CJW to make the right decision. Buckaroo was outstanding last week, and she only just went down to him in the Turnbull. The colts Broadsiding (8) and Evaporate (9) must be chances given the record of three year olds in this race, favour the former who was always targeting this race while the Hayes team made a last minute call on the Valley specialist. Mr Brightside (1) is doing just fine and must also be a chance after his close second last year, still to win over 2000m so a place at best here.
Selections – 6-7-2-8
Firestorm (R10, #6) looks well placed in the Tesio after competing at the top level in the Epsom, won’t be too many more in the quaddie but only to keep it trim.
Quaddie
Leg 1 – 2, 3, 5, 6, 8
Leg 2 – 1, 4, 7, 8, 11
Leg 3 – 2, 6, 7, 8
Leg 4 – 3, 5, 6
300 Combinations, a $30 investment will return 10% of the dividend
Go Jenni Go,
Cheers, Sal
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Good old Ashford Street runs around in the first. If he turns up, he’ll be in it.
Plenty of Ammo is an interesting runner in the eighth.
And I reckon I’ll be backing the three year old in the Cox Plate. Broadsiding laboured at Caulfield. I don’t like working up hills either.
By the way, Plenty of Ammo might be interesting, but I reckon I’ll be on Uncle Bryn at the double figure odds ($10?)