Almanac Horseracing – Sal’s Preview: Living Legends Day at Flemington

Greetings All,

 

One week closer to footy and the governments are weakening.  Queensland borders are closed for everyone – except for AFL teams.  Then the SA government have given special approval to play a showdown in Adelaide before they head north.  They might as well play it on Mars with no crowds.

 

Racing this week in Melbourne is Living Legends day with races dedicated to the past champs who are seeing out their days at Living Legends.  The wet weather will give us a heavy track, hopefully it still gives everyone a chance win.

 

 

Race 1 – Rogan Josh (2500m, HCP, BM84)

A handy stayer Rogan Josh, was 250/1 when markets opened for the 1999 Melbourne Cup.  Won the McKinnon and started 6/1 second pick in The Big One and delivered JB Cummings 11^th winner.  Not quite at Bart’s legendary status, but plenty are following PG Moody’s return to the training ranks.  He has his first runner back in town and I reckon a real chance to open his account straight away with Sheppard (7).  Ran away from them on heavy track at Ballarat, L Nolen does need to negotiate a tricky draw.  Biggest threats from Starcaster (6) who has beaten him before and Yonkers (4) scratched from Sydney to run here.  Sasko (2) has terrific heavy track stats.

 

Race 2 – Tom Melbourne (1400m, 2yo, SWP)

Naming a race after Tom Melbourne, probably means second place should get better prize money!  Reckon that Khoekhoe (1) will take the winners loot, terrific win at Caulfield needs to get through the conditions.  Indictment (4) was backed in Adelaide but could not make ground on a leader biased track.  Being a 2yo race anything could happen in these conditions.

 

Race 3 – Redkirk Warrior (1400m, 3yo Fillies HCP, BM78)

The Warrior got to the Hayes operation from England via Hong Kong – stamped his quality quickly in Australia with his ultimate achievement being back-to-back Newmarkets.  An Open affair so not much confidence here.  Kuramae (2) is undefeated over the journey and beat the boys last time.  La Chevalee (8) is proven in the conditions, Wild Vixen (4) won a stronger race in Adelaide last start, Debt ‘n Deficit (5) destroyed our Quaddie last week and is very consistent.

 

Race 4 – Almandin (1100m, HCP, BM78)

Imported from Germany Almandin won the 2016 Melbourne Cup in a battle all the way down the straight with Heartbreak City.  Team Williams beat the handicapper getting him in the race on a light weight, something they repeated with Rekindling the following year.  Alfa Oro (12) is promising but has come up a very short priced favourite.  Reckon there might be more value in a couple of others.  Montenegro Man (11) sees the Kavanagh-Rodd combination back together after a number of years, he goes well down the straight.  Ruban Bleu (8) is the other gets a couple of kg off with Lachie King and has win on the heavy.  Sagarra (9) also comes into consideration with the claim and conditions.

 

Race 5 – Efficient (2000m, 3yo HCP)

Efficient won five on the trot as a 3yo concluding with the 2006 VRC Derby, only won two more races both Group One – a Melbourne Cup and Turnbull Stakes!  Tooradin (5) looks well suited here, meeting his conqueror Hezafox (4) at a considerable weight advantage.  The blue army have Kusari (2) the 3kg claim suits him.  November Dreaming (11) would seem an appropriate name for a horse in this race and could improve from last week.

 

Race 6 – Straight Six (1200m, HCP, Listed)

The feature of the day is the charge down six furlongs and Milwaukee (7) enjoys not going round a bend with the extra 200m is in his favour.  Great Again (5) has never seen the heavy but is 6 from 8 in soft going and runner up the other two, a step up here but Lindsay Smith is placing them well.  Miss Ianno (10) loves the sting out and could be favoured with the outside draw and Haunted (6) the pick of the insiders.  Doesn’t end there – good race!

 

Race 7 – Brew (1800m, HCP, BM84)

By Sir Tristram out of Horlicks, Brew could not have been better named.  One of my favourite cup winners backed him in September, kicked off the career for KMac!  The Duke is back!  Duke of Plumpton (15) gets the right conditions and is right up to this given a fair track.  Nobu (2) was not hopeless in the heavy last start, Aussie Nugget (10) looks well in and no reason why Supre (11) could not bob up again.

 

Race 8 – Apache Cat (1600m, HCP)

Not sure any of these will be the Punter’s Pal that this race was named after, however Shot of Irish (13) could get close if the tracks stay heavy through the winter months.  Takes a step up in class but they will have to catch him.  Best chances to do that are Pacodali (1) and So Si Bon (2) they both have big imposts.  The German import Django Freeman (5) might just be better than this lot but has not seen a wet track.

 

Race 9 – Living Legends (1100m, 3yo HCP)

Just what we love a raffle down the straight to close out the quaddie!  Can see it in the stars that The Astrologist (11) can get us home thinking the outside will be the place to be.  Can’t be Done (7) could do it drawn wide; J Mott engaged has a great affinity with him.  On the inside Mockery (10) and Sovereign Legend (3) look over the odds for mine.

 

Quaddie Time

Leg 1 – 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 13

Leg 2 – 2, 10, 11, 15

Leg 3 – 1, 2, 5, 13

Leg 4 – 7, 11

 

Around the country

The main racing moves to Brisbane with a couple group 2 and 3 races to warm the carnival up.  Race 6 for the babies has two well performed Queenslanders in Rothfire (BR6, #1) and Isotope (BR6, #7) at short prices, I am wary that Snowden, Waller and Cummings are all taking them on.  Kinane (BR7, #5) will be short but should be winning against this lot.  Good field in the Victory Stakes with Deep Image (BR8, #11) to go one better and win this.

 

Randwick is the venue in Sydney and a couple of favourites to go with are Overlord (SR1, #7), scratched from Brisbane for this not sure I’d be taking less than $3 though.  Then onto Coruscate (SR5, #3) returning to Sydney from a solid campaign in Melbourne.  Then in the file event on an each-way basis with Jay Jay D’ar (SR9, #12), JMac on board a plus don’t want it too wet.

 

While Adelaide has gone right off radar with the meeting at Murray Bridge a couple of interest there in Sidekick (AR4, #1) A Freedman charges go well when they travel.  Then in the penultimate The Baron goes on Debt Collector (AR8, #11), if they can swoop, he can win.

 

Good Luck,

 

Cheers, Sal

 

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help keep things ticking over please consider making your own contribution.

Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE
One-off financial contribution – CLICK HERE
Regular financial contribution (monthly EFT) – CLICK HERE