Almanac Racing – Moir/Epsom/Turnbull weekend treble

Experience has shown me that it is fruitless attempting to get a profile here for the crucial race meetings this weekend as, at least in Melbourne, media finds myriad ways to cover a single game and smother other possibilities.

So I’ll be (relatively) brief.

This Saturday it is precisely one month until the first Tuesday in November.

The beanies are quickly discarded for trilby/fascinator season and, before you know it, it’s all over and cricket’s the main game in town.

Therefore, if you’re going to be involved in the punt, you need to be tuned in now. Obviously I’d recommend getting to at least one of the terrific meetings at either Moonee Valley (Friday) or Flemington (Sunday), but at the very least catch some form and replays during your footy detox.

Here are some highlights to watch out for:

I’m anticipating a big (and raucous) crowd at the Valley where undoubtedly the highlight is the G1 Moir Stakes (MR7, 1000m, WFA, G1). Note that this old fav is now back to 1000m and isn’t it a ripper? They’ll fly. Buffering will have fans cheering but I’m more keen on Ball Of Muscle the place and hope the glamour fillies, Fontiton and Petits Filous, prove themselves at the top level. Can’t wait. The support card includes a G2 and G3 but is not top drawer.

Sunday’s meeting has more depth. It’ll be interesting to see if the attendance does justice to the meeting – Sundays just have never worked here but the VRC was snookered by the AFL scenario.

Highlights include seeing Chautauqua (likely $1.35) in the Gilgai (MR3, 1200m, SWP, G2) and, of course, the A-list stayers stepping out in the Turnbull (MR7, 2000m, SWP, G1). This is a fabulous race. I must admit my first impressions are that Happy Trails is fantastic value @$16. E/W forever. Very interesting that Ollie has preferred to ride Amralah for Lloyd Williams and these imports love the wide draw and expanses of HQ. Watch and re-watch this race for future reference.

As usual, the farcical situation for the weekend belongs to the Breeders’ Playground – Sydney races. Sadly, it’s the Epsom/Metrop on Saturday, a traditional banner day of our sport, and the old dual G1 jewels are a joke. The 150th edition of one of Australia’s greatest Handicaps, worth $1m, is reduced to a weight spread of 2kgs! The ailing Metrop once again “features” Junoob and Opinion! Arguably the most interesting race on the card is the Premiere (SR5, 1200m, WFA, G2) in which Terravista, Rebel Dane and others will present their credentials after Chautauqua presumably does same down the straight here.

 

Spend some of the public holiday enjoying the sunshine and studying the form. Tracks around the country should be good and racing keen. I’m doing the running treble of MV, Caulfield and Flemington and excited at the possibilities. A perfect time to punt.

Good luck!

Comments

  1. Peter Flynn says

    Thanks Crio,

    The Arc is the biggest race this weekend.

    Treve going for 3 in a row. Never been done before I think.

    The Derby winners, New Bay, Golden Horn and Old Mate Jack Hobbs right in it.

    Free Eagle (omen tip for Eagles fans) got poleaxed by Frankie at Leopardstown.

    Might be worth a speck.

    Ground firming.

  2. Cowshedend says

    Peter,
    Was keeping my eye on Longchamp to see if Arod was going around,(taken the early price it for the Cox), apparently Racing authorities here refused to let it out of Quarantine in England as it would not allow it enough time to be cleared to come over for the Cox.

  3. Peter Flynn says

    Correct read Cowshedend.

    Ran a bottler at Goodwood over a mile.

  4. There’s a few interesting bush races this weekend, with Wagga and Murtoa among the locations holding meetings. The one that i’m most interested in, far more so than the footy is Gunbower on Saturday. It’s on the bucket list for future reference.

    Glen!

  5. Boy, what a weekend of sport, Valley Fri night, Syd races and AFL GF Sat then Turnbull Stks day Sun followed by the League GF, and apparently inbetween we have some Would Cup and Union as well. Oh my goodness, what to do???
    Well firstly, fully stock the fridge with beer and pantry with food, have all takeaway menu’s on top of the sports TV guide next to the mobile and be sure to keep all curtains drawn and lights off so there are no interruptions. Well, there will be at least 2 interruptions for me, the live “entertainment” being Screaming Jimmy for the League and Bryan Adams (Yes Bryan, not Ryan) for the AFL. What an opportune time to double check my investments on the races (and place the earplugs in so not to cause brain damage).

    On the punting side, very few likes this week…

    Sat…Syd…
    Craven Plate…not convinced Complacent and very short, hard to find one to beat it so sitting on fence there.
    Epsom…turned into a set weights/penalties race…although they are both classy, couldn’t back the girls, think Kirramosa and Sweynesse ($17 and $19) are clearly the value in the race, with a very small stake on Teronado ($101), only because he will clearly improve back on top of the ground.
    The Flight is probably a no bet race for me but only two I could contemplate value wise would be Sempre Libera or Flamboyant Lass.
    Still a lot of work to do on the Turnbull meeting, but what a cracker the Turnbull has turned out to be, and if you can find the winner of that race or the Moir, please let me know!!

  6. Agree with you Higgo about the Epsom. Great start to the long weekend here, watching Links golf and browsing the formguide

  7. I notice one of my faves, Sweet Emily’, is running tonight at the Valley. after recent unplaced runs in Group races It’d be nice to see her salute tonight.

    Friends have Coram running at Benalla this arvo. I’m curious how it goes.

    Glen!

  8. terrific meeting at the valley to start off the weekend and I’m keen on a few, hopefully to provide a bank for Sunday.
    race 2-Mighty Like should have them covered assuming he jumps with the field this time
    race 3 good roughie Ungrateful Ellen should have won first up and is good second up, maybe improved a lot over her break
    Race 5 no bet but will keep a close ( Derby potential?) eye on Collaborate
    Race 6 Awesome Rock it’s either now or never again
    Race 7 going rough-Griante to run them down off a soft run
    Race 8 probably Galaxy pegasus but Running Bull a chance if they go back and try to swoop.

    Might back Messene in the Epsom, I reckon that if Winx gets beaten it will only be by a horse who has a soft run near the front.

  9. Goes okay, Glen. Thanks for drawing our attention to it.

  10. Crio,

    I must need some meds. I didn’t even know they were going around at Flemington on Sunday. And the eagerly awaited Turnbull none the less. Bloody AFL screwing everything up. I have only budgeted for tonight and tomorrow so I am potentially in a world of trouble. How did this happen? Shame job.

    Anyway, I reckon Kuamon or Weinholt (not that I halt very often) will win the last, and hopefully give me some fun tickets for Sunday. Still can’t believe I have overseen Turnbull Stakes Day. GOD help me.

  11. I note that Wolf Blass has two runners at the Jamestown Cup meeting, Proud Eagle and Phoenix Eagle.

    Both, trained by Jim Smith, will be ridden by veteran David Tootell who recently rode a 60/1 winner at Murray Bridge which was trained by his son. Surely some sort of trivia record there.

    I guess if Wolf misses out at Jamestown he has Alpine Eagle as a back up at a place named Flemington the following day.
    In years gone by Wolf had an obsession with winning the Kangaroo Island Cup . Can’t remember if he eventually won one and/or has now decided to concentrate on Jamestown.

  12. Elvis, when did you start being concerned about a budget? Isn’t that something to do with renting a car?

  13. cowshedend says

    Eagles weekend , Alpine Eagle in the Turnbull, and West Coast (in spite of the handicapper forcing them to carry Josh Hill), to knock off the Hawthorn superrules team, and the moral of the weekend is Bruce self combusting every time Cyrrrrrrilll gets one of his 8 touches for the day!

  14. Our IVANHOWE becomes favourite for Melbourne Cup after impressive Bart Cummings win into Gust of Wind in the Turnbull

  15. Elvis….Turnbull Stks? Nah don’t worry, over rated set weights race really….nothing really comes of the runners in this 2nd rate race….maybe a Handicap later in October/early November somewhere ;-)
    Assume you enjoyed your trip, Kentucky Derby was it? It’s on my bucket list.

    On the footy front, I’m cheering for the Eagles and the Cowboys….think we have a temperature issue to take into account this year! Quite hot in both states, so look naturally better equipped to cope.

    Also interesting to note that the jock’s complained about “rock hard” track tonight. I wonder how Sunday will measure up after irrigating to the best of their ability?

  16. What about the old marvel Buffering? He showed those young ‘uns what Group Ones are all about. And Angelic Light was again the first female home. Great night at the Valley.

  17. Buffering is a marvel; top horse.

    I’m unsure how much Sweet Emily has in the tank. She ran a different race, not setting the pace, being just off the speed, lucky to snatch 3rd. Maybe a few more runs, then off to being a brood mare?

    A couple of handy runners, Leveraction and Tooleybuc Kid fronting up in Country Cups today. Shasp in Adelaide looks an option.

    Happy Punting,

    Glen!

  18. Flynny, after this weekend I’ve no hope of staying up for the Arc – could you give us a review please? Always a wonderful race. This year’s edition is potentially vintage.

  19. Agree with Budge on Our Ivanhowe but also look out for Cafe Society if it gets a better run, was 3 deep all the way at Caulfield with no cover and widest on the turn, a pretty good run and will improve.
    Royal Descent is best handicapped in the Turnbull, has a 112 rating, same as Happy Trails but gets 5.5 kg.
    If they can come from the back, beware October Date in the last, it’s very good and apparently aimed at the Toorak.

  20. Lots of forgive runs today.
    some of these horses will be sore as the track was very firm

  21. looks like there’s a comprehensive l’Arc coverage on TV – too late for me unfortunately.

  22. Peter Flynn says

    A superb Arc in Paris.

    16 Golden Horn (Frankie)

    1 Flintshire

    13 New Bay

    A peach of a ride from barrier 14. Settled on the speed after running in a straight line for about 2 furlongs from the wide barrier. Showed a superb turn of foot in the straight. Treve (4th) was brave but didn’t have the 2013-2014 kick. 4 Arcs for Frankie. Golden Horn may go to the Breeders Cup. Shame it won’t race on as a 4 yo.

    Frankie was loony after the race. Taking off Usain Bolt etc. Very excited and rightly so. Frankie’s renaissance.

  23. Paul Higgins says

    Whoosha Worsfold has taken the job at Essendon, he always was the dark horse for the job and the great news for the Bombers is he has indeed accepted the challenge!

  24. Flynny, that Breeders Cup might be a ripper if the American mare runs also. Saw the start of the coverage last night but it was a stubbie too far.

  25. Peter Flynn says

    Crio, get a look at the Prix de la Foret if you can.

    Make Believe beat a fast finishing Limato over 7f in wait for it.

    1:17:05

    Limato blundered the start and was one of the biggest runs I’ve ever seen.

    Great racing.

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