As Rick McIntosh proved again during the Steeple at Casterton last Sunday, you can’t just keep ratcheting up the hype – it becomes unsustainable.
Maybe it is partly that I mightn’t even go to the Valley this week, but I reckon it is a Saturday without much to promote (other than backing a winner of course!).
You couldn’t possibly get excited by the Melbourne metrop option – although, for spectators, Moonee Ponds’ little bowl offers excellent winter viewing and facilities – as this transferred Sandown card is a dog’s breakfast with cats on the menu. RVL have endorsed 3x40k Benchmarks to delight the empty stands on a drizzly arvo and, to hide any “accidental embarrassment”, reprogrammed the once prestigious, and still $100k each, feature jumps to accompany a day of 17k humdrum the following day at Ballarat.
Usually you can cast your eye wider but even Brisbane’s offerings, though clearly the nation’s best, are a hiatus between the 10,000 card and the upcoming Straddy Day.
Doubtless, though, it is to Doomben that most punters will send their dough and the options, admittedly, aren’t bad. It is black type all day, but most of these have lost my trust.
I’d consider kicking off in the 3rd where I reckon the toppy, Banca Mo, is OK value at Ladbrokes’ Thursday morning $9.5.
I’ve noted before that the middle distance/stayers don’t excite me at all and the G2 $250k Eagle Farm Cup reinforces my stance. This mob are picking up amazing money too regularly for their talent. No bet.
The QTC Cup (BR5, 1200m, Quality, GH2) is a bit more interesting (but still unlikely to lure me to the tote). Whilst Kuro, Ball Of Muscle and That’s A Good Idea justifiably battle for punters’ favour, much interest will surround the performance of El Roca, a colt which is now in danger of losing the shiny lustre which accompanied his emergence last season.
No doubt that the greatest profile for the weekend will go to Winx, fav in the main race, the Oaks (BR7, 2200m, 3yoF, SW, G1!) following her extraordinary win at the Sunny Coast. This track is trickier but she’s always been rated highly and the logical danger has drawn the carpark. Predictably, Bossy’s middle-pinner (11, Sebrina) from a sweet gate has attracted the E/W speculators.
But it is a bit of a “gap week” and I’m happy to cuddle my coin and wait…and dream of fields afar.
This week the Australian “northern migration” reaches Adelaide River but their $20,000 Cup has just the 5 runners as most trainers are looking further up the road at the impending Darwin Carnival.
Given my “druthers” I’d be heading a long way north of there – to Sweden for the famous elitloppet weekend, arguably the finest Carnival for Trotters in the world. A friend who has been to plenty of the best racing options has this right at the top. It would be great to find out for myself.
Anyone got any tales of European trots?…we went to the Vienna track years ago and, just recently, a mate was telling me of his experiences at an obscure venue in France.
Winter whimsy!
As usual, though, any anecdotes or tips welcomed to help fund my escape from winter’s woes.
Good luck!
You just wonder with all of those overseas meetings available to bet on at the TAB if anyone even bets on those outside of NZ and Hong Kong?
I’m with you Crio on the QTC cup, just to add insult to injury, of the 7 runners 5 are Waller trained.
Kingdom of Dreams in MR7 comes off 2 duck eggs, but did a power of work last start, 3 deep from the gate from the tough HQ 7 furlong, boxed on really well.
Gets the good draw here and has Valley form.
Also how about Bowman last week in the 10000, had Generalife, 3 deep at best 4 deep at worst and gets nutted a half head by Schofield who saved ground on Boban
Bowman’s ride on Generalife was topped by the great K McEvoy on Bring me the Maid. Had the back of the thing that was going to sit behind the leader. They slowed, McEvoy flinched and he was back to third last. Bring me the Maid wasn’t going to win but should have finished very close to the three place getters. Shouldn’t be $26 in the Stradbroke … Well it probably should be if K McEvoy is aboard. And yes I backed Genealife and Bring Me the Maid.
Cylinder Beach was the run of the day last week at Doomben and is/was $26 to win the JJ Atkins next weekend.
Muz…particularly if the track is soft. Really looking for the soft with Bring Me The Maid. Also is still currently 23 in order of entry and remembering there are only 16 runners this year being at Doomben, so does need a few more to drop off to get a run. Nothing worse than doing your money “cold”.
There is a lot to like about the locals going round at Morphettville tomorrow so I will be taking more than an interest. My star jock in Victoria Yendall always gets a longshot or two in a winter city meet so I will pay some attention to his mounts.
Strath was called off last Sunday letting me save some punting cash
Mick-the owner of a cafe here loves the Irish gallops and will have a go at France too .he follows certain Irish trainers(he’s an Irishman himself)
I’m off to Ballarat on Sunday. I envisage at the very best it will be a Heavy 8. Does anybody have any ‘hot’ tips for this meeting ?
Glen!
Crio, couldn’t agree mare with the Eagle Farm Cup (ironically at Doomben this year)….prizemoney way above the class (or lack there of) that has presented itself. You could run that race 6 times and get 6 different results I reckon. The club may well be lucky that C Waller turned up or the event may not have happened at all.
As for the rest of the meeting, hard to get enthused there either. I’ve had something on Farewell at $17 in race 6, has trialled very well and goes well fresh.
In the Oaks, I’m not yet convinced Winx is really looking for this trip. Looked too “brilliant” the other day at Caloundra to be a horse looking for 2200, and didn’t really seem to the run the trip in the AJC Oaks. Looked to have had enough midway down the straight, and from the gate won’t exactly get any favours. That said I’ve had something on a couple of roughies, Zarzali looks great value ($19) and Yulong Baby a knockout hope at $61.
In Adel race 8 I thought there was a little value with El Prado Gold at $13, trialled well and goes well fresh.
Good luck to all.
I already feel like I’ve won.
Malthouse – gone
The Kok beats Tomic
All those FIFA guys arrested
Pretty ordinary everywhere tomorrow but will still be having a go. I’m on board El Roca tomorrow, raced very fresh last time and given no hope so I reckon a big improvement is on the cards. I also want to lay Winks in the Oaks, it’s a lot harder at this track to sit last and just make 1 big run, Ungrateful Ellen was huge in Adelaide last run against an inferiour field but maybe Williams now knows that 3 deep no cover isn’t the way to ride her and she’s a real hope with a reasonable run.
In Adelaide I like I Am The General in the 5th and give Mr Good Cat a first up chance in race 8 if they look like they can run on and win as there is a lot of speed and a few of those may get caught wide.
The only one I will back at MV is London Stripe in the 6th after a torrid run last time out.
I feel for everyone who backed anything on the fence in the 10,000 last week as I did, they all got knocked out of the race down the side when things slowed.
Jock, they were quoting 5/4 for Winx last night. Currently need to give 6/4 to lay on the exchange. The problem is that there might not be much depth. Value could be in the Footscray colours – big run in SA Oaks.
Who gave the London Stripe push a couple of weeks back?
Crio…I gave the push for London Stripe, poor ride though. It has been ridden far too cold this prep however they will have no choice but to use their gate at the Valley today and does race much better closer to the lead, just grinds away. I took $26 for today but is D-Day!
sacked!
Good luck at Ballarat Glen. Track’s OK (5)
Quaddy starts with a Hurdle, then a Maiden, then a 3000m BM!!!