Last Saturday’s Sandown washout has caused fixturing havoc – the relevant repercussion for this week being a 10 race card at Flemington as owners and trainers clamour to gain a run. It is, alas, a triumph for quantity over quality though, thankfully, some winter staples such as heats for the Winter Championships, the All-Victorian Sprint Series, the Leilani and the Banjo Paterson continue to offer healthy stakes and competitive fields for the stakeholders. The (Listed) Creswick Stakes is nominally the main event but it’s scheduling for 12.45 is a fair indicator of its actual importance.
MR Quaddy possibilities: 1,3,9/6,maybe2/2,6,9/6
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Again, the good horses and major players will look to Brisbane and especially the time-honoured Stradbroke Handicap, the feature of another rich day of racing at Eagle Farm.
With no time to do any form I’ll introduce the main races and chances and trust others to weigh in with the “good oil”. Keep in mind that forecast showers should keep the track in the Dead range.
Four Listed races act as warm ups to the first Group classification, the Dane Ripper (BR5, 1400m, F&M, G2). As with much of the programme this is a raffle with big fields and divergent formlines making it likely to be a bookies’ day. The top fancies (1+4) have drawn the carpark. Please don’t let me back Soft Sand again. Maybe Quidnunc (10) at 20/1?
The Quaddy starts with the JJ Atkins – formerly the TJ Smith – for 2 yr olds (BR6, 1600m, G1). As happens so often north of the Murray, Gai has the hot fav, Romantic Touch (7), whilst Chris Waller provides the main opposition, the unbeaten Zoustar (1).
Next is the Derby (BR7, 3yo, 2400m, G1) in which boom Kiwi, Survived (4) looks a risk. I’d rather the top pair.
As usual, the “Straddy” is a beauty. You can make a case for most. Fontelina (15) @16/1.
The Cup finishes the day (BR9, 2400m, G2). Quintessential (4)?
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My “picnics” focus this week is on Mallawa, 80kms inland of Moree. Small fields but a wonderful setting and rich history. The horses are modest even by picnic standards – No.8 in the last has a rating of 29!
Read this: http://moreepicnicraces.com.au/images/GTmedia008.pdf
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As always, there’s plenty to discuss in the racing world.
Share your thoughts.
Good luck!
G’day Crio, we’re off to Corowa for Saturdays non-TAB meeting. It’s a 5 race card, though last years Queens Birthday meeting had 6 races. Unsure if i can read anything into that .
Happy Punting,
Glen!
Glen- good luck at Corowa- a great place that’s on my bucket list of race meetings
Get on Jocks Adelaide tips ( hes running hot lately) as I have baby sitting and birthday duties this week in Melbourne so sadly no races or time for form like Crio
Crio- the closest we have to picnics in SA apart from Oakbank are Quorn, Hawker maybe Jamestown and the standout Mindarie Halidon which you and Jock will have been to
Oges, there’s a TAB meeting in Corowa, first Monday in July. Pop over, and in the mean time, Happy Punting !!!
Glen!
Crio,
After Soft Sand salutes remember to plonk all the winning onto Yosei a little later.
In all seriousness I think that Shamardashing wasn’t a bad run last time for his crack at the last.
The Straddy is always a great Handicap. Can’t resist having a try.
Tough day everywhere.
In Adelaide I think Rhiagrand has a very good hope in the 7th because it will get a soft run in a race where most runners get back. Warator is a good chance at odds in the 3rd.
At Flemington I really like Utah Saints in the 8th because I think it will just go forward from a wide barrier and get a great run, also think Belfast Boy is great odds in the 7th because it loves the straight track and soft ground is fine and I’ll be backing La Tika Rose in the Creswick.
I’m ignoring Sydney as usual but I’ll be on Perfectly Stunning in Brissy Race 5 at good odds, I’ll give the Straddy a miss but if the blinkers help Linton I reckon it’s a great hope. I’m interested in the Brissy cup only because it’s a disgrace they stepped back to 2400 but I think Midsummer Sun deserves another chance.
For all Glenelg supporters, they play North on Monday at the Bay and they’re celebrating the anniversary of the 73 premiership that a few of us will remember, hope they get a win against the odds.
Thanks for reminding me of another nightmare loss to the bays jock.
Hopefully we can spoil the party this time
Oges,
Gotta love North. The only team the bays have managed to beat in a Grand Final in nearly 80 years.
We had a nice day on track @ Corowa, last Saturday. A 5 race non-TAB card was savoured. The sun shone, the track was a Good 3, and Maryanne and both left the track with more money than when we entered. That’s always a good day.
Riding honours for the day to Andy Bloomfield, who rode a double. Training honours were shared, though credit to Peter Clancy who excelled in Race 1 , with a quinella of first starters. For the locals Geoff Duryea trained a winner, Quick Descent, in race 3. Geoff also had a winner with Waihita Prophecy in Swan Hill, a good day for him.
Happy Punting,
Glen!