Adelaide’s race calendar baffles me. It seems to splutter along, lacking a pattern that I can detect. Some of the races, of course, are outstanding – look at the success of the old Bobby Gangster for example. But, in many ways, the fixturing is symptomatic of the Industry’s woes in a state with a proud racing heritage which is now floundering, though the horses and trainers still seem to punch above their weight.
One race which has maintained its prestige is the Goodwood, long a great Handicap but still, nowadays, a notable SWP G1 1200m.
In fact, I’ll argue that it remains the signature SA “best race”…which begs the Question – what holds that status around the country.
Here’s a discussion point and early noms:-
Melbourne – Cox Plate
Sydney – Doncaster or Derby
Brisbane – Stradbroke
Adelaide – Goodwood
This Saturday’s Goodwood is the obvious highlight of a classic day at Morphettville – alas, the only city track remaining in Adelaide. This cultural decline is underlined when you notice the old Port Cup, one of Cheltenham’s former jewels, rostered for AR2 (2500m, Quality, Listed – and badged as the Japan Trophy, which wouldn’t have gone down too well with some of the old stalwarts who pestered us out in the Derby enclosure there “back in the day”). The Goodwood looks a typically tough affair with the main combatants both first up off remarkably diverse, but tremendously successful, last campaigns. Hucklebuck’s Spring was fantastic, culminating in a magnificent Stakes win on Final Day at Flemington (franking an incredible week for SA trained horses). Black Heart Bart resumes after a short let-up following 4 successive wins, the most previous at Pinjarra and Bunbury. But don’t be fooled, these were Listed events and Adelaide bookies have learnt in recent weeks to respect the WA form. It certainly adds a fascinating dimension to the race (but a jockey called Sigley!?). Ben Melham heads to Morphettville, where he’s had amazing success, to take over from D.Dunn on the D.C.McKay winner Thermal Current. As always, a ripper race and plenty of chances – for example, Lord Of The Sky will be 16/1 (bad gate), Gregers 14/1, Vain Queen 12/1, Lucky Hussler 7/1…lots of good horses over a real testing journey. Just hope that the track holds up in the uncertain weather (Soft5 at present).
Another old meeting from my dim, grim past is the Mt Gambier Cup Carnival, about which I’ve written before. They host 2 days today (Thursday) and tomorrow.
Elsewhere Clubs are gearing up for a Saturday in the limelight as their state’s premier TAB fixture.
Scone’s Carnival is usually well supported as it is in the home of the wealthy studs and thus good prizemoney and serious “networking” are the order of the day (or days as, in fact, Scone have their Cup – a pretty good race – on the Friday and then back up with a swathe of features the next afternoon).
The biggest prize is, not surprisingly in a breeding heartland, for the Guineas. On what should be a reasonable surface, I’m happy to go with James McDonald and Gerald Ryan’s Ygritte (6/1 E/W forever).
Racing Queensland have their main meeting on the Sunshine Coast where it is Caloundra Cup Day. Good judges (of 2 legged fillies) rate this day very highly and, at last, the forecast is kind. The fields aren’t bad either. In the Cup the top six all have decent claims – maybe Index Linked from Sir John Hawkwood.
As usual, a Guineas occupies the support card on Cup Day – in this case it is worth noting as Winx heads the markets, thus franking the quality of this G3 3yo Mile. Smarties prefer the 2.
In central Australia, the trek up to Darwin has begun after the Alice Cup meeting a fortnight ago. This week’s stop is Tennant Creek which hosts 2 Cups on its 5 race card!! – the Tennant Creek Cup (Bolton returns to defend) and the St Pat’s Cup. My best bet, though, is in R2. No 3 Aqaba.
In Melbourne, I’ll be on the Terry Lillis bag at Caulfield where RVL continues to provide great incentives for owners and trainers – way off peak, the stakemoney is terrific and programming caters for a variety of classes, genders and distances (although, incredibly, we end up with a $40k BM78 as the last leg of the Quaddy – refuse to take on protest). Field sizes are holding up and, though crowds are small, the racing’s pretty good. With a wet afternoon in store today (Thursday), I will be at the newsagent at 4pm for my Winning Post, ready to make sense of the card. Any help greatly appreciated.
Good luck!
Ladbrokes is offering $2 on the Swans to beat Geelong this Saturday night.
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G’day Crio, i see my old fave Riziz is running in the Goodwood. He ran a place last year, hopefully placed again in 2015. Obviously year older than 2104, but placed every start this prep.
Glen!
Angels Beach is surely too good for her competitors in Race 4 at Caulfield
Good find Tom, it ticks all of the boxes including seeming to be overs in pre-post.
Glen, as mentioned, the Goodwood’s a beauty, as always. Proves you don’t need a $2m stake to get a good field – take note Straddy!
The industry is officially in turmoil. CB not taking quaddy!
Like some of the great names honoured by races at Scone. Denise’s Joy (great race mare but founded a dynasty at stud). And Dark Jewel (prolific brood mare, dam of Baguette among other top performers).
Quaddy pool decimated!
Not surprising that scone studs use this meeting to self-promote.
My present glancing is to Caloundra where I’m considering Facile Tigre (R8, No3) despite the stable being relentless urgers (Meet George Jetson AGAIN last week!)
Here is the case for Vain Queen in the Goodwood.
Got beaten 1.5 len in the Oakleigh Plate (good case exists that she should have won) with Under the Louvre second and meets him 3kg better. Has drawn 10 but at least 4 runners inside her will go back so a good chance to get cover in the 3 wide line without getting too far back like last start and she races best when ridden that way. Meets Lucky Hussler 2 kg better for a defeat in William Ried but was 3 deep no cover all the way. Hucklebuck is the best horse but has always got back first up and has drawn inside. Black Heart Bart did beat Watermans Bay in Feb getting 5kg from it and has never won on rain affected (probably never seen it) so looks a risk as second fav. Jock’s conclusion- go big time on Vain Queen and save your stake on Hucklebuck
Jock, here’s the case against…
I am intending to back it!
That’s only another 0.5Kg, not enough to stop.
Great meeting tomorrow here, if only they change the Cup back to May there will be a lot more continuity with the racing here. Note that race 2 is actually the Port Adelaide Cup that used to be run on Boxing Day and then a lead in to the Adel Cup when it went to march and it seems to have now lost its way.
The SAJC wants to get the public holiday moved back to May to accommodate the Cup but that wont happen and their assertion that it can’t work without the holiday doesn’t hold up when only Melbourne Cup day gets it.
Another one that jumped up at me was Snow Secret in the old SAJC Oaks- now fillies classic. A canny NZ’r getting a group 3 over here, I think it’s been done a few times before and last Melb run was really good against the colts.
I’ve got a mountain of work to do here so I better get back on with it! a public servants duty is never done.
No love at all for Lord of the Sky despite being beaten a neck Chautauqua and beating Terravista home? as you pointed out Crio. shocking gate though, a bloody good field though
Also, nice pluck last week Jock with Hot Snitzel, hope you didn’t run it into Foreteller
CSE, No- savaged the QLD quaddie and jumped directly to a good shiraz
I was at Morphettville in 1994 when Ambala won at about 45/1. I’d backed it at its last start, but didn’t follow through.
But we’ve all got dozens of tragic tales like this!
Agreed that it’s Adelaide best race.
and the thing is, Mickey, the SAJC pay $500k for the Goodwood and the Straddy goes up to $2m…a ridiculous splurge by BTC.
Jock, the filly you mentioned (AR3, No4) is the only strong tip I’ve had today. attack E/W.
Really tough race the Goodwood in Adel, but I think there is one flying way under the radar, It Is Written is currently $51, if it is a true $51 chance then there are some others under the odds in my opinion. If heavy rain happened to arrive it could throw a twist on it, but it appears that’s unlikely. Tough race though.
At Scone I think Rose of Choice hard to beat, took $6 earlier but shorter now. Finding it hard to find one to beat her, maybe Fine Bubbles if they’re charging home late?
In Melb I backed London Stripe last week at bog odds and it was obviously “having a run” and ran home nicely untouched, so happy to back up again at the $26 in the last.
Sunshine Coast thought Merion looked good odds in the Guineas.
Best Bet…Rose of Choice
Best Value…It Is Written
crashed and burned
got $12 that filly – started $6 and all I’m left with is another losing ticket.