Corporate bookies will focus their puns on other sports now that Melbourne’s Spring Carnival is over and racing fans can cast their eyes to broader horizons as the caravan rolls on.
And how quickly it moves – on Sunday evening I flicked on the TV and there was the Singapore Cup with Bossy rolling along in front and Froggy and even D.Yendall taking sits. Tommy Berry’s mount, Tropaios, trained by Michael Freedman, swept down the outside to take the prize.
My diary is somewhat less exotic this weekend with a trip to the Valley on Saturday and then off to Ballarat for the Cup on Sunday.
Only 8 races at MV and a 1pm start makes for a nice change from the mayhem of the month. This, not surprisingly, is a lowkey card but, nevertheless, there are some interesting races. At first glance I’m pretty keen on the toppy in the 4th, using a good claim and back in grade. Early thoughts on the Quaddy are for this combo, coming home very tight:
MR5- 1000m. Good race. 8 to win. 3 and 10.
MR6- 2040m. 2,3,query 13.
MR7- 1200m. wide. 4,7,10
MR8- 1200m. 1
Pubpunters can treat this as an 11 race programme as the Ascot features follow soon after – or, more likely, cricket watchers will make the switch for the WA Group Races post-stumps:-
PR6- (6.20pmAEST) WA Guineas, G2, 1600m, 3yo – the fav here is Simon Miller’s local, Miss Rose De Lago, which has somehow copped the “visitor’s draw. Racing’s favourite new couple, Gai and Olly, are next in the market with Vitello. Pike rides Low Tide (10). Kersley trains Itsahymn (5).
PR7- (7.05pmAEST) Winterbottom Stakes, G1, 1200m, WFA – Buffering (1) v Barakey (4). Spirit of Boom and Moment of Change to fight for the scraps.
PR8- (7.50pmAEST) Railway Stakes, G1, 1600m – Conservatorium @14/1 E/W
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Even I agree that a TV diet including cricket and golf has greater attraction than the Ballarat Cup meeting, but the mortgage has to be met so off we’ll head on Sunday for the 10 race card. Their old midweek Carnival is now long gone and the BTC has searched for relevance on the cramped calendar. This is usually a pretty good meeting with big fields and nowadays some support from Magic Millions. The “novelty” is a $200,000 2yo 1000m scamper (MR6) raced “clockwise” and offering MM graduates a kickstart to the Gold Coast as well as some valuable publicity for the increasingly popular Carnival and Sales destination in January.
The Cup itself has attracted a capacity field with plenty of depth and, guess what, our wonderful glamour couple providing the fav with a name neither of them could resist – The Offer (15)!
For those with an insatiable appetite, the Japan Cup tends to be soon after all clear on the last and thus we hang around to watch….a disappointing field this year with locals expected to dominate. From what I can gather the only ones there after the Melbourne Cup are warriors Simenon (6yo) and Dunaden (7yo), both 2013 maidens. Joshua Tree (6yo) is the other International with a recognizable CV.
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Most enthusiasts pull their horns in now after the recent glut and with Xmas expenses to pay, but that’s no reason to ignore all that’s happening and perhaps have a sneaky try as the fields get skinnier and thus (allegedly) easier.
Like in most post-seasons, rumours circulate of change – the biggest story this week has been of the Snowdens’ break with Darley. They are good horsemen and presumably will stay in the Industry – it is a huge job and maybe they’d had their time. Whispers on who is to take over the reins have already begun…
As always, any tips or tales are greatly appreciated.
Good luck!
For those with cash still left after the Carnival and want a punt I will be taking my lead from the Goolwa boys and David Jolly in particular
He has Dancing Poetess in MV R3 (it was not suited by the Inner track at Morphettville last start and is forward enough to go to the “big smoke” and will give you a good sight for your hard earned
Follow that up with MV R5 Argee McLaren another one scratched for Adel. for this
(Dennis Oleary has Outlandish Lad engaged in the $th at MV with a claiming apprentice taking off weight (small e/w))
Jock- being an Adelaide punter Jolly has several good chances at Morphettville to give you some hope (e/w the lot)
Its either a feast or famine for Oges this week -time will tell though I wont know till after the bowls Saturday
Thanks Oges…they’ll carry mine too!
Boy, awful fields at the Valley tomorrow, I’ll be taking a lead from you too Oges.
See you out there Crio
Pressure here boys – but he was upbeat yesterday and added when the warmer weather arrives his horses benefit
Oges,
Argee McLaren will be hard to beat, rail true and lots of pace will really help. I find it hard to line up Dancing Poetess but recent form shows that Adelaide form stacks up and a very poor field and is current 15/1. Outlandish Lad is not really a miler but 3 lens from Smokin Freakin Joey ( Elvis please confirm I got the name right) looks good theses days.
Otherwise MV races are crap but there’s 8 winners there and I’ve got to decide if I study more or drink more to get excited about it.
Has Barakey raced since he flopped in the Newmarket here? If he’s on his game then a race vs. Buffering should be a treat. I will be watching that one for sure.
Jap bloodstock is too strong now. The old Japan Cup aint what she used to be 20 odd years ago. I used to love watching the Japan Cup when the top Aussie/NZ horses were invited.
Crio,
Racing spotlight heads west. As Budge logs off to pursue something that actually interests him, I offer my thoughts.
The Winterbottom: I’m a fan of Barakey, but I am equally enamoured by Buffering. Looks a two horse race, but then there is the other Eastern Staters, MO Change and one of the Booms. As a prospect for a quid against the tide of money for the aforementioned. Power Princess, and a good each way bet is The Rising ( named after an eminent Springsteen Album )
The Railway: Think Luckygray will struggle to find his way back after yet another change of trainers. Mr Moet ran a huge race in the Caulfield Cup. Good horse, but an afterthought? Longport is the best of the visitors. Smokin Freakin Your Kidden Me Joey has surely fooled us for long enough. Of the locals, Kincaple and Ranger (W. Pike) are my two. I would have plonked for No 19 Rohan, but he missed a start by virtue of being a certainty beaten last start. He is also in Race 4 though, and will win that at around $3.50.
Elvis,
Thanks for confirming the name, I knew freakin was in it but I forgot about”your kidden me”, I still think there’s a word starting with “F” missing.
Is Mutual Trust up to it in the Railway? recent form is pretty good.
Wonder if the Budge is going to bite, nice burley trail.
I’m back after entertaining South Africans last week so I still have money…for now.
On another track I had a beer with an old guy called Wally tonight , about 80ish and used to live directly opposite Neil Bowden at Wendover Walk Glengowrie in 70’s/80’s. I offered apologies for all concerned for everything that may have happened about 30 years ago.
there’s a “tri-codes” meeting at Cranbourne tonight – kids in a lolly shop for us when much younger.
Jock,
Good story, wonder if Wally is an INXS and Midnight Oil fan now.
Yeah, Mutual Trust was a great run in the Toorak, but locals aside, I thought Longport’s win at Flemington was pretty imposing.
How’d you go with the Seth Efricans? Plenty of Peri Peri Chicken served up?
Elvis,
Only excessive amounts of white wine, I’m back on a Zema Estate shiraz as I type so everything is now back in order.
I think Wally has fond memories of Shaboo Shoobah, lucky he didn’t live opposite the white house, he would have had to spend most of his life in therapy.
Crio,
Lying Nut Sack Oliver is back in his home town on Saturday. I personally hope he has the second ever bet of his life on having the shit kicked out of him at a Night Club……and collects.
Had to get that off my chest.
Elvis, As mentioned in the obviusly unread preview, thePeople’s Champ, Olly, is once again teaming with the First Lady, Gai, to form the popular duet known as Morally Compromised. This weekend’s tour takes in Ascot and, on Sunday, the Ballarat Cup
Crio,
Apologies for scanning and not reading. Your ongoing learned and colourful intros deserve better. Serious. Reckon Itsahymn wins the Guineas to start a healthy Quad at the expense of the Immoral Duo’s followers. Fred Kersley is twice the trainer Dame Edna will ever be, and has blinkers first time. At $12, I’m going one out.
Skip
Barakey had one run for a win since the Newmarket
Is the real deal but the boom and moc present better value
Guineas is tough the filly very short and will look for value with run for rum and Moët me a couple who made good ground in a slowly run lead up who will both be a nice price
Red hot sax drawn the car park in the mares but like caulfield can sit three wide with cover here and have a good chance
Maybe not enough pace in the railway for the back markers therein maybe long port and conservatorium get there cance fifi from the back and playing god going well enough as well here
Would include swap ya in the last
Early elite belle and petrol power hard to fault and finnegans hold again goes around at a big price and should be included in all multiples here with rohan
Happy punting
Thanks for those Ripsnorter…
I’ll reference them when I get to the Laurel after the Valley. Think I’ll try E/W Conservatorium
Skip / Ripsnorter,
Barakey ran, I think, 11 of 13 in the Newmarket and was found to have a fracture in his leg after the race. Thus the long spell. Still beat 2 home! Otherwise unbeaten and presumably set for this whereas Buffering has already had (at least) 2 Grand Finals this preparation.
For the Railway, can’t go past W. Pike. What’s he on anyway? Oh, Ranger. Barrier 9. Hasn’t won for 2 years but got beaten 0.3 lengths last start at WFA behind Conservatorium and meets him 3kgs better. That’ll do me at around $20.
Cheers Budge. Getting scratched at the barrier in the Oakleigh Plate wouldn’t have helped Barakey when he was over here. I recall having a rant about it here at the time. I think it cost me the quad. Thanks for the Pike tip. Will have a go.
A mate is spruiking Longport and Plucky Belle. Mr Moet was beaten just over a length in the McKinnon and was 6th in the Caulfield Cup. If he’s ready to rip over the mile on his home turf then $18 fixed odds is where I’m headed. He won it last year?
The bookies aren’t rating the Conservatorium/Ranger formline.
Might have to back something to beat the shorties in the sprint
hmmm….I backed M of Change!
Not a good day all round for me and the Goolwa boys- and to make matters worse we got flogged at bowls by the team second to bottom
Maybe I will have t find a different way to walk next week- not at the beach
Oges,
Vlad The Impaler knocked off the good thing. I’m readjusting to accepting a loss – but The Railway is a good get out. Might be a soft track at Ballarat tmrw so we’ll try to sort out a racing pattern for some value.
late scratching of Ranger seems shrouded in secrecy – the trainer, former Harness Racing trainer, had a winner in the Carbine Club earlier. WA racing is always interesting.
Fantastic win by Luckygrey.
Justin Warwick. Champion trots trainer, now turning his hand to thoroughbreds.
WA is a different universe. Luckygrey is a champion on WA turf it seems, I couldn’t have him in any way, shape, or form.
Are they on again next week?
Had 4 going in the melb quaddie and missed, then backed Moment of Change to get out, not my day.
Isn’t the cricket great!
Maybe a sniff of the Indian Ocean in his nostrils after a while being east? What else could it be?
What else indeed!
Regroup and counter attack next week.
Time to lick wounds and not dig a hole now……unless someone has a tip!
Well Crio,
The Evil empire take home the choccies again at Ballarat.. aptly named ‘The Offer”.
The only Offer GRS (great racing story Oliver) should have got was life.
Bruce Clarke makes me want to puke(talk about being compromised) what an apologist for Oliver and TFOR(the face of racing Waterhouse) he is.
What about the wag who put M.Zahra on Unscrupulous on Saturday!