by Chris Riordan
Saturday’s feature meeting is again in Brisbane, highlighted by the exceptional Group One Doomben 10,000 which provides a smorgasbord of quality chances, headlined by Ortensia, Hot Danish and Whobegotyou. A very good meeting there and a crack race but I can’t possibly offer any direction for punters.
Locally, Moonee Valley doesn’t get a lot of Saturdays at this time of year so, with pretty good fields and Essendon playing on Friday night, a relatively good crowd can be expected.
The highlight on course is an excellent Open sprint with many chances. Eight Bills flies and is unbeaten here, but the last bit is a worry. Many of his dangers have drawn awkwardly but it would be foolish to dismiss Wangoom winner, Stanzout, or Arch Symbol and Snip Esprit. There is a big watch on Ricky Maund’s Vocalic, back from Queensland, and throw in bolter Count to Zero, which has strong second-up and Valley form. This is the key Quaddy leg.
The first leg is a small but interesting mile race. Mondano looks the one but don’t leave out the evergreen Tassie topweight, Conquering.
Race 7’s dilemma is how to assess the likely favorite, Believe’n Achieve, so impressive in Adelaide and then equally as disappointing at Flemington when a significant market drifter. One suspects that if the money arrives it wins, but there are other “sucker” horses to complicate this field and a blow-out could result. I’ll be including Pink Shimmer which also, like me, doesn’t win out of turn but is due!
In the final leg I’m prepared to give Bel Shoes another go as she has had chequered runs this prep. Toppy, Princess Gisella, goes well fresh and will relish the claim, whilst Snowden’s Altitude looks to be an improving mare in form. Tough get out.
Suggested Quaddy numbers include 1,9 / 2,7,12,13,16 / 2,3 / 1,3,5
Novelty interest tomorrow will also surround the return of the mightily impressive unbeaten youngster, Our Baby Bonus, who looks a star in the making but is better renowned at the moment for its clever naming (by Dash for Cash out of Mother to Be) and for its “celebrity” footballer owners.
Crio,
As per previous input from thi end, I have a distinct liking for NZers’ at the Brisbane carnival.
I have found one thus far. KEYORA in the Grand Prix. Well bred, a dual group II winner, well trained and a good hoop. I’m on at $23.
I like Mirjulisa Lass in the preceding race, and I think at WFA that WHOBEGOTYOU will win.
Speaking of which, whobegot Paul Messara MIC MAC. What have I missed.
Love the large fields and good odds on offer.
More work to be done, but my oh my, $6.50 WHOBEGOTYOU looks post race ridiculous.
Messara got MicMac after its second-up flop in Sydney I think. Considered opinion is that it “is gone”!
As an omen bet, Melito in the 10,000. After Argentinian Diego scored a double in the Champions League final last weekend, the horse will follow it up with a win tomorrow at good odds.
Tommy,
It’s a race of fantastic quality and depth. If forced to have a punt, I’d maybe try Phelan Ready or Shellscrape. But you could make a valid case for most of the field.
With Snip Esprit out, I’ve added Vocalic to my multis.
Any late mail Elvis?
Altitude at the Valley (could be in the last).
Good punting to all.
Boys Mic Mac was transferred to Messara as part of a deal that his owner, Messara’s grandfather, made, that when Paul Messara won his first group 1 – which he did in the Autumn with Alverta – the g’father would transfer his horses to him. So Eurell loses another quality galloper – Hayes’ people brought the then promising Shrewd Rhythm a few years ago, just after he’d won the Zedative at the Heath, and took him off to Lindsay Park, and the horse has been stuffed ever since.