The Cup Carnival might be over, but the Spring Carnival action hasn’t stopped with Zipping Classic Day set to be run and won this Saturday at Caulfield, with the Sandown track being ripped up and getting a much needed makeover.
Race One: Desiree Gill Tribute Stakes 1000m Form Guide
Back Me: Tough race to sort out, so we are only going on the breeding here and putting Feels Like Home on top. She is a daughter of More Than Ready out of Danehill Smile, who was one of the star two year olds of her generation.
Big Danger: Golconda was kept safe in the betting on debut during Cup Week and was far from disgraced, running fourth to Oakleigh Girl, one of the more impressive youngsters we have seen so far this season. Racing around a bend will suit, as will the race experience.
Roughie:Inferential trialled nicely earlier in the week when finishing second in relatively smart time at Cranbourne. Robbie Griffiths usually dominates racing during the warmer months, so keep an eye on this filly.
$250 Feels Like Home Free Bet
Race Two: Sportingbet Sandown Cup 3200m Form Guide
Back Me: Very keen on Caravan Rolls On, the English stayer who was fabulous on Cup Day behind Mujadale. He got too far back in the run, but really savaged the line late. On the limit, drawn well and will love the distance and the likelihood of a soft track. Looks one of the better bets of the day at Caulfield.
Big Danger: Mujadale beat a majority of these in that Flemington race, and did it quite comfortably. He’ll jump on the bunny again and prove hard to beat, and the distance should be no issue.
Roughie: Rowland was far from disgraced in that race also. He got a long way back and never really picked up until late. His last 150 metres was pretty good, so the extra 400 metres should suit, and a heavy track.
$250 Caravan Rolls On Free Bet
Race Three: Snowhite Maintenance Eclipse Stakes 1800m Form Guide
Back Me: No reason why Bel Thor can’t win again. He was very dominant last Saturday over the 2000 metres. Drops in weight, and distance, which is a slight concern, but happy to take $6-$7.
Big Danger: Rain Drum has had three hard runs back from long break, culminating in a gallant fourth over this distance on Cup Day. He should lead these quite comfortably and be awfully hard to beat.
Roughie: Felidea attacked the line powerfully over 1400 metres on Cup Day after settling near last in the run. The obvious query is the distance and the wet track. But he is bred to handle the going, not sure about the distance. Still, he seems attractable odds.
$250 Bel Thor Free Bet
Race Four: City Of Greater Dandenong Stakes 1400m Form Guide
Back Me: After two impressive wins in the provincials, Politeness has been slightly disappointing in three subsequent runs although her run on Cup Day was okay without being spectacular. The wet track will be the big plus in her favour and getting back to Caulfield. D-Day for her here.
Big Danger: Melrose Place won down the straight on Oaks Day and looked to be doing it oh so easily, winning under hands and heels riding from Oliver, who sticks with the filly. That was impressive, but an even more impressive win was a few starts back on a slow track.
Roughie: Metastasio was having her first run in five weeks when a battling fifth to Melrose Place. She raced very fresh, pulling hard in the run and having nothing left for the finish. With better manners, she can beat these, and the odds are right.
$250 Politeness Free Bet
Race Five: Ronald McDonald Monash Sandown Stakes 1400m Form Guide
Back Me: Richie’s Vibe had been disappointing in a couple of recent runs, but bounced back to his best form on Cup Day down the straight, beating a pretty handy field. Is another who will love the wet track and returning to a bending track.
Big Danger: Mahisara was well backed in that race, but raced a touch fiercely in front and tired late over the final 200 metres. He is another who will relish racing around a bend and also likes the wet weather, so definitely include in calculations.
Roughie: The form around Lord Of Brazil is fantastic for a race like this. First up he ran fifth to Le Bonsir, who then ran third to Samaready and Buffering. Then ran third to Blackie, who then ran third in the Toorak. Then ran in the Toorak and finished a close up seventh before running behind Toydini at the Valley. He is the big overs.
$250 Richie’s Vibe Free Bet
Race Six: Deadly Design Zipping Classic 2400m Form Guide
Back Me: Looks to be good value in this race, and have come up with Kazanluk, who hasn’t had much luck at all this preparation. Loved her closing furlong in the Matriarch and she is crying out for 2400 metres, which she gets here.
Big Danger: Precedence is the clear form horse going into this race, winning back-to-back Group 2 races. He is the best horse in the race, but is unknown on wet ground and doesn’t have a flash record at Caulfield.
Roughie: Ransomed was a brilliant winner of the Spring Classic at Hastings two back, then wasn’t suited by the muddling tempo at Ellerslie but still ran well. He has been set for this race and Froggy Newitt takes the ride. Big watch.
$250 Kazanluk Free Bet
Race Seven: Sportingbet Sandown Guineas 1600m Form Guide
Back Me: Keen on Equator here. Wasn’t ridden the best by Bossy in the Carbine Club, easing off the speed. He is a horse that needs to push forward and make sure it’s a genuine tempo, which is what should eventuate. Risking Paximadia at Caulfield. If it was at Sandown or Flemington, he’d be the one, but he doesn’t seem to appreciate the track.
Big Danger: Apollo’s Choice was a tragedy beaten last week at Flemington behind Dothraki. Got held up badly in the straight and only got clear very late where he savaged the line. Brad Rawiller takes the ride, and he has been the form rider in the state this week.
Roughie: Ryker didn’t have the best of luck in that Dothraki race, sitting behind the speed and not getting much galloping room when required. He is a handy type for Gai Waterhouse who can figure with the right run.
$250 Equator Free Bet
Race Eight: TMB Printing Kevin Heffernan Stakes 1200m Form Guide
Back Me: Putting Famous Seamus on top. Carried topweight in the Lightning at Randwick yet won quite comfortably, beating a handy field which did include Group 1 performers. Has since trialled and went superbly, and based on that trial, he is going to run a mighty race here.
Big Danger: Pinwheel is a most consistent galloper for Darley who is always in the mix. Ran a credible fifth last time out over the 1400 metres here in the Moonga behind Boban, who is the best horse in Australia under 2000 metres. Drawn wide, but loves Caulfield and soft ground.
Roughie: Don’t underestimate Lankan Roupee. She was a top winner down the straight on Oaks Day, beating home multiple Group 1 placegetter Snitzerland. Bred to swim and did win a barrier trial before his first up run by five lengths in smart time on a heavy track at Cranbourne.
$250 Famous Seamus Free Bet
Race Nine: Le Pine Funerals Summoned Stakes 1600m Form Guide
Back Me: Again looking for value and have come up with the NZ Oaks placegetter Blanket Bay, who has had two runs now for Mick Price and both have been excellent, including last start at Bendigo where she was unlucky. She wasn’t allowed a chance to build up momentum and she is the sort of horse that needs to gradually improve during the race so barrier one is a slight worry, but Oliver rides.
Big Danger: She’s Clean went into the blackbooks of most punters after her third to Plucky Belle and Arinosa on Oaks Day. She got a long way back in the run and was forced to the car park on the home turn, but really attacked the line late, suggesting that the mile will suit perfectly.
Roughie: All you can do is win and that is what Wisftul has done this time in, winning four of six, including an all the way win on Cup Day. She’ll press forward from the wide barrier, sit in the first four or so and prove hard to run down, because the old saying is mares that are in form, stay in form.
$250 Blanket Bay Free Bet
BEST BET: Race Two Number 3 Caravan Rolls On
NEXT BEST: Race Seven Number 3 Equator
VALUE: Race Nine Number 13 Blanket Bay
Where the money has gone:
Smart money suggests former English stayer Midsummer Sun can cause an upset in tomorrow’s Zipping Classic at Caulfield.
Midsummer Sun, to be ridden by Damien Oliver, has been well supported with online bookmaker sportsbet.com.au, firming from $11 into $10. Favourite Precedence ($3.50) has been steady and Sertorius ($3.90) has eased.
“Midsummer Sun ticks a lot of boxes and is being touted as a possible Cups hope next year. The six-year-old has definitely been the mover in betting, but Precedence is still the most popular with rank and file punters,’’ sportsbet.com.au’s Shaun Anderson said.
In good news for punters, if your horse runs second on third in the Zipping Classic sportsbet.com.au will refund losing bets!
Melbourne Cup winning trainer Gai Waterhouse has a live chance in the Classic with Queenstown ($4.60). Waterhouse will also saddle Equator in the Guineas, who is $4.20 second favourite behind Paximadia ($3.30).
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Markets courtesy of sportsbet.com.au
Zipping Classic
(Prices in brackets from Thursday 14 November)
$3.50 Precedence
$3.90 Sertorius
$4.60 Queenstown
$8.50 Ransomed
$10 Midsummer Sun
$15 Kazanluk
$34 Miss Zenella
$51 Detox
$81 What’s In A Name
Sandown Guineas
$3.30 Paximadia (steady)
$4.20 Equator (steady)
$4.80 Apollo’s Choice (out from $4.60)
$6.00 Best Case (in from $6.50)
$11 Outlandish (steady)
$21 Pompeius, Ryker (steady)
$26 Inafrenzy (steady)
$34 Champollion (steady)
$41 Gabble (steady)
$151 De Lago Storm (steady)
