3 minute read
There’s Group 1 racing at Morphettville but the race of the day is the Group 2 $300,000 Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm today.
With five individual Group 1 winners in the field – Transatlantic , Uncommon James, Reserve Bank, Private Harry and Lady Of Camelot – this is the strongest Victory Stakes in many years.
Private Harry, now with the Chris Waller stable, has been trained up for his comeback run but the heavy 8 track conditions at Eagle Farm is a question mark.
The Joe Pride-trained In Flight looms as the one to beat in the Victory Stakes. She excels on rain-affected going, she is very fit and in top form after winning the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes at Royal Randwick during The Championships.
It's South Australian Derby Day in Adelaide with the big news that early Derby favourite and first emergency Accidental Bid has missed a start. The fillies, After Summer and Silvasista are vying for favouritism now while Waller's hopes of extending his Saturday Group 1 winning streak to 10 weeks rests with Savisanta.
The Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting is loaded with quality and good-sized fields although the juvenile opener, the Clarendon Stakes has been reduced to just five starters with the race morning scratching of second favourite The Roaring Sun.
Tenenbaum has been heavily backed all week to win the Clarendon Stakes and with his main rival out, he is into "Ka Ying Rising odds" of $1.15.
HAWKESBURY
Weather: Mild, partly cloudy day with the chance of a shower or two and a forecast top temperature of 25c.
Track: Good (4)
Rail: True
BENDIGO
Weather: Mild, cloudy day with light winds and a forecast top temperature of 24c.
Track: Good (4)
Rail: True
EAGLE FARM
Weather: Mild, partly cloudy day with some showers and a forecast top temperature of 25c.
Track: Heavy (8)
Rail: 5m out
MORPHETTVILLE
Weather: Mild, cloudy day with showers and a forecast top temperature of 26c.
Track: Good (4)
Rail: 3m entire
HAWKESBURY
BEST BET: Audrey's Lane (r3 no4), a half-sister to Golden Slipper winner Mossfun, is racing very consistently in Midway races this autumn. She resumed with a good win over 1200m at Rosehill then has finished third at Rosehill and Randwick. Drawn to get the gun run on her home track today. The one to beat.
THE NEXT BEST: Golden Straand (r5 no2) is a lightly-raced, promising sprinter with abundant speed. He demonstrated his emerging talents last spring including a course record-breaking win over the Warwick Farm 1200m. He resumed at that track three weeks ago, settled midfield, went wide on the turn and overwhelmed his rivals to win easily, running fast time again over 1100m. He can win again.
VALUE BET: Felix Majestic (r10 no1) hasn't won a race for more than two years but he's capable of giving a great sight in the Hawkesbury closer. He needs to stage the ultimate form reversal after finishing last in the Star Kingdom Stakes when resuming but that was on a soft track where he invariably struggles. Drawn wide here but has early speed and should be able to cross this field and lead. Felix Majestic gets his preferred dry track and if he can get a couple of soft sectionals mid-race, he might be one of the best $71 chances you will ever find.
THE WHISPER: Taken (r8 no9) is very consistent with 13 top three finishes from 15 starts including six wins. The Melbourne raider has locked horns with the handy Al Duca over 1600m at Flemington and Caulfield in recent weeks, finishing a close second both times. Drawn to get all the favours in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup, he's very fit and this race sets up well for him.
EAGLE FARM
BEST BET: Brave Monarch (r7 no2) is a talented three-year-old building an impressive record with four wins from six starts. He broke through at stakes level last start with a comfortable win in the Daybreak Lover and he is primed for the Queensland Guineas today. His racing pattern suggests the 1600m will suit and provided he handles the rain-affected track he should win again.
NEXT BEST: The Next Episode (r6 no3) won well at Warwick Farm when resuming then struck another soft 7 track when an outstanding second in the Kindergarten Stakes at Randwick. He missed the start badly that day, conceded a big start on the turn but stormed home to just miss reeling in Blue Door. The Next Episode has since trialled well at Doomben and he will handle the wet track conditions. Bad luck in running is his big danger.
VALUE BET: Time Of My Life (r1 no11) is superbly-bred by champion stallion I Am Invincible out of Vegas Showgirl which makes her a half-sister to all-time great mare Winx. Time Of My Life has won three of her 10 starts, did well to score a tough win over Zoufani at Doomben last start and she is over the odds at $14.
THE WHISPER: In Flight (r8 no11) is in career-best form after scoring an impressive win in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes at Randwick in fast time last start. That was her first win on a track rated in the good range but she has forged her reputation as a superior wet-tracker. She has won four races on soft track and four in heavy going so she will enjoy today's track conditions. In Flight also has a race fitness edge over most of her rivals and she is set for another giant-killing performance.
TAB FIXED ODDS BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
HAWKESBURY
R1, Tenenbaum $1.60 - $1.40 - $1.15
R2, Oakfield Alaska $4.60 - $2.60, Laizabout $26 - $14
R3, Viewpoint $6 - $3.30
R4, Aix En Provence $15 – $9, Starzintheireyes $15 - $10, Sacrify $15 - $10, Natoya $15 - $10
R5, Golden Straand $2.30- $2.15, Sweethearted $15 - $11
R6, Skyhook $3.60 - $3.30, Horsehoe Hill $15- $11, Bird Whistle $26 - $14
R7, Chidiac $8 - $5, La Roja $51 - $15
R8, Taken $4.60 - $3.50, Shohisha $26 - $14
R9, Monte Supreme $11 - $7.50, Our Kobison $15 - $8
R10, Spione $8 - $6.50
BIG BETS
HAWKESBURY
R1, Tenenbaum $3000 at $1.65
MORPHETTVILLE
R3, High On The Hill $4000 at $2.10
EAGLE FARM
R6, Seeiaye $5000 at $5
BENDIGO
R6, Laa De Sha $4000 at $10
R8, Gold Coast Belle $3000 at $4
R10, Hearcomesthestar $5000 at $11
ASCOT
R9, Auto Cruise $5000 at $3.90
LADBROKES BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
HAWKESBURY
R1, Tenenbaum $1.65-$1.45 with bets of $1000 at $1.65, $1000 at $1.50,
$1500, $1290 and $750 at $1.45
R2, Laizabout $14-$11 with a bet of $155 at $14
R3, Swift Legend $8-$7 after a bet of $500 at $8.25, Vetwelve $34-$20, Viewpoint $4.20-$3.10 with a bet of $625 at $4.20, Bella Khadijah $500 w/p at $12/$3.70
R4, Aix En Provence $14-$8.50 with a bet of $155 at $14, Blacklist $46-$27, Sacrify $14-$9.50 with a bet of $155 at $14
R5, Golden Straand $2.40-$2.20 after bets of $2000 at $2.40, $1485 twice at $2.35, Wanaruah $7.50-$6 after a bet of $500 at $7.75
R6, Skyhook $680 at $3.40, Regal Award $690 twice at $3.90, Karinska $8.50-$7.50 with a bet of $500 at $8.50, Horseshoe Hill $12-$9.50 after a bet of $180 a $12
R7, Our Diamond Lil $4-$3.80 after bets of $2760 at $4.15, $2000 at $4.05, $500 at $4, $3030 at $3.90
R8, Vivy Air $500 at $4.30, Taken $4.20-$3.30 with a bet of $625 at $4.20
R9, Way To The Stars $7.50-$6.50 after a bet of $500 at $7.50, Our Kobison $10-$7.50 after a bet of $220 at $10
R10, Oakfield Jupiter $19-$11 with a bet of $115 at $18
EAGLE FARM
R1, Champagne Lane $5-$3.70 with a bet of $500 at $5
R2, Autumn Winter $3.70-$3 after a bet of $500 at $3
R3, Aldolfito $17-$14
R4, So You Are $9.50-$6.50 with a bet of $250 at $9
R5, Kohler Kid $5.50-$2.80 after bets of $525 at $4.80, $870 at $3.30, Kokatahi $23-$13
R6, The Next Episode $1.90-$1.70 after bets of $500 at $1.90, $500 at $1.75, $1000 at $1.70
R7, Brave Monarch with bets of $2005, $1400, $1000 and $750 at $2, Spanish Treasure $540 at $8.25, Vandevelde $151-$81, Snitzel Dancer $7-$5.50
R8, Private Harry $3.80-$3.20 after bets of $800 at $3.50, $750 at $3.10, Warnie $16-$10 with a bet of $135 at $16, Lady Of Camelot $500 (5 times) at $5
R9, Charcoals $920 at $5.15, Grammar Lad $3-$2.40 with a bet of $1000 at $3
| Ray Thomas – Hawkesbury Selections | ||||||||
| Race | No | Horse | 2nd | Horse | 3rd | Horse | 4th | Horse |
| 1 | 1 | TENENBAUM | 3 | Nations League | 8 | Fondness | 7 | Grafology |
| 2 | 6 | OAKFIELD ALASKA | 1 | Olympian | 13 | Classic Touch | 3 | Laizabout |
| 3 | 4 | AUDREY'S LANE | 9 | Tenderize | 1 | Tambeloa | 5 | Swift Legend |
| 4 | 11 | NATOYA | 3 | Tazima | 5 | Centenario | 10 | Sacrify |
| 5 | 2 | GOLDEN STRAAND | 6 | Hezdarnhottoo | 8 | Apex | 4 | Wanaruah |
| 6 | 9 | KARINSKA | 1 | Skyhook | 4 | Buffalo | 3 | Burma Star |
| 7 | 9 | BAUHINIA | 11 | Chidiac | 4 | Oh Diamond Lil | 13 | La Roja |
| 8 | 9 | TAKEN | 5 | Vivy Air | 10 | Shohisha | 2 | Tavi Time |
| 9 | 7 | ZEALOUSLY | 3 | Way To The Stars | 6 | Our Kobison | 5 | Catch The Glory |
| 10 | 1 | FELIX MAJESTIC | 15 | Surfin' Bird | 11 | Spione | 12 | Oakfield Jupiter |
| Ray Thomas - Eagle Farm Selections | ||||||||
| Race | No | Horse | 2nd | Horse | 3rd | Horse | 4th | Horse |
| 1 | 11 | TIME OF MY LIFE | 12 | Zoufani | 4 | Without Parallel | 3 | Mercurial Lady |
| 2 | 2 | AUTUMN WINTER | 10 | Prochester | 8 | June | 1 | Just Flying |
| 3 | 9 | ALL ADORE | 2 | En Pointe | 10 | Balance The Books | 11 | Dis Is Heaven |
| 4 | 8 | JENNI MOREESE | 2 | Belvedere Boys | 5 | Mr Buster | 6 | So You Are |
| 5 | 6 | KOHLER KID | 2 | Icarian Dream | 9 | He's Tru Blue | 11 | Kokatahi |
| 6 | 3 | THE NEXT EPISODE | 2 | Seeiaye | 7 | Dream Roca | 5 | Lucky Pat |
| 7 | 2 | BRAVE MONARCH | 9 | Autumn King | 15 | Snitzel Dancer | 1 | State Visit |
| 8 | 3 | PRIVATE HARRY | 11 | In Flight | 10 | Lady Of Camelot | 6 | Warnie |
| 9 | 14 | COSMOS CENTAURUS | 19 | Grammar Lad | 5 | Charcoals | 15 | True To Form |
INTERSTATE MAIL
Bendigo r4 no14: Oak Beach
Bendigo r8 no7: Gold Coast Belle
Morphettville r3 no7: High On The Hill
Morphettville r6 no4: Sea What I See
PROVINCIAL MAIL
Newcastle r1 no5: Look Here
Newcastle r2 no7: National News
#Good luck today and I hope you back plenty of winners