World’s Richest Mile Handicap Highlights Day 1 Of The Championships

Since The Championships format was established in 2014, combining some of Sydney’s biggest races into a rich and prestigious two-day carnival, there’s been a common element – rain. Sadly, 2017 isn’t shaping up any differently. The Harbour City copped another drenching on Thursday, sending the track into the heavy range. Showers are forecast for Friday and Saturday so, fingers crossed, the track doesn’t deteriorate into the dreadful state of Randwick Guineas day. It’s black type top to bottom but four G1 races stand above the rest on Day 1.

Waller Chasing Fifth Donny in a Row

The highlight of the day is The Star Doncaster Mile, worth $3 million. Australia’s unofficial mile championship was first run in 1866. The late TJ Smith and his daughter Gai Waterhouse (with Ecuador running this year) are the most successful trainers having each won seven times but they could be joined by Chris Waller, who is chasing an incredible fifth successive win in the world’s richest mile handicap (Sacred Falls 2013-14, Kermadec 2015, Winx 2016). Recent runnings of The Doncaster show that off-pace runners and horses in the fourth or fifth run of the prep perform well here. A capacity field of 20 is virtually assured and more than half of that line-up are priced at better than 20-1 to win! With so many chances, we can afford to go wide. #6 Le Romain ($6 favourite with Sportsbet) trailed only Winx in the George Ryder and carved through the wet at Randwick to win the Canterbury Stakes two back. Lightweight chances #15 Hey Doc and #16 Antonio Giuseppe also appeal ($15 apiece at William Hill).

Viva la Revolution

The latest class of Australia’s best sprinters will be on show in the $2.5 million Darley TJ Smith Stakes. The inaugural race in 1997 was known as the Endeavour Stakes before being named in the honour of champion trainer Tommy ‘TJ’ Smith, who won 33 training titles in Sydney. #1 Chautauqua returns in pursuit of a third successive win in this race but hasn’t hit the heights of previous preps this campaign. In a wide open field, the $5 favourite #14 Russian Revolution still represents decent value. He’s lost just once in six career starts and carved through a bog (10) track at Rosehill to win the G1 Galaxy last time out. With so much exposed form here, this 3yo colt for Peter and Paul Snowden is the one with potential to keep improving. And there’s no better jockey in the country than Kerrin McEvoy when it comes to group races and big fields.

Kiwi Champ Looks Vulnerable

The $2 million BMW Australian Derby dates to the same year that the Melbourne Cup was first run (1861). The Derby has been historically dominated by colts and geldings – over the past 27 years, the only filly to win the race was Shamrocker (2011). This is one of the toughest races on the Australian turf calendar to win. The past three winners have come from barrier 1 and double-figure gates feature only twice in the places in the past four years. The public is mad for the $3.50 (Unibet) favourite Gingernuts (NZ) after his stunning win in the Rosehill Guineas on a heavy track on March 18. But he’s hardly bulletproof – this is his seventh run for the prep and goes back up in distance to 2400m from a wide draw. #1 Prized Icon is the proven product having won the VRC Derby (2500m) last spring and looks overs at $11 (Ladbrokes) if the track stays in the soft range. #9 Harper’s Choice ($61) will lead this race and could pinch if Jason Collett can pinch a big lead heading for home.

Snowden’s Invader Ready for Battle

The Sires’ Produce Stakes is Royal Randwick’s 2yo championship and forms the second leg of the Sydney autumn carnival’s 2yo triple crown (along with the Golden Slipper and Champagne Stakes). The Gai Waterhouse-trained Pierro was the last horse to win the Triple Crown, becoming just the sixth juvenile in history to achieve the feat when claiming all three races in 2012. The Slipper has provided two of the past four winners and six of the 12 placegetters but there is a trend developing of horses being specifically set for this race having an edge. With Gunnison scratched, another Snowden runner Invader appeals at a juicy quote of $9.50 (Luxbet). He didn’t have any favours in the Todman, but he still found the line strongly and being scratched from the Golden Slipper may prove a blessing in disguise. Hugh Bowman returns to the saddle while he’s drawn nicely in gate 4 of 19.

It’s Time To Sheikh It Up For Dubai World Cup

The racing world is dotted with “must-see” events that any true thoroughbred aficionado would love to tick off the ultimate bucket list. Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby, the Melbourne Cup, Royal Ascot, the Cheltenham Festival … it’s a list that could run as long as the Straight Six at Flemington. One venue which deserves to be added is the stunning Meydan complex, home of the Dubai World Cup.

Horse racing in the United Arab Emirates dates back to just 1981, when the dusty old Camel Track hosted its first thoroughbred meeting as per the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai (and the owner of the Darley and Godolphin operations). The first Dubai World Cup was held in 1996 and received the best possible PR boost when American wonder horse Cigar, claimed the inaugural trophy. After 14 years at Nad Al Sheba, the meeting was moved to Meydan – the world’s largest integrated racing facility, with grandstand seating capacity for more than 60,000 nestling alongside the luxury Meydan Hotel.

The World’s Richest Raceday

Fast forward to 2017 to find the USD $10 million Dubai World Cup surpassed for the first time as the world’s richest race following the inaugural running of the USD $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Florida’s Gulfstream Park in January. But the Dubai World Cup race card still occupies the top spot, with USD $27.5 million up for grabs across the six Group 1s and three Group 2 races scheduled. Yet, there’s a strong link between the Pegasus and Dubai World Cups. And that’s the presence of Arrogate. Unknown a year ago, Arrogate burst onto the racing scene with a record-setting performance in the Grade I, $1 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga last August, winning by 13.5 lengths. He followed up that freakish performance victory in the USD $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita in November, then kept his winning streak intact with a 4.75-length victory in the Pegasus World Cup. The 4yo grey’s record stands at 7:6-0-1 with prize money of more than USD $11 million. He’s a $1.35 favourite (with William Hill) to complete a historic year, and only bad luck will stop him tonight.

Arrogate Unlikely to be Challenged

Outside of the favourite, only Gun Runner is priced under $10 ($9 with Paddy Power) and just four others are rated at better than $50. Mike De Kock’s Mubtaahij was second last year to California Chrome and, despite drawing the outside gate of 14, makes a logical choice to fill one of the places. Outside of the feature, our best on the card is in the USD $6 million Longines Dubai Sheema Classic over 2000m on the turf. It’s the race with the smallest field of the night but the most quality. Postponed is the highest-rated in the field and won this race last year convincingly but comes into this after a second in the Dubai City Of Gold earlier this month. His $2.60 favouritism looks unders, so we’ll be taking the $4.20 (with Ladbrokes) on the well-travelled Highland Reel. He wasn’t at his best when fourth in this race 12 months ago, but had another remarkable globetrotting campaign in 2016 (including victory in the USD $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf) and there’s a strong likelihood of him getting an easy lead here for champion hoop Ryan Moore.

Sydney Still Soggy For BMW Day At Rosehill Gardens

Another week, another 100 millimetres of rain for Sydney, meaning Saturday’s Group 1 meeting at Rosehill Gardens again looks set to be run on a heavy track. But in stark contrast to a soggy Randwick, the Rosehill track held up remarkably for last week’s Golden Slipper meeting and we’re expecting a fair racing surface. It was also a surprisingly easy assignment for punters with most races dominated by genuine wet trackers that had race fitness on their side. But before the main course of The BMW is served on Saturday, there’s a tasty entrée in store as the Melbourne autumn winds down.

G1 Friday at the Valley

With the Mornington Cup occupying stand-alone Saturday status, city racegoers will be heading to Moonee Valley on Friday night for the running of the Group 1 $500,000 Keogh Homes William Reid Stakes at weight for age conditions over 1200m. Melbourne’s final Group 1 race of the season was first run in 1925. It was famously won by Manikato five years in a row (1979-1983), while Ascot champions Black Caviar and Miss Andretti are also past champions. There’s a very even field of 12 engaged this year, with Star Turn a narrow favourite ($4.20 with Ladbrokes), while The Quarterback is the rank outsider at just $20 (with William Hill). Last year’s winner Flamberge is a $16 chance with bet365. Gary Portelli celebrated victory with She Will Reign in the Golden Slipper last week and we like his chances here with #1 Rebel Dane ($10 with Luxbet). The 7yo entire won the G1 Manikato (this track/distance/grade) last October while jockey Ben Melham is in superb form.

Mare a Fair Chance in Tough WFA Test

Showers are forecast in Sydney for the 48 hours prior to this weekend’s showpiece race at Rosehill, meaning a track upgrade is unlikely at this stage. The feature has been known as The BMW since 2002 and was normally held on Golden Slipper Day but was shuffled to build some space between the Golden Slipper and The Championships. Only nine horses will line-up from the 2400m start for the $1.5 million weight for age race this year, with four well clear in the betting – last week’s Ranvet winner Our Ivanhowe ($4.60), 2017 Australian Cup victor Humidor ($4.20), Sky High winner Tavago ($6.00) and Jameka ($3.80), which won last year’s Caulfield Cup. The former was superb in similar conditions last week and could well go back-to-back but with a slight pull in the weights, we’re leaning to #8 Jameka. The 4yo mare is fourth-up this prep, proven at the distance and will get through the slop.

Kiwi Filly to Bounce Back

Aspiring Australian Oaks runners will come to the fore in the traditional lead-up race – the G1 $500,000 Vinery Stud Stakes over 2000m for the 3yo fillies. It’s a race with an honour roll that includes Lucia Valentina (2014), Mosheen (2012), Miss Finland (2007) and Special Harmony (2004). In the past 15 years, the winners have come through 10 different races across nine different tracks while favourites have snared five of the past 11 editions. The Chris Waller-trained Foxplay holds favouritism with Unibet ($3.30) with another four runners rated at better than $10. We’re going to give the Kiwi filly #1 La Bella Diosa ($6 with Sportsbet) one more chance. Her form had been faultless until a horror run in the G1 Coolmore here on March 11. She’s been passed fit by vets and has worked well since under Jason Collett, who rode her to victory in the G2 Surround at Randwick on February 25.

Gum Boots A Better Option For Golden Slipper Day

Mother Nature must have taken a beating at some point in the recent history of the Sydney autumn carnival as she’s again taking out her frustrations on the already sodden tracks of the Harbour City. With rain continuing to soak the northern half of the state, track conditions are almost certain to stay in the heavy range for Saturday’s massive Golden Slipper meeting at Rosehill Gardens. As if it’s not hard enough to find a winner on a day featuring five Group 1s with more than AUD $8 million in prize money up for grabs. The Golden Slipper was first held in 1957. The inaugural winner Todman (ridden by Neville Sellwood) triumphed by eight lengths at the odds of 1-6!

Take on the Favourite

In the Slipper’s 60-year history, colts have won on 28 occasions with fillies close behind on 25 (seven geldings have taken out the race). Vancouver (2015) was the most recent of the 18 favourites who’ve emerged victorious. Last year’s winner Capitalist was the first two-year-old to sweep the Listed Breeders’ Plate, Gold Coast Magic Millions Classic, and Golden Slipper. Current favourite Houtzen also won the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast in January but the undefeated filly, which carried 63kg in her most recent victory, has drawn barrier 16 of 19. On firm going, she’d be some hope of crossing this big field and hanging on over a fiercely run 1200m. On a heavy track, we’re comfortable to take her on.

Edge with Hometown Runners

The fascinating aspect of this year’s Golden Slipper is that the bulk of the Sydney 2yos have exposed form on wet tracks in contrast to their Brisbane and Melbourne-based rivals. One such runner is #12 She Will Reign ($7 with Ladbrokes). Gary Portelli’s filly has had four career starts for three wins including victory in the Inglis Nursery at Randwick (1000m) on a heavy track (8). This daughter of Manhattan Rain found the wrong alley and trailed only Frolic on an even worse surface at Randwick in the Reisling (1200m) on March 4. We’re also staggered to find #5 Diamond Tathagata at $81 with William Hill. His only two starts have been on heavy tracks for a record of 2:1-1-0, including victory in the G2 Skyline at Randwick on February 25.

Can Hartnell Handle the Wet?

The first of the day’s G1 races is the $700,000 Ranvet Stakes. First held in 1903 as the Rawson Stakes (named in honour of former State Governor Sir Harry Holdsworth Rawson), this weight-for-age affair over 200m has attracted a field of eight runners. Punters expect an easy kill for Hartnell as he finally avoids Winx but we’re not so sure after he folded a long way out in the Chipping Norton on the bog (9) at Randwick. The bulk of the Melbourne horses haven’t sighted a wet track, so let’s take a couple of proven performers. #7 Antonio Giuseppe ($10 with Sportsbet) has a record of 6:4-1-0 on tracks worse than good, while #8 Sofia Rosa could run a cheeky race at odds ($26 on Crownbet).

Winx, and You’ll Miss it

In the remaining G1s, Winx will make it 16 in a row as a $1.24 top pick in the WFA $1,000,000 China Horse Club George Ryder over 1500m. Inference won the Randwick Guineas on a heavy (10) and makes a logical choice at $3.60 (with bet365) in the $600,000 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas for the 3yos. The $700,000 Nathan’s Famous Hotdogs Galaxy (1100m) is arguably the toughest race of the day. #6 Redzel (an $8 pick with Luxbet) makes a convincing case based on the 3kg swing in weights after finishing runner-up to #3 English in the G2 Challenge at Randwick on a heavy (10). Carrying just 50kg, #14 Glenall ($18 with Ladbrokes) is worth a small play.

Gold Lies At The End Of The Festival Rainbow

Four days of festivities and elite jumps racing culminates on day 4 at The Festival with the running of the £575,000 Grade 1 Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup. Run over a distance of 3 miles, 2½ furlongs (5331m), the field faces 22 obstacles on the way to joining one of the most prestigious clubs in global racing. The most valuable non-handicap chase in Great Britain, the Gold Cup has been won by the likes of Arkle (1964-66), his great rival Mill House (1963), Best Mate (2002-04), Golden Miller (a five-time winner from 1932-36) and Kauto Star (2007 & 2009) since it was first run over the jumps in 1924 (although the history of a Gold Cup race on this site dates back to 1819).

After the victory of novice Coneygree in 2015 at just his fourth start over the obstacles, the 2016 Cheltenham Gold Cup was won stylishly by the Gordon Elliott-trained 9/4 favourite Don Cossack, ridden by Bryan Cooper. Pushed into the lead as they approached the last, he powered up the hill to win by 4 ½ lengths ahead of the gallant Djakadam. That would be Don Cossack’s final career run as he was retired from racing in January 2017 following a recurrence of a tendon injury after his Gold Cup win.

Bookies can’t split leading trio

There’s an intriguing market for this year’s Gold Cup, with Djakadam, Native River and Cue Card equal favourites at 7-2 across most the major books, while the next seven among the 14-horse field are rated at 20-1 or better to upset the leading trio. History shows that the winner will most probably come from the three runners at the head of the market with 14 of the past 15 winners in the top three of the betting, only Lord Windermere bucking that trend in 2014. All of the past 16 champions of the race had previously won a Grade 1 contest, while 11 of the past 15 winners had all won or finished second on a previous trip to The Festival.

Lizzie Kelly becomes the first woman to ride in the race for 33 years when she partners outsider Tea For Two. Kelly became the only woman to win a Grade 1 race over jumps when she rode the horse to success in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase in December 2015. But there’s a trend we’re prepared to take on this year with just one of the past 21 winners aged ten or older (Cool Dawn in 1998), with 20 of the past 22 Gold Cup victors were aged seven, eight or nine.

Winning script for Cue Card

The 11-year-old Cue Card (pictured) is a familiar presence at The Festival. He won the Weatherbys Champion Bumper (a first Festival victory for his trainer Colin Tizzard) in 2010 and has run at the meeting four times since. He finished fourth in the 2011 Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, won the Ryanair Chase in 2013 and finished second to Sprinter Sacre in the Racing Post Arkle Novices’ Chase in 2012. In 2016, he fell three fences from home in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup when disputing the lead, losing out on the chance of a £1 million bonus.

This season, Cue Card has won both the Grade 1 Betfair Chase at Haydock and the Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase. He will once again be ridden by Paddy Brennan. Perhaps it’s fate that Thistlecrack was ruled out of the Gold Cup on February 21 due to a tendon injury as Cue Card’s stablemate would almost certainly have started favourite. Shortest-priced of the five Irish-trained runners is Willie Mullins’ Djakadam at 4/1, runner-up for the past two years. He looms as the main danger to our top pick. Bizarrely, Mullins has never won the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup but has saddled the runner-up six times.

The Festival Embraces Luck Of The Irish On Day 3

Saint Patrick may have rid Ireland of all the snakes, but he’d have his hands full eradicating Cheltenham of all the Guinness-swilling Irish celebrating St Patrick’s Day as part of day 3 at The Festival. Amid the festivities and proud displays of green, white and orange (well, mostly green), the keener punters will be closely following the markets ahead of the day’s two big races, £300,000 Grade 1 The Sun Bets Stayers’ Hurdle and the Ryanair Chase.

In 2016, Thistlecrack justified banker status as he bounded away from Irish challenger Alpha Des Obeaux to take The Sun Bets Stayers’ Hurdle in breath-taking fashion and confirmed his domination of the staying hurdle division. Formerly known as the World Hurdle, this race’s short history dates back to just 2000. In that period, there’ve been three multiple winners – Big Buck’s (four in a row from 2009-2012 for Ruby Walsh and Paul Nicholls), Inglis Drever (2005, 2007-08) and Baracouda (2002-03).

Go with Harry, Know What I Mean?

After 21 runners accepted for the Sun Bets Stayers’ Hurdle, a field of 16 is set to line-up for the fourth on the card of day 3. Unowhatimeanharry ($2.25 favourite with Sun Bets) is unbeaten in eight starts for trainer Harry Fry and signed off last season with victory in the G1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at The Festival, after which he was bought privately by J.P. McManus. The nine-year-old was impressive in beating Ballyoptic (Nigel Twiston-Davies, 16/1) on his return in a G2 contest at Newbury in November before a four and a half-length victory over Lil Rockerfeller in the G1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot the following month. Jessica Harrington plans to run 2014 Stan James Champion Hurdle victor Jezki ($8 with Paddy Power) after two good comeback runs this season. The JP McManus-owned gelding Yanworth ($7 with Coral), who will be ridden for the first time by Mark Walsh, has won each of his three starts this season, the most recent in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton. The favourite looks close enough to a good thing.

Mullins Strong Hand in Ryanair Chase

The day’s other feature – the £300,000 Ryanair Chase (Grade 1 over 2m 5f) – is the third on the card. There’s value galore with five of the eight runners rated at 10-1 or better. Willie Mullins sent out the 1-2 in the 2016 Ryanair Chase as Vautour beat Valseur Lido. This year, the trainer is responsible for saddling the favourite in the championship contest this year. Un De Sceaux ($3.25 thanks to William Hill) has been victorious on two of his three previous appearances at Cheltenham. The nine-year-old stormed to six-length victory in the Racing Post Arkle Novices’ Chase at The Festival in 2015 and returned last year to chase home Sprinter Sacre in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase. He also triumphed at the course on his latest start, beating the 2015 Ryanair Chase winner Uxizandre (Alan King) by five lengths in the re-scheduled G1 Clarence House Chase on Festival Trials Day (January 28). The British challenge includes Josses Hill (Nicky Henderson), an impressive winner of the G2 Betfred Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon in December and the best of the next at $8 (Betway).