Tag: Australian racing

Rosehill Preview – Godolphin chase Group 1 glory

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The £1.8million Golden Slipper is the feature event on a fantastic card at Rosehill on Saturday that includes five Group One races.

Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation had a poor year in 2014 but are out in force this weekend. As well as having four runners in the main event, they also hold Group 1 hopes with Contributer and Sweynesse elsewhere on the card.

The famous blue silks will be carried by Exosphere in the Slipper along with Haptic, Ottoman and Furnaces. Exosphere has been the horse for money this week and will start from barrier ten under James McDonald. He was a brilliant four-length winner of the Skyline Stakes last month and looks the pick of the Godolphin quartet.

The best of the rest may be Furnaces who starts from the lucky barrier one, responsible for three of the last six winners of the race. British interest is supplied by three of our leading jockeys. James Doyle will ride Haptic with William Buick aboard Ottoman while Ryan Moore has picked up the ride on big outsider Odyssey Moon.

The biggest danger to Exosphere could come from the favourite Vancouver, bidding to give Gai Waterhouse her sixth Golden Slipper. His chances took a knock when he was drawn in barrier 18, although he could start from 15 if both emergencies fail to get a run.  Only one horse has won from barrier 15 in the last 32 years and that hands an advantage to Exosphere in barrier 10.

Vancouver remains unbeaten after three starts and was particularly impressive in the Group 2 Todman Stakes. Waterhouse also saddles English and Speak Fondly in the race, drawn six and twelve respectively. English will be ridden by Blake Shinn and won the Group 2 Reisling Stakes last time while Damien Oliver partners last Saturday’s Group 2 Magic Night Stakes winner Speak Fondly.

Godolphin could claim further Group 1 success with Contributer in the Ranvet Stakes. He won a handicap at Royal Ascot last summer but has already claimed Group 2 and Group 1 wins in Australia, taking the Chipping Norton Stakes at Warwick Farm last month. Sweynesse is strongly fancied to win the Rosehill Guineas in the same colours. He needs to reverse form with market rival Hallowed Crown from the Hobartville Stakes last month where the pair were separated by a head.

Rosehill Saturday

Race 4 – Contributer @2.30 Sportsbet*

Race 5 – Sweynesse @2.70 Sportsbet

Race 7 – Exosphere @4.00 Sportsbet

*Sportsbet special offer – money back as a free bet if your horse finishes 2nd, 3rd or 4th in any of the first four races at Rosehill on Saturday. First bet only (max. $100 per customer).

Winterbottom Stakes Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

There have been few more thrilling races than the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley last month when eight horses crossed the line with mere fractions between them. The verdict went to Lankan Rupee but we get a chance to see the runner-up Angelic Light in action on Saturday in the $750,000 Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot.

That was a fantastic run by Angelic Light who has clashing with the top sprinters all season. The Robbie Griffiths-trained mare will break from barrier five on Saturday and bids to add to her victory in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes. On that occasion she got the verdict over Lankan Rupee and she has been snapping at his heels ever since.

The big danger could be Peter Moody’s Moment Of Change who finished second in this race last year, beaten a nose by Buffering. He was only inches behind Angelic Light in the Manikato and then finished fifth behind Terravista in the Darley Classic.

Godolphin’s Sidestep has been the subject of some good support this week and starts from barrier two. The son of Exceed And Excel was three places behind Moment Of Change in the Darley but has been aimed specifically at this race for some time.

Jim Taylor’s Magnifisio beat a good field to win the Group 2 Lee Steere Stakes last time out and had earlier finished fourth in the Group 3 Prince Of Wales Stakes. Her chances have not been helped with a wide barrier draw in eleven.

If there is to be a surprise it could come from the talented Bel Sprinter, winner of the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint. The seven-year-old disappointed last time out at Flemington behind Deep Field but could make them all go if he is in the mood. Group 3 Colonel Reeves Stakes winner Shining Knight had that race sewn up some way out but this looks a much tougher contest. Testamezzo finished strongly in second that day but will surely be playing for places at best.

Angelic Light is hard to fault on her form or her consistency and she can enjoy Group 1 success on Saturday at the main expense of Moment Of Change.

Angelic Light @3.10 Bet365

Bel Sprinter @14.0 Bet365

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3

Railway Stakes Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The $1million Group 1 Railway Stakes is Perth’s richest race and is the highlight of Saturday’s card at Ascot.

The bookmakers make the front-running The Cleaner favourite for Mick Burles as he bids for his first taste of Group 1 success. Steven Arnold has the task of sending him out in front from barrier eight and he certainly has a chance on his fine third in the Emirates Stakes.

His main market rival is the Grant Williams-trained Respondent who has drawn barrier while stable companion Elite Belle is drawn wide in sixteen. The latter finished fourth in the Lee Steere Stakes which has proved a valuable guide to this race in the past. She is one of six runners coming on from that race and must reverse the form with runner-up Fuchsia Bandana and third placed Platinum Rocker. They are drawn in barriers 11 and 9 respectively so it could be close between them once again.

The one that caught my eye in the Lee Steere was fifth-placed Ihtsahym. He was a smart three-year-old, winning the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic and the Group 2 CB Cox Stakes. His form this spring has not been anything special but he has been racing over shorter distances and was not beaten far last time. He goes back up to a mile here and could be the each-way value of the race.

I just favour Elite Belle to come out best of the rest. Four of the last ten winners of the Railway Stakes ran in the Lee Steere Stakes on their previous start and Elite Belle is yet to be beaten over a mile. There has been plenty of interest in 2012 winner Mr Moet who comes here without a prep race. Jockey Paul Harvey has won it three times in the past while Mr Moet has a fine record at Ascot.

Local trainer Adam Durrant believes that he is as fit as he can get him for this race. Alma’s Fury looks to have been dealt a rough hand in barrier 18 following a good run behind Hucklebuck in the Yellowglen Stakes. If The Cleaner goes out quickly, the field may be stretched and that will suit those with stamina. I’m hoping that Ihtsahymn can bounce back to form but will also have an interest in Elite Belle.

Elite Belle @7.00 Sportsbet

Ihtsahymn @17.0 Bet365

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4