Tag: Contributer

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).

Emirates Stakes Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

John O’Shea was appointed Godolphin’s head trainer in Australia in August and bids for some much-needed Group 1 success in Saturday’s Emirates Stakes with Contributer.

Although Godolphin has claimed over $20million in prize money for the third consecutive year, they have only recorded three Group 1 winners to date. It was not until last month that Godolphin registered their first Group 1 win in the UK. This will be the lowest since 1997 when they only had 83 horses in training as opposed to more than 400 in 2014.

The statistics for Group 2, Group 3 and Listed winners are very much in keeping with recent years but the significant fall in Group 1 winners will be a matter of serious concern for Sheikh Mohammed.

Contributer is a son of High Chaparral previously trained by Ed Dunlop. He had only won at Listed level prior to his recent victory in the Group 3 David Jones Cup at Caulfield. That was over his favoured trip of a mile and a quarter and he drops back to a mile on Saturday.

He was bought by Godolphin after winning the Wolferton Handicap at Royal Ascot this summer and sent to O’Shea. He was always travelling easily just off the pace at Caulfield and eased to the front on the home turn, only needing to be pushed out to hold Noble Protector by a length. He is drawn nicely in barrier two and should be able to keep tabs on the leaders over this shorter trip.

The race that produced the best trial was probably the Crystal Mile in which Hooked beat the staying on Bull Point and Desert Jeuney. Hooked was right up with the pace from the outset while the second and third came from well back on the home turn. I was particularly taken with the late run of Bull Point who enjoys a 2kg pull at the weights with the winner on Saturday. Damien Oliver takes the ride on this one and he could prove the each-way value of the race.

Hucklebuck is another fancied runner starting from barrier five. He won the Group 3 Yellowglen Stakes over 1400m here on Derby Day but it must be a slight concern that this race will come too soon.

Contributer @4-1 Sportsbet*

Bull Point @8-1 Bet365

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3

*Sportsbet Special Offer – If your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd in the Emirates, stakes will be refunded (up to a maximum of $100, first bet only)