Racing
Before The First - Tracks, Facts & Tips for your punting day
Autumn Glow, racing’s “Miss Invincible”, might be at unbackable odds for most punters but she will be a compelling watch at Royal Randwick today.
With Randwick's track rating a soft 6 and improving, the main danger to Autumn Glow is bad luck in running.
But Autumn Glow has drawn well in barrier three, has the tactical speed to take up a forward position so jockey James McDonald should ensure she has a trouble-free run.
Unbeaten in nine starts including her dominant first-up Apollo Stakes effort, Autumn Glow is into $1.30 favouritism and with the World Pool operating on this race, she could start much shorter, particularly if Tempted ($1.60 favourite) wins the Group 1 $750,000 Surround Stakes (1400m) run 40 minutes before the Verry Elleegant Stakes.
Waller, who is aiming for a record extending 12 wins in the Verry Elleegant, has seven of the nine starters including his Apollo Stakes trifecta of Autumn Glow, Aeliana and Lindermann.
This trio might run 1-2-3 again although Randwick mile specialist Ceolwulf and the talented Sir Delius are capable of running very competitively, particularly if the track remains a soft 6.
Tempted was superb first-up beating the "boys" in the Eskimo Prince Stakes and she does look a standout back against three-year-old fillies at level weights and she looks set to record her first Group 1 win in the Surround Stakes.
Tempted could be the first leg of a three-year-old Group 1 double for Godolphin and trainer Ciaron Maher.
Some 20 minutes after the Surround Stakes, the Group 1 $1 million Australian Guineas (1600m) is run at Flemington.
Maher's classy Observer is the $2.10 favourite for the Guineas ahead of the emerging Sixties at $3.10.
Ray Thomas and Katelyn McDonald preview the huge day of G1 action at Randwick and Flemington
ROYAL RANDWICKWeather: Mild, cloudy day with the chance of a shower or two in the morning and a forecast top temperature of 27c.
Track: Soft (6)
Rail: True
FLEMINGTON
Weather: Mild, partly cloudy day with the medium chance of showers and a forecast top temperature of 28c
Track: Good (4)
Rail: 2m out
EAGLE FARM
Weather: Mild, partly cloudy day with the chance of a shower or two in the morning and a forecast top temperature of 29c.
Track: Soft (7)
Rail: 0.5m out
MORPHETTVILLE
Weather: Rain, possible storm with a forecast top temperature of 28c.
Track: Good (4)
Rail: 3m out
BEST BET: Roselyn's Star (r10 no6) has been runner-up as favourite in both starts this campaign. He just failed to reel in Hawker Hall at the Gold Coast then finished second to the promising Sixties at Rosehill. Roselyn's Star is at his peak after recent racing, handles soft tracks and gets in well with the claim. This is his chance.
THE NEXT BEST: Tempted (r7 no1), who beat all but Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising in The Everest last spring, resumed with an outstanding win against the "boys" in the Eskimo Prince Stakes. The Godolphin filly was placed in the Golden Rose at 1400m when last in work and goes back to that distance for the Surround Stakes where she is well placed at set weights.
VALUE BET: Media World (r9 no6) is an under-rated sprinter trained by Peter Snowden who is resuming off two good barrier trial efforts. A multiple stakeswinner, Media World goes well fresh and is effective on rain-affected going. He's good value at near double figure odds.
THE WHISPER: Warwoven (r5 no4) won with authority in smart time on debut at Randwick and then scored easily in a stakes race at Eagle Farm early in January. He missed the Magic Millions due to a setback and hasn't trialled going into the Skyline Stakes but this hasn't stopped one punter investing a massive $50,000 at $2 on the boom colt.
FLEMINGTON
BEST BET: Observer (r8 no1) won the Vase-Victoria Derby double last spring, his win in the latter highly impressively over 2500m. He then resumed in the Autumn Stakes at Caulfield over 1400m and sprinted brilliantly fresh to win convincingly. Observer showed tactical speed to settle outside the leader last start before dominating his rivals. The Godolphin three-year-old was exceptional first-up and will be even better suited over the Flemington 1600m for the Australian Guineas.
NEXT BEST: Watersports (r3 no7) comes to Flemington in top form with wins at two of his last three starts, his most recent run was at Sandown earlier this month when he scored with ease. Steps up to Saturday grade but finds himself in a very winnable race with only 55.5kg.
VALUE BET: Gwen's Girl (r6 no8) is a speedy daughter of top sire Rubick and meets her toughest test in the Flemington 1100m dash. But the three-year-old filly has led throughout to score easy wins at Warrnambool and Cranbourne in successive starts, running slick time in both. Jamie Melham takes the ride, she gets in just 1kg over the limit and will give a sight at each way odds.
THE WHISPER: Birdman (r7 no5) caught the eye first-up when he came from the back of the field to finish fourth, beaten less than a length behind Café Millenium in a Listed 1400m race at Flemington. The Chris Waller-trained Birdman will be improved by that run and this is not a strong renewal of the Blamey Stakes.
TAB FIXED ODDS BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
ROYAL RANDWICK
R1, Jambalaya $8 - $6.50
R2, Brave Xena $8 - $5.50, Zampano $15 - $10
R3, Mr Monaco $8 - $5.50 with a bet of $3560 at $7
R4, Pembrey $2.80 - $2.10 with a bet of $5000 at $2.30
R5, Central Europe $11 - $7, Warwoven $50,000 at $2
R6, Firestorm $8 - $6.50, Arctic Glamour $15 - $11
R7, Tempted $1.60 - $1.70 - $1.60 with a bet of $3000 at $1.60, Apocalyptic $4.60 - $4
R8, Autumn Glow $1.30 with a bet of $30,000 at those odds
R9, Axius $6 - $4.60, Militarize $15 - $7, Media World $11 - $8.50, Enriched $11 - $8.50
R10, Mal Coupe $4.60 - $3.80, Gatsby's $11 - $8.50
FLEMINGTON
R8, Observer $4500 at $2.20, Sixties $2500 at $3
LADBROKES BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
ROYAL RANDWICK
R1, No big bets or market movers
R2, No big bets or market movers
R3, Unlimited $15-$11, Bear On The Loose $650 at $3.65, $1000 at $3.50, Golden Century $330 a $7
R4, Pembrey $2.30-$2.10 with bets of $1660 and $1000 at $2.20
R5, Warwoven $1000 and $900 at $2.20, Central Europe $8.50-$7 with bets of $690 at $8.25, $1000 at $7.75
R6, Manaal $600 at $3.80, $740 at $3.70, Arctic Glamour $15-$11, Shohisha $31-$20
R7, Tempted $1000 at $1.68, $4000, $3000 and $1500 at $1.65
R8, Sir Delius $500 at $7, $1000 at $6.50, Autumn Glow $10,000 at $1.45, $15,000, $10,000, $5000 twice and $3500 at $1.35, Aeliana $500 at $11
R9, Axius $5.50-$4.60 with a bet of $920 at $5.15, Enriched $11-$8 with a bet of $200 at $11
R10, Mal Coupe $5-$3.60 with a bet of $500 at $5
FLEMINGTON
R1, Gin Twist $4.80-$4 with a bet of $525 at $4.80
R2, Rue De Royale with bets of $770 twice at $3.60, $800 twice and $500 at $3.50, Wolfy $500 at $17
R3, Watersports $3.30-$2.90 with a bet of $900 at $3.20
R4, Astral Flame $4.50-$3.80 with bets of $590 and $500 twice at $4.40, Ahha Ahha $3.50-$3.20
R5, Celui $4.20-$3.10 with a bet of $670 at $4, McGaw $3.70-$3.40 with bets of $1000 and $900 twice at $3.20, $950 twice, $860 and $600 at $3.10
R6, Bel Merci $6.50-$4.40 with a bet of $1000 at $5.15, Educated $3.90-$3.60 with bets of $690 at $3.90, $670 at $3.70
R7, Birdman $700 and $500 (4 times) at $5, Air Assault $6.50-$4.20 with a bet of $450 at $5.50
R8, Observer with bets of $1050 at $2.55, $1400 and $1250 at $2.45, $1400 and $1200 at $2.40, $2500, $1530 and $1200 (3 times) at $2.30
R9, Alpha Sofie $3-$2.25 with bets of $1000 at $3.05, $1055, $1050 and $1000 (3 times) at $2.90, $1115 at $2.80, $1000 at $2.43
R10, Ambassadorial $4.80-$3.20 with a bet of $500 at $4.20, Castellar $5-$4.80 with a bet of $500 at $5
| Ray Thomas Randwick Selections – Verry Elleegant Stakes Day | ||||||||
| Race | No | Horse | 2nd | Horse | 3rd | Horse | 4th | Horse |
| 1 | 5 | FLIGHTCREW | 10 | Bryant | 6 | Let's Go Again | 8 | Apache Breeze |
| 2 | 17 | BRAVE XENA | 9 | Signatories | 10 | Mrs Goldberg | 2 | Satin Stiletto |
| 3 | 4 | BEAR ON THE LOOSE | 10 | Golden Century | 13 | Bacio De Mist | 11 | Furious |
| 4 | 2 | SPICY MISS | 8 | Hardanger | 3 | Lumbini | 6 | Pembrey |
| 5 | 1 | FIREBALL | 4 | Warwoven | 14 | Zensen | 2 | Knightsbridge |
| 6 | 5 | GERRINGONG | 4 | Verona Rose | 1 | Manaal | 10 | Shohisha |
| 7 | 1 | TEMPTED | 2 | Apocalyptic | 3 | Ole Dancer | 7 | Panova |
| 8 | 8 | AUTUMN GLOW | 2 | Sir Delius | 9 | Aeliana | 1 | Ceolwulf |
| 9 | 6 | MEDIA WORLD | 9 | Axius | 5 | Willaidow | 1 | Coal Crusher |
| 10 | 6 | ROSELYN'S STAR | 12 | Mal Coupe | 1 | Cloudland | 8 | Gatsby's |
| Ray Thomas Flemington Selections – Australian Guineas Day | ||||||||
| Race | No | Horse | 2nd | Horse | 3rd | Horse | 4th | Horse |
| 1 | 5 | JACARANDA | 6 | Gin Twist | 4 | The Troubleshooter | 1 | Harry Met Sally |
| 2 | 11 | LEGACY BAY | 1 | Rue De Royale | 1 | Rue De Royale | 5 | Regal Tycoon |
| 3 | 7 | WATERSPORTS | 9 | Maisy | 5 | Bons To Riches | 2 | Red Galaxy |
| 4 | 3 | SNEAKY SUNRISE | 7 | Hot Digity Boom | 9 | Ahha Ahha | 5 | Mometz |
| 5 | 1 | BRIDAL WALTZ | 3 | Celui | 2 | Midwest | 4 | McGaw |
| 6 | 8 | GWEN'S GIRL | 1 | Bel Merci | 6 | Educated | 10 | Headbanger |
| 7 | 5 | BIRDMAN | 2 | Apulia | 8 | Enxuto | 7 | Air Asssault |
| 8 | 1 | OBSERVER | 4 | Sixties | 2 | Planet Red | 8 | Romantic Encounter |
| 9 | 3 | ALPHA SOFIE | 1 | Nashville Jack | 5 | Trapper John | 13 | Fundamental Nature |
| 10 | 11 | AMBASSADORIAL | 10 | Xtra Rush | 7 | Fiorenet | 12 | Seafall |
Eagle Farm r4 no2: Cherry Bomshell
Eagle Farm r6 no7: Noble Conqueror
Morphettville r1 no2: Super Wonder
Morphettville r7 no7: Tapinforpar
PROVINCIAL MAIL
Newcastle r6 no8: Star Act
Newcastle r7 no2: Midnight Opal
#Good luck today and I hope you back plenty of winners
| NVcR7NlRWUI |
| Ray Thomas and Katelyn McDonald preview the huge day of G1 action at Randwick and Flemington |
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