Racing
Before The First - Tracks, Facts & Tips for your punting day
The scramble for a start in the Golden Slipper goes down to the wire at Rosehill Gardens today.
The final two Slipper lead-ups, the Magic Night Stakes and Pago Pago Stakes, will determine the elite 16-horse field for the $5 million Golden Slipper next week.
Warwoven , the long-time Golden Slipper favourite, lost his place at the top of Slipper betting this week and is at $2.80 for the Pago Pago behind Central Europe at $2.10.
A top two finish should be enough for Warwoven to get into the Golden Slipper but boom colt Central Europe is in a must-win situation.
It's a similar situation for the fillies in the Magic Night Stakes where Queensland's Pembrey is the $1.95 favourite.
At Caulfield, the $1 million The Showdown provides an opportunity for the likes of Sydney filly Miss Chanel to vault into the Golden Slipper field although it would be tough for a two-year-old to back-up in seven days with an interstate trip in between.
The feature race at Rosehill is the Group 1 $1 million Coolmore Classic (1500m) for the fillies and mares where Lazzura is early favourite at $5 along with Savvy Hallie.
Lazzura, who has the all-conquering trainer-jockey combination of Chris Waller and James McDonald on her side, has topweight of 58kg – a handicap no mare has carried to Coolmore success since the great Sunline won with 60kg in 2002.
Savvy Hallie has drawn awkwardly in gate 13 but she has tactical speed and her form this autumn has been excellent, winning the Light Fingers Stakes then stretching the outstanding filly Tempted in the Surround Stakes.
McDonald, Sydney's reigning premier rider, comes off a record six winners at Randwick last week and has nine rides at Rosehill of which seven are favourite – Jamabalaya (race 1), Pembrey (race 3), Central Europe (race 4), Wootton Verni (race 5), Sixties (race 6), Lazzura (race 8) and Militarize (race 9).
His other rides Tazima (race 2) and Captain Furai (race 10) are on the second line of betting.
ROSEHILL GARDENS
Weather: Mild, cloudy day with light winds and a forecast top temperature of 25c.
Track: Good (4)
Rail: True
CAULFIELD
Weather: Mild, mostly sunny day with light winds and a forecast top temperature of 24c.
Track: Good (4)
Rail: 9m out
GOLD COAST
Weather: Warm, partly cloudy day with the slight chance of a shower of two and a forecast top temperature of 27c.
Track: Soft (5)
Rail: True
MORPHETTVILLE
Weather: Warm, partly cloudy day with the slight chance of a shower and a forecast top temperature of 29c.
Track: Good (4)
Rail: 6m out from 1000m to the winning post, 3m out the remainder
ROSEHILL GARDENS
BEST BET: Unleeshing (r2 no3) was impressive in successive wins by comfortable margins at Kensington and Randwick then had a month between runs and was given her opportunity at stakes level when fifth to Pinito at Randwick last week. She's on the quick back-up and in a much easier race. Clearly the one to beat.
THE NEXT BEST: Sixties (r7 no1) is short enough in betting around $1.60 but it is an understandable quote given his outstanding form this campaign which includes his Hayes Stakes win at Group 3 level before a fighting effort when third to Observer in the Group 1 Australian Guineas. Sixties looks well placed in the Phar Lap Stakes and has James McDonald to overcome his awkward barrier.
VALUE BET: Shohisha (r8 no12) was first-up in the Guy Walter Stakes when fourth to Verona Rose, beaten less than two lengths, after having to make her finishing run on inferior ground close to the inside rail. Shohisha drops to 51kg and meets most of her Coolmore Classic rivals considerably better at the weights. She has been backed from $26 into $19 and is still very good each way value.
THE WHISPER: Pembrey (r3 no3), a dominant winner on debut at Eagle Farm, was backed as if unbeatable in the Sweet Embrace Stakes but raced without much luck when fifth to Spicy Miss. There were plenty of excuses for Pembrey last start and significantly McDonald has stayed with the Queensland filly. She's definitely worth another chance.
CAULFIELD
BEST BET: Salty Pearl (r9 no12) has been placed in all three starts this campaign including her second to super filly Sheza Alibi in the Armanasco Stakes before her third in Sass Appeal's Kewney Stakes. Her form reads very well for the Platinum Guineas which does look an easier race. Drawn to get the perfect run and she is a Group 2 winner at 1600m.
NEXT BEST: Buckaroo (r8 no2) was placed in four successive Group 1 weight-for-age races including his narrow loss to champion mare Via Sistina in the Cox Plate before failing in the Melbourne Cup. He resumed in the Futurity Stakes over 1400m and ran a blinder for second to Pericles. He's a Group 1 winner over the Caulfield 1800m and the small field suits.
VALUE BET: Furious (r1 no6) won over 2000m at Randwick three starts back and has been switched to Melbourne where he has raced well previously and is a Caulfield 1600m winner. Team Hawkes have found a very winnable race for Furious in the Caulfield opener and he's at generous odds around $7.
THE WHISPER: Ndola (r10 no4) was in career-best form over summer with three wins from seven starts and only missing a top three placing once. He had a month between runs before scoring a good win over the Flemington 1200m course. Ndola gets into the Caulfield closer with only 54.5kg and gets 6.5kg off Group 1 winner Jigsaw. Ndola can win again.
TAB FIXED ODDS BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
ROSEHILL GARDENS
R1, Jambalaya $8 - $4.40, Flightcrew $8 - $5
R2, Iceman $6 - $4.40
R3, Pembrey $2.80 - $2.30
R4, Central Europe $2.80 - $2.25
R5, Valiant King $31 - $17
R6, King's Secret $6 - $5, Don't Hope Do $15 - $11 after a bet of $1000 e/w at $12/$3.40
R7, Sixties $1.90 - $1.70 including a big bet of $40,000 place at $1.16
R8, Lazzura $2000 at $5, Savvy Hallie $6 - $5, Firestorm $15 - $13, Shohisha $26 - $21
R9, Militarize $4.6 - $3, Enxuto $11 - $6
R10, Captain Furai $6 - $3.90, Modella $6 – $4.2
CAULFIELD
R5, Purple Streak $2500 at $2.90, High On The Hill $2000 at $6
R8, Buckaroo $3000 at $3, Birdman $2000 at $3.70
MORPHETTVILLE
R1, Never Ordinary $14,000 at $1.40
LADBROKES BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS
ROSEHILL GARDENS
R1, Flightcrew $7.50-$5.50 after a bet of $335 at $7, Jambalaya $8-$50 with a bet of $290 at $8
R2, Unleeshing $750 at $2.85, Tazima $4-$3.70 with bets of $670 at $4, $500 at $3.70, Iceman $5.50-$4 after a bet of $445 at $5.50
R3, By Choice $5.50-$4.60, Pembrey $2.80-$2.30
R4, Central Europe $2.45-$2.25 after a bet of $1000 at $2.25
R5, Huge price changes with Birdman ($3.40) and Trinity College ($4.50) both early scratchings Wooton Verni now most popular runner in small betting race
R6, No big bets or markets moves of note
R7, Sixties $2000 at $1.80, $5000 twice, $1000 twice at $1.75 (90% of race investment)
R8, Lazzura $4.80-$4.60 with bets of $700 at $4.75, $1675 at $4.50, Verona Rose $500 at $8.75, $500 at $8, Savvy Hallie $6-$5 with bets of $500 at $5 twice
R9, Globe with bets of $500 at $5.50, $500 at $5, Militarize $3.90-$3.60 after a bet of $690 at $3.90
R10, Captain Furai $4-$3.80 after a bet of $670 at $4, Modella $6-$4.20 including a bet of $525 at $4,80
CAULFIELD
R1, Foujita San $6-$4.40 with bets of $500 at $6, $500 twice at $5, $500 at $4.80, $570 at $4.50, Furious $7.50-$7 with a bet of $2000 w/p at $7/$2.15, Xtra Rush $3.10-$3 after bets of $2000 at $3.15, $1000 at $3
R2, Photograph $3.80-$2.70 with bets of $800 at $3.50, $1000 at $2.80, Gentle Steel $7-$3.80 after a bet of $365 at $6.50
R3, No bets of market movers of note
R4 Bossy Benita $900 and $750 at $3.20
R5, Toronado Queen $11-$9, Purple Streak $3.60-$2.60 with a bet of $1000 at a $3, High On The Hill $6.50-$5 after bets of $800 and $365 at $6.50, Empire Song $2000 w/p at $10/$2.80
R6, Sir Atlas $4-$2.70 with bets of $500 at $4.15, $720 at $3.80
R7, Phillip Island $7.50-$4.40 with a bet of $300 at $7.50, Valaraoso $23-$9, Miss Chanel $835 at $3.40, $900 at $3.20, $500 at $3.15
R8, Light Infantry Man $5-$3.80 with a bet of $500 at $5, Buckaroo $3.40-$2.80 after bets of $3640 at $3.40, $5840, $900 twice and $500 at $3.20, $600 at $3.15, Birdman $3.90-$3.10 with bets of $700 at $3.95, $720 at $3.80, Whisky On The Hill $500 at $33
R9, Veyepee $5.50-$5, Salty Pearl $3.10-$2.35 with bets of $955 at $3.10, $1000 at $2.43, $1430 and $1000 twice at $2.40
R10, Jigsaw $3.60-$3.30 after bets of $825 at $3.65, $555 and $500 twice at $3.60, $1000 at $3.55, $750, $625, $545 and $500 at $3.50, $4000, $840 and $800 at $3.40) most popular runner at meeting with just over $45,000 which is 94% of hold. Ndola $3.60-$3.20 after a bet of $580 at $3.6
| Ray Thomas Rosehill Selections – Coolmore Classic Day | ||||||||
| Race | No | Horse | 2nd | Horse | 3rd | Horse | 4th | Horse |
| 1 | 15 | APACHE BREEZE | 14 | Jambalaya | 12 | Flightcrew | 7 | Broadway Bouncer |
| 2 | 3 | UNLEESHING | 4 | Tazima | 6 | Iceman | 1 | Nkosi |
| 3 | 2 | PEMBREY | 1 | By Choice | 4 | Hardanger | 11 | Ciaron's Star |
| 4 | 5 | CENTRAL EUROPE | 2 | Warwoven | 1 | Star Of Jamaica | 4 | Outspan |
| 5 | 1 | VAUBAN | 5 | Wootton Verni | 4 | Soul Of Spain | 3 | Just Fine |
| 6 | 2 | KERGUELEN | 4 | King's Secret | 5 | La Fracas | 8 | Mal Coupe |
| 7 | 1 | SIXTIES | 3 | West Of Swindon | 8 | Federalist | 2 | Shangri La Boy |
| 8 | 12 | SHOHISHA | 1 | Lazzura | 7 | Savvy Hallie | 4 | Verona Rose |
| 9 | 2 | MILITARIZE | 4 | Sandpaper | 6 | Lord Penman | 1 | Globe |
| 10 | 14 | MODELLA | 18 | Amreekiyah | 12 | Sovereign Hill | 11 | Captain Furai |
| Ray Thomas Caulfield Selections – Peter Young Stakes Day | ||||||||
| Race | No | Horse | 2nd | Horse | 3rd | Horse | 4th | Horse |
| 1 | 6 | FURIOUS | 7 | Xtra Rush | 1 | Foujita San | 8 | Sunsets |
| 2 | 1 | OH TOO GOOD | 7 | Photograph | 2 | She's Got Pizzazz | 8 | Gentle Steel |
| 3 | 1 | VEIGHT | 4 | Harry's Yacht | 5 | Al Duca | 2 | Athanatos |
| 4 | 2 | MERRIGOLD | 1 | Bossy Benita | 7 | Teine Aulelei | 8 | Yum |
| 5 | 5 | PURPLE STREAK | 6 | High On The Hill | 5 | Cat Noir | 6 | She's Impeccable |
| 6 | 2 | SIR ATLAS | 11 | Inherently | 8 | Empire Song | 3 | Toronado Queen |
| 7 | 10 | MISS CHANEL | 8 | Phillip Island | 5 | Jourama | 11 | Lagunanini |
| 8 | 2 | BUCKAROO | 5 | Birdman | 1 | Light Infantry Man | 3 | Apulia |
| 9 | 12 | SALTY PEARL | 7 | Veyepee | 1 | Different Gravy | 3 | Itazura |
| 10 | 4 | NDOLA | 2 | She's Bulletproof | 1 | Jigsaw | 3 | Corniche |
Gold Coast r2 no6: Dominant Darcy
Gold Coast 10 no2: Sibaaq
Morphettville r4 no2: Autumn Frost
Morphettville r10 no2: Tough Talk
PROVINCIAL MAIL
Gosford r5 no1: Cantiamo
Gosford r8 no4: Banjora
#Good luck today and I hope you back plenty of winners
Check out the latest Sydney News