Category: Australian Horse Racing

$2251 worth of bonuses to be had this christmas!

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Howdy.

It’s that time of the year. We’re all recovering from Christmas day with the family as people collapse with food comas and gran has had one too many brandies. Us punters find ourselves trying to work out the best bets for the holiday period as a result. With fantastic racing taking place around the globe, theres plenty to get your teeth stuck into.

With that in mind, we’ve put together a short list of the top  offers available to you over the coming days.

Theres a whopping $2251 up for grabs. Take advantage now!

Winterbottom Stakes Preview

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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

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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

Ballarat Cup Preview

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The $200,000 Ballarat Cup is the last black-type race of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival 2014.

Bookmakers have chalked up Robert Smerdon’s Spinderbella as the favourite following her victory at Moonee Valley last time out under Glen Boss. The five-year-old mare is by Spinning World and is unbeaten at Ballarat after two previous victories. Connections will have been delighted with the draw in barrier three and Chad Schofield takes over the reins on Saturday.

Smerdon had originally intended running Spinderbella in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes at Flemington but swerved that race due to the fast ground. He won this race in 1996 with McGuane and will also saddle Electric Fusion (drawn 17).

My idea of the winner is Dan O’Sullivan’s Tuscan Fire despite having to carry joint top weight of 60kg. The eight-year-old will have the assistance of champion jockey Kerrin McEvoy and will pop out from barrier one. He was a good fourth over a shorter trip Melbourne Cup Day and that should have put him spot on for this race.

Chris Waller saddles four-year-old Vilanova (drawn 2) while the first two home in the Ararat Cup, Mujadale and At First Sight, will clash again. Mujadale has much the better of the draw here and it would be no surprise to see the form confirmed.

The colours of OTI Racing have been prominent in recent weeks with the successes of Au Revoir and Renew. They are pinning their hopes of Count Of Limonade here, although trainer Mick Price has issued a warning that he will not run on fast ground. He was pulled out of the Group 2 Zipping Classic at Sandown last Saturday with a high temperature but the Moe Cup winner is reported to be back in excellent health. He finished fifth in the Bendigo Cup with Price insisting that he would have fared better on easier ground.

The tough mare Waltzing To Win could sneak into the frame with her low weight but I am siding with McEvoy to steer home Tuscan Fire with Mujadale good value for a place at around 10-1. T

Tuscan Fire @7.0 Sportsbet*

Mujadale @11.0 Sportsbet

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4

* If your horse finishes runner-up in the Ballarat Cup, Sportsbet will refund your stake as a free bet up to a maximum $100.

Sandown Cup Preview

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Zipping Classic Day brings the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival to a close with some top class racing. The Listed Sandown Cup should satisfy Australian racing fans who enjoy a good staying contest with 10 set to go to post for race 4 on the card.

Top weight for the $150,000 event is Shoreham, trained by Saab Hasan. Craig Williams rides the five-year-old who will start from barrier 2 but there is little else to recommend him. He has not won since the Listed Sofitel in September 2013 and his best effort since was fourth in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes behind Unchain My Heart.

That was way back in May for the Hayes and Dabernig team and the mare was never a factor in last week’s Melbourne Cup, eventually trailing home in 16th place. Craig Newitt takes the ride on her and will start from barrier five.

The favourite is Robert Hickmott’s Massiyn following a find run in the Bendigo Cup behind Bring Something. He stuck on well after chasing a fast pace that day and the winner went on to run well in the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes last weekend.

UK racing fans will remember Massiyn being beaten a head by Royal Diamond in the Irish St Leger back in 2012. That was a vintage renewal with Brown Panther third, Aiken fourth, Simenon fifth and Fame And Glory in sixth. He was then bought with the intention of having a tilt at the Melbourne Cup in the famous Lloyd Williams colours. Providing that recent race has not taken too much out of him, he looks the one to beat on Saturday.

Like A Carousel finished sixth behind Signoff in the Lexus Stakes last time and was also third in the Geelong Cup. He won the Listed Harry White Classic in September and should not be far away. Renew ran poorly in the Caulfield Cup but bounced back to his best when second to Grand Marshal at Flemington last time. He is another familiar name to UK punters having worked his way up the handicap with Marco Botti as a three-year-old.

Staying on behind Renew in fifth spot was Aggregator who only had a couple behind him on the home turn. He could run into a place here if kept a little closer to the pace. He was only fifth in the Geelong and is unlikely to be improving at the age of seven.

Massiyn @3.20 Sportsbet

Sandown Guineas Preview

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The $300,000 Group 2 Sandown Guineas is one of six Group races that bring the Spring Racing Carnival to a close this weekend.

The Adelaide-based Lord Aspen is set to put his unbeaten record on the line for Mick Huxtable following his impressive victory in the Hilton Hotels and Resorts Stakes. That win stretched his winning run to four and Matthew Neilson will ride him from barrier six on Saturday.

He is still relatively inexperienced and connections are optimistic that there is still further improvement to come. Third home Ducal Castle re-opposes after finishing strongly but Neilson felt that the winner was dossing in front.

The favourite is Darren Weir’s Stratum Star who will break from barrier two in the hands of Kerrin McEvoy. The son of Stratum colt has been in the first three in all of his last six races and looked sure to win the Group 3 Carbine Stakes last time out. The race was run at a crawl and he virtually pulled his way to the front with two furlongs to go but was run out of it by Kermadec close home.

He had earlier won the Listed Yellowglen Vintage Stakes and Crown Lager Stakes and a faster pace on Saturday should suit him. The Godolphin-owned Careless stayed on into fifth place and has plenty ground to make up.

The David Hayes & Tom Dabernig duo of Zululand and Petrology have been done no favours by the draw. Zululand and Stephen Baster start from barrier 9 with Petrology (Nicholas Hall) widest of all in barrier 13. Petrology won the Listed TV Stakes on Crown Oaks Day from Chill Party but the form does not look the strongest on offer.

Paul Messara has been talking up the chances of the lightly-raced Rekindled Power after his easy win in a maiden race at Bendigo last time. He will start from barrier ten under Dwayne Dunn and is closely related to the smart Rekindled Interest. That horse won the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase and Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes as well as being placed in the Cox Plate. This race may just come a little too soon in Rekindled Power’s career but he looks a nice prospect.

Stratum Star is the form choice but Lord Aspen may just provide better value at around the 9-2 mark.

Lord Aspen @5.50 Sportsbet