Tag: Moonee Valley

Sydney Still Soggy For BMW Day At Rosehill Gardens

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Another week, another 100 millimetres of rain for Sydney, meaning Saturday’s Group 1 meeting at Rosehill Gardens again looks set to be run on a heavy track. But in stark contrast to a soggy Randwick, the Rosehill track held up remarkably for last week’s Golden Slipper meeting and we’re expecting a fair racing surface. It was also a surprisingly easy assignment for punters with most races dominated by genuine wet trackers that had race fitness on their side. But before the main course of The BMW is served on Saturday, there’s a tasty entrée in store as the Melbourne autumn winds down.

G1 Friday at the Valley

With the Mornington Cup occupying stand-alone Saturday status, city racegoers will be heading to Moonee Valley on Friday night for the running of the Group 1 $500,000 Keogh Homes William Reid Stakes at weight for age conditions over 1200m. Melbourne’s final Group 1 race of the season was first run in 1925. It was famously won by Manikato five years in a row (1979-1983), while Ascot champions Black Caviar and Miss Andretti are also past champions. There’s a very even field of 12 engaged this year, with Star Turn a narrow favourite ($4.20 with Ladbrokes), while The Quarterback is the rank outsider at just $20 (with William Hill). Last year’s winner Flamberge is a $16 chance with bet365. Gary Portelli celebrated victory with She Will Reign in the Golden Slipper last week and we like his chances here with #1 Rebel Dane ($10 with Luxbet). The 7yo entire won the G1 Manikato (this track/distance/grade) last October while jockey Ben Melham is in superb form.

Mare a Fair Chance in Tough WFA Test

Showers are forecast in Sydney for the 48 hours prior to this weekend’s showpiece race at Rosehill, meaning a track upgrade is unlikely at this stage. The feature has been known as The BMW since 2002 and was normally held on Golden Slipper Day but was shuffled to build some space between the Golden Slipper and The Championships. Only nine horses will line-up from the 2400m start for the $1.5 million weight for age race this year, with four well clear in the betting – last week’s Ranvet winner Our Ivanhowe ($4.60), 2017 Australian Cup victor Humidor ($4.20), Sky High winner Tavago ($6.00) and Jameka ($3.80), which won last year’s Caulfield Cup. The former was superb in similar conditions last week and could well go back-to-back but with a slight pull in the weights, we’re leaning to #8 Jameka. The 4yo mare is fourth-up this prep, proven at the distance and will get through the slop.

Kiwi Filly to Bounce Back

Aspiring Australian Oaks runners will come to the fore in the traditional lead-up race – the G1 $500,000 Vinery Stud Stakes over 2000m for the 3yo fillies. It’s a race with an honour roll that includes Lucia Valentina (2014), Mosheen (2012), Miss Finland (2007) and Special Harmony (2004). In the past 15 years, the winners have come through 10 different races across nine different tracks while favourites have snared five of the past 11 editions. The Chris Waller-trained Foxplay holds favouritism with Unibet ($3.30) with another four runners rated at better than $10. We’re going to give the Kiwi filly #1 La Bella Diosa ($6 with Sportsbet) one more chance. Her form had been faultless until a horror run in the G1 Coolmore here on March 11. She’s been passed fit by vets and has worked well since under Jason Collett, who rode her to victory in the G2 Surround at Randwick on February 25.

Lankan Rupee wins dramatic Manikato Stakes

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The prelude to the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday did not disappoint as Lankan Rupee re-instated his name at the top of the world’s sprinters.

Officially rated the best in the world at the start of the season, Lankan Rupee had suffered two shock defeats going into this race. He was beaten by Angelic Light in the McEwen Stakes before being denied by the front-running Buffering in the Moir Stakes.

Connections had insisted that the horse was approaching his best for this race but a wide draw in barrier nine presented jockey Craig Newitt with a dilemma. Should he sit in behind and hope for the gaps to appear or take the bull by the horns and go from the gate. He chose the latter and blasted from the stalls before crossing over in front of old rival Buffering.

He held off the chasing pack in a dramatic finish which saw eight horses covered by barely half a length. Buffering had tried to get to him by never looked likely to do so while Angelic Light got within a short-head at the finishing line. Famous Seamus was just a nose away in third spot with the luckless Rebel Dane fourth and Terravista fifth.

Lankan Rupee then had to survive a dual protest before connections could claim the $1 million prize. Angelic Light’s jockey Damien Oliver and Famous Seamus’ rider Tim Clark both objected on the ground that Lankan Rupee had caused severe interference only 100m from the start. Oliver told the stewards that his mount was nearly brought down while Buffering was also seriously hampered on his inside.

Lankan Rupee has now earned more than $3 million and is set to clash with the likes of Earthquake, Rubick and Chautauqua in the Darley Sprint at Flemington next month. That race is also the target of Europe’s leading sprinter Slade Power, owned by bookmaker Paddy Power.

The five-year-old disappointed on his only previous start outside Europe when only tenth in the Hong Kong Sprint last year. He has won all three starts since culminating in the July Cup at Newmarket. He has shown his flexibility by winning on a variety of different tracks and going but it is an ambitious raid by Ed Lynam’s five-year-old. No doubt the connections of all of those packed in behind Lankan Rupee will also fancy at a crack at the champion sprinter next month.

Sportsbet quote Lankan Rupee at 5.50, the same price as Slade Power, with Chautauqua the clear favourite at 2.80.

Manikato Stakes Preview

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As well as the Cox Plate, Moonee Valley also stages the $1million Manikato Stakes this weekend with twelve horses set to go to post on Friday evening. The race looks like a virtual re-run of the Moir Stakes with the first four home back in action.

The seven-year-old Buffering beat Lankan Rupee by a short-head with Rebel Dane the same distance away in third. Angelic Light was just three-quarters of a length away in fourth in a blanket finish.

Trainer Robert Heathcote expressed his satisfaction at the draw on Tuesday with Buffering in barrier four while his main market rivals are on his outside. Lankan Rupee will break from barrier nine with Terravista in seven. Terravista was a comfortable two length winner of the Group 2 The Shorts  last time out but is taking a rise in class. He also came from off the pace last time so it will be interesting to see if he can get to a fast-starter like Buffering.

The bookmakers surprisingly make Terravista the early favourite with Lankan Rupee also preferred to Buffering in the early exchanges. Lankan Rupee was heralded as the next big Aussie superstar after winning three Group 1 races on the bounce. He beat Rebel Dane and Buffering with some ease in the TJ Smith Stakes but has struggled to recapture that form.

He was a 1-5 favourite on his return from a lengthy absence when beaten by Angelic Light here in September. That defeat was blamed on being a little ring-rusty and he was confidently expected to atone last time. Craig Newitt appeared comfortable tracking Buffering into the home turn, taking a peek to his outside to see where any possible danger might come from. Once let down, he did not find the acceleration that had been expected and it was Rebel Dane that finished the stronger in third.

Connections were boosted by a brilliant track gallop at Caulfield on Saturday morning but a wide draw must be a concern. He broke from Buffering’s inside last time but allowed the winner to take the lead. Heathcote does not believe that even Lankan Rupee has the pace to cross Buffering but Newitt will be under pressure to play his cards earlier this time. Rebel Dane must again have solid place claims but he does not get his head in front very often these days. He is drawn alongside Buffering and Craig Williams will try not to give him too much rope.

Buffering @6.00 Sportsbet*

*Sportsbet Special Offer – stakes refunded on your first bet on Manikato Stakes if your horse finishes second (up to $100)

Cox Plate Preview

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The $3million Group 1 Cox Plate takes place at Moonee Valley Racecourse this Saturday. Sportsbet are repeating their generous Caulfield Cup offer of refunding stakes if your horse finishes 2nd, 3rd or 4th in the big race.

The favourite is the Robert Hickmott-trained Fawkner who looks to have drawn nicely in barrier four. He is bidding to become the first seven-year-old to win the race since Makybe Diva in 2005, coincidentally from the same stall. Racing in the familiar Lloyd Williams colours, the son of Reset claimed the Caulfield Cup last year when holding off the fast finishing Dandino.

He chalked up another Group 1 victory when beating Criterion in the Caulfield Stakes last time out. That was over the same distance as Saturday’s race and he has to be respected. The form of the Caulfield Stakes is often a good guide here and the first five are all in the field.

Side Glance has been a good money-spinner for the Andrew Balding stable and set a leisurely pace before quickening up turning for home. Fawkner always had him in his sights and held off the late run of Criterion with Sacred Falls catching the eye in fourth. Zac Purton may have ridden a fine race in the Caulfield Cup but he did not cover himself in glory on Sacred Falls. He was well out of his ground on the turn for home and will surely keep closer to the pace on Saturday. Barrier nine is not ideal but he must go well.

The biggest sufferer in the draw was Aidan O’Brien’s Adelaide who is in the thirteen stall. He won the Group 1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington and ran well when third to Ectot in France last time. He looked unlucky that day but the winner did not advertise the form in the Arc and it is going to take a mighty effort to win from the outside.

Sacred Falls is trained by Chris Waller who also saddles Foreteller and Royal Descent. Foreteller looks held having finished eighth at Caulfield while Royal Descent has finished runner-up in her last four races. She is partnered by Glen Boss from barrier three and should run her usual game race. Fawkner and Sacred Falls look the big two here with Adelaide’s chances depending on how he copes with his wide berth.

Sacred Falls @6.00 Sportsbet*

*Special bet – stakes refunded up to a maximum $100 if 2nd, 3rd or 4th

Moir Stakes Preview

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Lankan Rupee bids to restore his tarnished reputation in the Group 1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley following his shock defeat in the McEwen Stakes.

His conqueror Angelic Light is among just four rivals for the 1400m event with Lankan Rupee a long odds-on favourite to gain his revenge. The son of Redoubte’s Choice remains the highest rated sprinter in the world and some impressive track work earlier in the week has convinced connections that he is ready to return to winning ways.

Mick Price’s stable star was suffering only the second defeat in seven career starts in the McEwen Stakes. There were slight concerns about the gelding’s fitness before the race and it may be that he was simply a gallop short. Price was delighted with his work on Monday morning when easing clear of stable companion Lion Of Belfort over 1000m.

Lankan Rupee’s victories in the Oakleigh Plate, Newmarket Handicap and TJ Smith Stakes completed a Group 1 hat-trick and elevated him to the top of the sprinting tree. Jockey Craig Newitt has been in the saddle for all bar one of his races and rode Samaready to win this race a year ago for the same trainer.

Robbie Griffiths produced Angelic Light for a 20-1 shock but the five-year-old mare will surely struggle to confirm the form over the longer distance against a race-fit favourite. Buffering won the Moir in 2012 and finished runner-up last season. Robert Heathcote’s gelding has not won since November but was only two lengths adrift of Lankan Rupee in the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick in heavy ground. This will be his first run since May when third in the Doomben 10,000.

Rebel Dane also has a Group 1 to his name having claimed the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes last year. He has ground to make up on both Lankan Rupee and Buffering on form and a place looks the best Craig Williams can hope for here.

There is no value to be had by betting on Lankan Rupee but Sunday’s Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield looks far more open. Peter Moody’s Dissident tops the market after back-to-back Group 1 victories. He looks to have secured a perfect pitch in barrier five for Luke Nolen.

The big danger could be Sweet Idea who swerved a clash with Lankan Rupee in the Moir Stakes for Gai Waterhouse. She was beaten by Dissident and there seems no obvious reason why she should gain her revenge here. Surprisingly, the two are very closely matched in the betting and Dissident offers much the better value.

Dissident – Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes @7.0 Sportsbet

McEwen Stakes Preview

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Lankan Rupee may not yet have the cult status of Black Caviar but he is currently rated the best sprinter in the world. The Usain Bolt of the equine world makes his seasonal debut at Moonee Valley on Saturday in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes and is hot favourite to return with a win.

The gelding by Redoute’s Choice won three Group 1 races last season to rise to the top of the sprinting pile. Despite the best efforts of Royal Ascot, connections could not be tempted to travel to the UK in a bid to emulate the great mare in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes but who knows what may lie ahead of him this season.

Trainer Mick Price gave the go-ahead for him to run after working with Lion Of Belfort over 800m on Tuesday. Jockey Craig Newitt was very impressed and Price admitted it would be a major blow to him if his stable star were beaten on Saturday. His Group 1 hat-trick came in the Oakleigh Plate, the Newmarket Handicap and the TJ Smiths Stakes.

He overcame bad ground to beat Rebel Dane by two lengths in the TJ Smiths but his performance in the Newmarket Handicap had already convinced the experts that he was the real deal.

The horse that is being spoken of as a possible giant killer is the filly Eloping. She produced an exceptional piece of track work on the same day as Lankan Rupee, recording a faster final 400m in the process. Trainer Peter Morgan is hoping that the 8.5kg weight allowance and the fact that the favourite is yet to race this season could lead to a shock win for his filly. Eloping has not run since finishing fourth to Brazed Beau in the Group 2 Champagne Classic at Doomben in May. The plan is for Eloping to blaze the trail and see if the favourite can reel her in.

The pick of the remainder may be Unpretentious who was third in the William Reid Stakes. Godolphin are represented by the Exceed And Excel colt Orujo. Peter Moody’s Angel Beach and the Robbie Griffiths-trained Angelic Light finished second and third in a Listed race here recently and re-oppose but the form does not look good enough.

If all goes to plan, Lankan Rupee should pick up the front-running filly with a furlong to run and stamp his authority on the race.

Lankan Rupee @SP Paddy Power