Tag: Royal Randwick

George Main Stakes Preview 

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The Group 1 George Main Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday is set to be an intriguing clash between trail-blazing Panzer Division and the fast finishing Lucia Valentina.

The last three-year-old to win this race was Viscount in 2001 but plenty of punters believe that Panzer Division will be tough to beat. Paul Messara’s colt was backed from 6-1 to 7-2 earlier in the week and receives weight from all of his rivals. The eight barrier is not ideal but I am more concerned with his lack of experience at this level. This will be only his fourth appearance and he is up against some well-established Group 1 performers.

The pick of them could be Lucia Valentina who came from last to first to beat Tiger Trees decisively in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes last time out. The biggest worry for supporters of the four-year-old is that she did not run well on her second start back last term.

Trainer Kris Lees admits that is a concern, especially with Lucia Valentina not being the most robust of mares. I regard Kerrin McEvoy as one of the best jockeys in the world and he takes the ride on Saturday. Assuming Lucia Valentina is fit and well, she must go close to repeating her Tramway Stakes victory.

The long-term target is apparently the Caulfield Cup, although the shorter Cox Plate could come into consideration if she performs well enough at the weekend and in the Turnbull Stakes. Lucia Valentina already has a Group 1 victory under her belt with the Vinery Stud Stakes. She is well enough drawn in barrier 6 and looks a decent bet at around 5-1.

Chris Waller’s Royal Descent is another Group 1 winner in the field and has run creditably in defeat when second in the Warwick Stakes and Chelmsford Stakes. Sacred Falls has been the best backed horse outside of Panzer Division and could even start favourite on the day. His recent races have been steady if not spectacular but Waller is anticipating some improvement. He has the one stall with Zac Purton flying in for the ride.

The best outsider is Teronado who is in great form at present. He came from way off the pace to finish second at Eagle Farm before winning impressively at Doomben last time out. Those races were in a lower grade but he is perfectly drawn in barrier five and should go well under Chris Munce.

Lucia Valentina @6.0 Bet365

Teronado @18.0 Bet365 (each-way)

Warwick Stakes Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The highlight of Saturday’s racing in Australia is the Group 2 Warwick Stakes at Royal Randwick.

Eight Group 1 winners are included in the field of ten for the $175,000 prize but the horse that interests me most is not one of them. Weary began life with Harry Dunlop in the UK and produced a 40-1 surprise on his debut at Newbury in 2012 under Hayley Turner. France was his next port of call where he showed that he could handle heavy ground by accounting for Kamran over seven furlongs.

He met with defeat for the first time against Zenji in similar conditions at Longchamp in a Listed race. Dunlop brought him back across the water to contest the Racing Post Trophy but he finished down the field behind Kingsbarns. As a four-year-old, he finished second to Olympic Glory and fourth to Baltic Knight achieving a rating of 110.

He ran possibly his best race when fourth to the brilliant Moonlight Cloud over seven furlongs at Longchamp in July 2013. This is a real gem for racing “anoraks”: He actually ran under the name Sir Patrick Moore before he was bought to race in Australia and renamed after a famous Australian army figure called Weary Dunlop. He was cleverly named, being by Astronomer Royal out of America Nova.

Weary has finished first and second at Rosehill and has also run well on all three previous visits to Randwick. His close fifth in the Group 2 Missile Stakes was his first run since April and he is entitled to improve significantly on Saturday. He has a little bit of ground to make up on Messene but that horse is not certain to enjoy the ground. The latest reports suggest that it may be barely fit for racing by the weekend if the deluge keeps up.

The going has already led to Boban being withdrawn by Chris Waller, the trainer of Weary. He also runs another leading candidate in Doncaster Mile winner Sacred Falls who has good form in heavy ground but the trainer has hinted that it may be too much to expect him to win first time up.

David Payne’s Australian Derby winner Criterion is reported in good shape for his first real test in all-aged company. Tiger Trees has a reputation for being something of a mud lark but his barrier ten draw has put me off him a little. Australian punters betting on the race with Ladbrokes can get their money refunded as a free bet if their selection finishes second in the Warwick Stakes up to a maximum of $50.

Weary @5.50 Ladbrokes, SP Paddy Power

Queen Elizabeth Stakes Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Royal Randwick is the setting for Day 2 of the Championships on Saturday with The Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes taking centre stage. The richest mile and a quarter race in the world has prize money of $4million and has the added interest of a Royal runner.

European racing fans will remember Carlton House being a hot favourite to provide Her Majesty The Queen with her first Epsom Derby win in 2011. Unfortunately the horse had not read the script and was run out of it in the closing stages. He then ran poorly in the Irish equivalent and lost his way a little.

He is now enjoying a new lease of life in the care of Melbourne Cup winning trainer Gai Waterhouse. Last time out he was just beaten on the nod by Silent Achiever in a thrilling duel for the Ranvet Stakes. The winner went on to take The BMW on soft ground, her third Group 1 of the season.

Her victims included It’s A Dundeel and Fiorente in The BMW and the former New Zealand Derby winner will not be adversely affected by the expected heavy ground. I cannot say the same about Carlton House as he has never raced on anything worse than soft. There has been good support for It’s A Dundeel to reverse the form on Saturday but I’m sticking with Silent Achiever.

The supporting card includes The Sydney Cup and Waterhouse may have better luck here with The Offer. The son of Montjeu began life with Aidan O’Brien at Ballydoyle but has developed into a decent staying prospect since joining Waterhouse. He has proven form on heavy ground and avoids a penalty for last week’s easy victory in the Chairman’s Handicap.

The Australian Oaks looks booked for Lucia Valentina who holds several of her rivals on the form of her Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes victory. Hugh Bowman looked very comfortable as he eased her to a one length victory and it will be disappointing if any of those behind her can beat her on Saturday.

Royal Randwick

3.05 Lucia Valentina at 2.50 Sportsbet

3.45 The Offer at 3.20 Bet365

4.25 Silent Achiever at 4.40 Bet365