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SUPER SATURDAY PREVIEW |
By Tim Hickman05/03/2010 |
 2008 Australian Cup winner Sirmione will be looking to become the first galloper since champion West Australian Northerly to win two Australian Cups. Super Saturday is one of the highlights of the racing year. However, thunderstorms are forecast for Friday and Saturday so it is a little hard to predict how the track will come up. As a rule though, it takes a heap of rain to seriously affect the Flemington track these days, so the form here will be done for a track rated Dead.
The golden era for the Australian Cup was the late 1980's. Indeed, the last four years of the the that decade saw vintage Australian Cups for different reasons. In 1987, Bonecrusher and Melbourne Cup winner At Talaq fought an epic battle down the Flemington straight which is often overlooked because of the previous year's Cox Plate. Frank O'Brien's call was a gem too - watch the video here. It was as close to a dead heat as you could get, but Bonecrusher got the verdict. The next year saw old Jim Cerchi and his country galloper Dandy Andy blow Vo Rogue and Bonecrusher away at 100-1, in one of the most famous upsets in Australian racing history.
The next two years saw Vo Rogue win the race. 1989 was the champ at his best, but by 1990 many commentators had written him off, as emerging gallopers Better Loosen Up and Super Impose dominated betting. However, the Queensland galloper didn't listen to any of that and beat two of the absolute greats of the Australian turf on his merits, in probably the greatest Australian Cup of all. For some highlight's of Vo's career, including the two Australian Cups, click here. A comment for every runner in the three Group One races is below. |
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Australian Guineas
Group 1, 3YO, 1600m.
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Horse
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Comment
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Denman ($1.80)
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He is a star but hasn’t really beaten much. Leave me out of $1.60, but he deserves to be a short priced favourite.
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Carrara ($26)
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His effort in the Hareeba was sound and he represents value for multiples.
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Hanks ($21)
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I’m a fan but he strikes me more as a Derby type.
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Linton ($7)
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Terrific win last time and he is obviously an untapped talent. Not going to take a set against him.
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Chief Of Staff ($101)
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I’d be surprised.
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Most Immediate ($51)
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Can’t see him in the finish.
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Guru Bob ($61)
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Ran well enough last time, multiples.
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Rock Classic ($21)
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Way up in class, prefer others.
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Set For Fame ($4.80)
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A good colt should always beat a good filly but she is really good. Each way all day.
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I’d have something on Set For Fame each way.
Newmarket Handicap
Group 1, 1200m.
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Horse
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Comment
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All Silent ($5)
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If you knew the same All Silent that raced in the spring was going to turn up, you’d be all over him, but he is coming back from Hong Kong and that has ruined many horses. Plus factor in his foot issues and all of a sudden he isn’t such a great thing.
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El Segundo ($21)
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It would be an awesome training effort but I’m not in his corner.
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Nicconi ($12)
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Terrible last start effort in the William Reid, plus is he better over 1000 or 1100m (I know he is a winner at 1400)? Hard to assess.
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Turffontein ($19)
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Win in the Reid was good enough and he should be favoured if the weather is bad. Terrific each way value again.
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Light Fantastic ($26)
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Led in the Reid which didn’t suit and wasn’t beaten all that far. Can make a case for multiples.
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Starspangledbanner ($7.50)
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Terrific Oakleigh Plate win, one of the deserved favourites.
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Cannonball ($61)
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Not for me.
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Duporth ($21)
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Others may have his measure.
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Arinos ($19)
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The Oakleigh Plate always throws up a bolter, and he was it. Doubt he can bring that form across.
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Eagle Falls ($9)
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Great run in the Oakleigh Plate and a Salinger winner in the spring. One of the leading chances.
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Five Car Stud ($81)
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No chance.
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Gran Sasso ($17)
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Blinkers go on for the first time since he graduated to Saturday class, let alone Group 1 company. The Oakleigh Plate run was excellent and he is a legitimate lightweight chance.
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Wanted ($17)
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All three runs have been terrific without winning and he seems big odds to me.
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Headway ($17)
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I don’t know she is quite up to these older horses but she certainly rates some chance.
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King Pulse ($15)
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Incredibly talented horse but this is a massive ask at start four. Not for me.
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Shellscrape ($26)
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Went terribly last time on a track which should have suited him. Prefer others.
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Tickets ($19)
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Very good as his best but feel others may have his measure.
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Tollesprit ($19)
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Good three year old, but outclassed.
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Trusting ($19)
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I think the world of him as a horse but I couldn’t back him here.
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It’s a race where you can back a few at good odds with a lot of value around. I’d have something small on each of Turffontein, Gran Sasso, and Wanted – probably at $20 plus best tote on the day. Eagle Falls and Starspangledbanner are the best of those in the market.
Australian Cup
Group 1, WFA, 2000m
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Horse
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Comment
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Shocking ($7.50)
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Peaked on his run in the St. George but he has proven he is a horse who can be set for a particular race. Unbeaten at the track, and rates a winning chance.
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Master O’Reilly ($15)
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Phil Purser was going to – rightfully – sack me if I ever tipped him again, but I honestly wasn’t tempted.
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Zipping ($8)
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Old warhorse but hard to really get a handle on. About the right price.
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Sirmione ($12)
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If anyone else trained him you would put a zero on those odds. Not for me.
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Heart Of Dreams ($6)
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Probably over the odds as the result of his narrow last start defeat. Will get a soft run on the speed here and be hard to beat.
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Littorio ($15)
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Two runs back from a spell have been terrific but I’d rather one more under his belt just to make sure. Winning chance.
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Growl ($31)
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Peaked two starts back and outclassed here.
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Barbaricus ($15)
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Can go around without me.
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Our Aqaleem ($13)
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Great win on debut in this country at big odds. The time was terrific and he is an English Derby runner up. Big show.
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Moatize ($81)
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No.
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Zagreb ($13)
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I can’t put a line through him, much as I’d like to.
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Tobique ($21)
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Possibly a bridge too far at this stage.
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Zarita ($15)
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Ran fourth in this last year and going just as well. Winning chance.
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Miss Maren ($12)
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Chance but doesn’t represent value at those odds.
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Divine Rebel ($31)
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Much improved effort last time but prefer in easier grade.
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Extra Zero ($12)
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Good win last time and three year olds do have a good record here. Not desperate to back him but does rate a chance.
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Very open race. Heart Of Dreams is the one to beat but I’d have something on each of Our Aqaleem and Zarita at decent odds best tote. |
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