THE BIG FIVE
- Randwick R6, No 4 – Hasselhoof $5000 @ $2.40
- Caulfield R4, No 1 – Extreme Choice $3000 @ $1.80
- Randwick R6, No 6 – Bull Point $2000 @ $31
- Caulfield R2, No 1 – Signify $2000 @ $5.50
- Randwick R4, No 3 – Dublin Lass $2000 @ $2.30
ESKIMO PRINCE STAKES (Randwick, Race 7)
Sydney’s summer weather (and quite often autumn, winter and spring as well) has increasingly made punting in the Harbour City a watch and act kind of proposition. Unlike Melbourne, where punters are more than happy to take an early price, Sydney is a wait for the day, assess the conditions and attempt to find a winner scenario. While some have been happy to part with a little hard earned on the likes of COUNTERATTACK and ZOUTENANT, they’ve well and truly been keeping clear of last year’s Blue Diamond Stakes winner, PRIDE OF DUBAI.
Resuming here having won a recent trial, the top weight has been the subject of an alarming drift, out rom $3.60 to $4.40 but most likely has an eye on the Randwick Guineas or Doncaster Mile in the autumn.
In terms of the ones people are backing, it has been one way traffic for Chris Waller’s COUNTERATTACK who has been $4.40 in to $3.90, while ZOUTENANT, having his first start for Gai Waterhouse has been specked at odds and is into $17 from $26.
BIG BET
COUNTERATTACK – $1000 @ $4.20
THOROUGHBRED NSW BREEDERS CLASSIC (Randwick Race 4)
One here for the mares but with a watch yet again on the weather. With rain expected, fortunately (for some) a large portion of the field have half decent wet track form.
DUBLIN LASS ran 2nd to PITTSBURGH FLYER in the GH Mumm Stakes on a heavy 9 at Flemington during the Melbourne Carnival and, with that in mind, has been the best backed runner here.
She’s $2.30 into $2.20 with one usually shrewd punter outlaying $2000 on her at $2.30.
2014 Thousand Guineas winner AMICUS has been the drifter. Carrying the top weight of 58 kilos and with no wet weather form to go on, she has been $4.60 out to $5.
BIG BET
DUBLIN LASS – $2000 @ $2.30
CHAIRMAN’S STAKES (Caulfield Race 4)
Here we get another look at the Blue Diamond favourite in EXTREME CHOICE but how much of a guide this will give us to the big race in three weeks remains to be seen, given the opposition doesn’t appear to be overly strong.
Super impressive on debut in the Inglis Nursery at Randwick in December, the Mick Price trained colt gets to show his wares on his home track of Caulfield at start two.
Rated a $6 chance for the Blue Diamond, a dominant victory could see him tighten up for the feature by tomorrow night.
However, barring a 10 length victory, I wouldn’t expect his price to be slashed given the 2nd favourite here, MANDEE ($7.50 into $6) is rated a $40 chance for the Diamond, while HIGHLAND BEAT ($11 fourth favourite) is 100-1.
BIG BET
EXTREME CHOICE – $3000 @ $1.80
MANFRED STAKES (Caulfield Race 7)
The best backed runner in this race, and one of the best of the day, is GOLDEN SPIN. Having failed on debut on the synthetic track at Geelong, the Lee and Anthony Freedman trained colt has won his last four races. The step up in class hasn’t deterred the punters though, who have rallied to see him backed from $6 into $3.90 including one bet of $1000 each way at that $6 quote.
Mike Moroney’s gelding, TULSA, resumes here and has been specked at a price, shortening from $14 into $9, while PALENTINO is also first up and has been solid in the market, in to $4.80 from $5.50.
The little surprise here has been the drift on Ciaron Maher’s colt, BON AURUM, who’s blown all the way out from $8 to $15, although he is likely on a path toward the Australian Guineas and here mainly for the run.
BIG BET
GOLDEN SPIN – $1000 (each way) @ $6
*CASH BACK FOR 2ND ON EVERY RACE AT CAULFIELD THIS SATURDAY (max bet $50)