This is an excellent edition of the Pierro Plate and this field is stacked with promising gallopers. Covert Ops almost led from start to finish to win the Breeders’ Plate on debut and he was only run down by Dubious in the concluding stages of the race. The form coming out of that race has been strong and he is a horse with plenty of early speed that will make his own luck right on the speed.
2 Units Covert Ops
The Highway Handicap is often a tricky race to analyse and this race is no exception. Nothin’ Like Harry has opened as a clear favourite, but he isn’t the most consistent galloper in the world and I am happy to bet around him at the current quote. The horse that does appeal at the current price. He doesn’t win out of turn, but he is a horse that rarely produces a poor performance and it is no secret how strong a record that Matthew Dunn has in this event.
1 Unit Weston
It is no surprise that Gayatri has opened this race as a dominant favourite. She has recorded four wins from her six race starts and she handled the step-up in trip when she recorded a tough win over 2200 metres at Warwick Farm last start. The step-up to 2400 metres will not be a problem and she should now be at peak fitness. There is no doubt that she has more upside than the rest of this field.
5 Units Gayatri
Diplomatico is a lightly-raced galloper with plenty of upside. He won the Brian Crowley Stakes in impressive fashion in the Spring before he was a touch outclassed at Group 1 level in the Coolmore Stud Stakes. There is no horses of the quality of Sunlight, Zousain, Lean Mean Machine or Written By in this field. Brenton Avdulla will be able to settle him right on the speed from barrier four and he is well-placed to make a winning return to the races.
3 Units Diplomatico
Brutal is the x-factor in the Southern Cross Stakes and he will start this contest as a dominant favourite. He has recorded three wins from as many race starts, including wins in the McKenzie Stakes and the Exford Plate, but he will be taking on older horses for the first time. It is not the strongest field in the world and I am convinced that he has serious talent, but it is still tough to get him as short as his current price of $1.80.
No Bet
It is all about Winx in the Apollo Stakes. The great mare will start what is set to be her final racing campaign in a race that she has dominated in recent years and she has the chance to become the first horse to win the race three years in a row. First-up is generally when she does seem at her most vulnerable and she has had some scares over 1400 metres, most famously in the 2017 edition of the Warwick Stakes, but she simply always finds a way to win. You simply won’t find me betting against Winx – not in this race and not ever.
The obvious contender to finish second is Happy Clapper and he is a horse that we have seen give Winx a race on a couple of occasions, while he now holds the record for finishing behind Winx the most. He is a horse that is capable of sprinting well fresh and this classy duo should have few issues finishing as the quinella.
No Bet
This is a very interesting edition of the Light Fingers Stakes and it is packed full of quality fillies. There has already been an avalanche of money for Miss Fabulous and she will start this contest as a clear favourite. I am a huge fan of this filly and she is a Group 1 winner in the waiting, but I am finding it hard to get her as short as her current price over 1200 metres. In the Spring, she was outpaced over this distance in the Furious Stakes and she wasn’t able to produce at her best before she got over a longer trip.
The filly with a fitness edge over her rival is Sylvia’s Mother and I think that she will prove tough to beat. She has now recorded four wins from her five race starts and she has improved each time that she has been seen at the races. The wide barrier draw could actually prove to be an advantage and Brenton Avdulla can settle her right on the speed to take advantage of that fitness edge.
2 Units Sylvia’s Mother
The Triscay Stakes is probably the toughest betting race of the day and there are a host of winning chances. This isn’t a race that I want to get too heavily invested in, but Invincible Gem is a horse that appeals at her current price. Invincible Gem didn’t win a race during the Spring, but she was far from disgraced in any of her race starts and she does have an excellent first-up. Barrier six gives Hugh Bowman plenty of options in the early stages of the race and she looks a good chance in what is an extremely open race.
1.5 Units Invincible Gem
Penske was not disgraced behind Tom Melbourne (feels weird to be writing that) in the Carrington Stakes last start and this race is a genuine drop in quality. His form before that had been excellent and the horse is a proven winner. Josh Parr will be able to take him straight to the front in the early stages of this contest and he will give his rivals something to catch.
2 Units Penske