She Shao Fly made her racing debut with an impressive win at Ladbrokes Park and she should take good improvement from that performance. She will settle in the second half of the field, but she does have a nice turn-of-foot and there is no reason that she can’t finish over the top of her rivals once again.
1.5 Units She Shao Fly
Zabelarina is a horse that does have early speed and it would not surprise to see Jordan Childs ride her aggressively in the early stages of this contest. She lost no admirers with her last start effort at Ladbrokes Park and she is a mare that still has a fair amount of upside. The Bel Esprit mare is well-placed to return to winning form.
2 Units Zabelarina
Excessabeel is a consistent mare that very rarely runs a bad race. He has form around the highly-rated German import Schabu, she run at Morphettville a couple of starts ago and she was only narrowly denied by Wasabi Bob in the Birthday Cup last start. She is a mare that makes her own luck right on the speed and the $5 currently available is over the odds.
Update: Excessabeel has been scratched from the Travis Harrison Cup. Semari recorded a tough last start win at Colac and she is now the top pick, but there is not a great deal of value at the current price.
No Bet
It is no surprise that Columbus Circle will start this contest as a dominant fashion. He made his racing debut with a smart win at Caulfield and he was not disgraced at The Valley last start. Hawkshot only narrowly beat him in the Gold Carat and that horse has since gone on to win the Autumn Stakes and will start the Australian Guineas as one of the leading contenders.
4 Units Columbus Circle
Makahu Boy won the Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge at The Valley a fortnight ago and he is a horse that has a simply outstanding record at The Valley. The wide barrier draw isn’t ideal and he will need to use some energy in the early stages, but you can’t knock his form. The rail being out is a positive for him and he will prove tough to run down.
2.5 Units Makahu Boy
This does look like a race in two between Mosh Music and Surprise Baby. Surprise Baby recorded a very tough win at The Valley a couple of starts ago and he was not disgraced behind Schabau at Flemington last start. This is a step-up in trip again, but he is a lightly-raced stayer with upside and he can upstage Mosh Music.
2.5 Units Surprise Baby
It has been a while between race wins for Blue Tycoon, but he does look well-placed in this contest. He has chased home a pair of talent horses in the form of Greyworm and Rox The Castle in his past two race starts and there are no horses of that quality in this field. He will go forward from the wide barrier draw and this is his chance to return to winning form.
3 Units Blue Tycoon
Cristal Eyes returned to the races with a classy win at Pakenham and she still has the scope to improve on that effort. Lindsay Park obviously have big plans for her this campaign, she has been nominated for both the Australian Oaks and the Queen Of The Turf Stakes, and she maps to get a lovely run in transit with Damien Oliver in the saddle.
2 Units Cristal Eyes