Feature racing heads provincial in Victoria on Wednesday when nine races are run and won on Ladbrokes Geelong Cup Day!
The rail will be left in the true position around the entire course and at publish, we’re looking at a track rated in the Soft 5 range.
The meeting is of course headlined by the Group 3 $500,000 Ladbrokes Geelong Cup for the potential Melbourne Cup horses, but there is plenty more to get excited about across the afternoon.
Read on for my full Ladbrokes Geelong Cup Day tips!
Race 1 - 12:40pm AEDT
Canadian Club BM70 Handicap (2400m)
Muktamil has been racing in strong and consistent form this time and strikes another winnable race on Geelong Cup Day.
The Sea The Stars gelding hasn’t finished worse than second at his last six trips to the races, winning twice, including a BM64 race at Sandown before only just missing at The Valley last time out.
He’s hard fit and with even luck, something like this looks within his means as well.
2 Units Muktamil
Race 2 - 1:15pm AEDT
Brandt Colac BM64 Handicap (1100m)
Romani Ite Domum can make it two wins on the bounce on Ladbrokes Geelong Cup Day.
Romani Ite Domum attracted interest in betting ahead of his debut at Sandown last month and was only just denied by Andriana, while his second career start heralded a lovely win at Bendigo.
This is harder, but he has plenty of upside and it does look the next logical step for him.
3 Units Romani Ite Domum
Race 3 - 1:50pm AEDT
Scaada Sustainability BM70 Handicap (1300m)
This looms as a wide-open race with plenty of winning chances engaged, including Zaszou, who I have put on top.
Zaszou returned to action with an eye-catching performance to win in BM64 company at Seymour last month, and he franked that effort with another smart victory at this grade last time out.
Fitter third-up and with even luck in running, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish again.
2 Units Zaszou
Race 4 - 2:25pm AEDT
Marcus Oldham College BM64 Handicap (1400m)
Another open race with plenty of winning chances engaged, and I am inclined to give Walk Of Fame another chance.
Walk Of Fame has mixed her form a little recently, but she did only just miss in BM70 company at Sandown two back, while she didn’t enjoy the best of luck at her latest.
In peak order on Wednesday, dropping in class and under Blake Shinn, she gets a lot of ticks.
2 Units Walk Of Fame
Race 5 - 3pm AEDT
Listed Geelong Classic (2200m)
I’m sticking with Lavalier when he takes his place in the Geelong Classic.
Lavalier has won just one of his five career starts to date, but he has rarely been far away from the winner on the other occasions, and I thought his late work in the Super Impose Stakes last time out was good.
He’s hard fit, this looks a weaker race, and he can stamp himself as a live Victoria Derby hope.
3 Units Lavalier
Race 6 - 3:35pm AEDT
SEN Track BM70 Handicap (1700m)
Autumn Storm takes winning form into this contest and looms as a live hope for the double.
Autumn Storm dusted off the cobwebs with a credible performance for fourth, beaten just over two lengths at Sandown last month and enjoyed plenty of improvement into his maiden win last time out.
Fitter third-up, something like this looks the next logical step, while the rise in trip also looks suitable.
2 Units Autumn Storm
Race 7 - 4:10pm AEDT
Group 3 Ladbrokes Geelong Cup (2400m)
This looms as an excellent edition of the Ladbrokes Geelong Cup with plenty of high-quality stayers engaged, and I am going to have a couple of bets.
Muramasa was an unfortunate scratching from Saturday’s Caulfield Cup when the track was downgraded, and he’ll instead contest this race.
The Deep Impact gelding has been a great horse for the Busuttin & Young yard for a couple of seasons now and has picked off some nice races. He’s improved for two competitive performances since resuming this time, and something of this quality is well and truly within his abilities.
The Map has steadily improved in three runs back from a break and looks a touch of overs in Ladbrokes Geelong Cup betting in my opinion at odds of $15.
Having picked off some lovely races earlier this year and booked her place in the Melbourne Cup by taking out the Andrew Ramsden, The Map finished off the pace in the Naturalism Stakes two back, but was better through the line when fifth in the Herbert Power.
She can complete her Melbourne Cup lead-up with a strong performance on Wednesday.
2 Units Muramasa
1 Unit E/W The Map
Race 8 - 4:45pm AEDT
Rex Gorrell Volkswagen Dual Choice Plate (1200m)
Barber looks to have returned to the races in better form and this is a winnable race for him.
Barber was excellent during his two-year-old season, winning several feature races and finding form around some of that crop’s best.
He hasn’t returned to those heights in his subsequent preps, but after a credible fresh run behind Ostraka at Rosehill when resuming, he filled the minors at The Valley last time.
Drawn ideally this week under Benny Melham, he looks a bit of value in my opinion at odds of $11 (at publish).
1 Unit E/W Barber
Race 9 - 5:20pm AEDT
The Sporting Globe After The Last BM78 Handicap (1500m)
Modown is the one for me in the last on Ladbrokes Geelong Cup Day.
Modown returned to action with a fine performance to fill the minors in BM70 company at Sale when resuming, while he was equally eye-catching when third at Sandown last time out.
Fitter third-up, the stable has a couple of decent grand final options in mind after this race, and he can complete an ideal lead-up to that by winning this week.
3 Units Modown