A new-look Pakenham Cup Day card takes centre stage this weekend.
The time-honoured Pakenham Cup has been won by several star stayers since the turn of the century, but the program will now also feature Victoria’s newest slot race – the $1 million The Supernova!
Read on for all of my Pakenham Cup Day tips.
Open race to kick off Pakenham Cup Day, but I’ve put Lazy Susan on top.
Lazy Susan turned in a rare flat performance on the Caulfield Heath last week, but her form prior to that was very good, and including a sharp win in BM74 company at The Valley.
She’s hard fit and we can have an each way play at the price ($7 at publish).
1 Unit E/W Lazy Susan
Romani Ite Domum has hardly turned in a poor performance since debuting and can return to winning form.
The Ribchester gelding has recorded two wins from four starts and finished the runner up on the other two occasion.
He steps out this week in peak order and is further boosted by the booking of Blake Shinn.
3 Units Romani Ite Domum
Samangu has returned to the races in sharp form and looms as the one to beat again in this contest.
The Grahame Begg-trained mare was a dominant winner at Ballarat fresh from a break and franked that effort by winning in BM64 company last time.
Fitter third-up, something like this is the next logical target.
4 Units Samangu
Divus Romulus is fit and ready to win.
The Fast Company gelding has improved with each of three runs back from a break, culminating in a near miss at Caulfield last time out.
The small rise in trip suits, Craig Williams sticks, and this really does look a perfect Saturday metro race for the horse.
4 Units Divus Romulus
I’m going to give Saban another chance in Race 5 on Pakenham Cup Day.
Saban was a winner at Flemington in his first run back from a break in September, and while he hasn’t managed to strike again in three subsequent starts, I thought he was good behind Hiyaam Proud at Caulfield last time out.
Out to the 200m and in peak order now, he just needs luck from the potentially sticky draw to fight out the finish again.
1 Unit Saban
Oh Too Good can record another win in a suitable feature race.
Oh Too Good has recorded two wins from three runs back this time and steps out this week in peak order.
She has drawn ideally, gets into the race well under the conditions and will take plenty of beating again.
4 Units Oh Too Good
This looks to be one of the more open contests on the program and one that appeals at odds in my opinion is Nana’s Wish ($9 at publish).
Nana’s Wish wasn’t out of her depth in a couple of decent metro races up in Sydney at the end of her last prep, while she turned in a fine effort to finish second behind Loose On Gin at the ‘Bool when resuming.
Her second-up record is strong, and we can have something on each way at the price.
1 Unit E/W Nana’s Wish
Victoria’s newest slot race has drawn a fitting field, and I thought that Tuvalu looked well placed to win.
The Group 1 winner’s condition just gave out a little in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes first-up from a spell, while he battled away on the heavy going at Caulfield last time out.
Returning to a firmer track this week suits, he’s hard fit and if he can find his way forward early, he’ll be tough to run down.
2 Units Tuvalu
Muramasa looked like a horse that was crying out for a longer trip when he finished ninth in the Ballarat Cup, and he gets that in Saturday’s feature race.
The Deep Impact gelding has picked off several nice races throughout his career, and his earlier spring form this year was sound.
Given that his run in the Ballarat Cup came off a break of more than six weeks, he’s sure to improvement for it.
2 Units Muramasa
We were with The Open when he won a similar race last time out and I am eager to stick with him.
The Open has been a consistent performer throughout his career, and he took plenty of improvement into that second-up run and win at Ballarat a fortnight ago.
He has drawn awkwardly but if gets appropriate luck in running, I think he’ll only improve further.
2 Units The Open