| NUM |
TIME |
COMMENT |
|
1
|
10:45
|
Darley Maribyrnong Plate 1000m
Good early pressure anticipated with a large contingent of unraced runners. We kick off 10 races on Melbourne Cup day with a typically tough 2yo affair. Most of these are on debut and they likely hold the key, with the raced form strong but certainly not unbeatable. Loved the jumpout win of CARNEVALE (4), a colt by Pinatubo out of the good mare Fiesta for the Hayes yard who have a knack of winning these early 2yo races. Zahra hops aboard and he should take plenty of beating. BRAZEN DECHAMBEAU (3) is a Brazen Beau colt for the Price & Kent Jnr yard who looked good winning a Cranbourne jumpout. Expecting him to run well. TALES OF TIME (7) is another Pinatubo colt, for Clinton McDonald. He was given a quiet time when closing well in a recent jumpout, market will be key with this stable. DIAMETER (5) is a Brazen Beat colt who has jumped out well and the Lane/Waller combination is worth respecting. LUNA VEGA (11) is a Lucky Vega filly who looked sharp in her recent jumpout win. SUGGESTED PLAY: Leaning to Carnevale. |
|
2
|
11:20
|
MA Services Grand Handicap 2000m
From their low gates Makdane and Quello Dorato should vie for the lead. Another wide-open affair. MAKDANE (3) is flying and sets up well here. His past two starts since a Caulfield win have been good, only beaten by the highly progressive Zambardo last start who would surely be favourite here. Drawn barrier one again, he lands on speed, likes soft ground and will take plenty of getting past. HOT TOO GO (12) notched up his second career win when last seen at Moonee Valley, given a good ride there but beating a well-backed favourite in Amleto. Gets Damian Lane on here and can challenge. PARTY CRASHER (10) is only second up from 1400m but will be fitter for that and showed plenty of ability as a 3yo. Would've loved one more run for him but he's worth keeping an eye on. NEARING LIBERTY (9) continues to race well this time in, good behind a smart mare at Caulfield last time out. He's unplaced at 2000m but wasn't far away last time he saw the trip and he appears to be looking for it now. QUELLO DORATO (19) is lightly raced and can measure up. SUGGESTED PLAY: Makdane to win. |
|
3
|
12:00
|
TAB Trophy 1800m
Champagne Hero, Luna Bay and Aitu can set up a solid gallop. Intriguing race with a few perhaps setting their sights lower than G1 targets, including CHAMPAGNE HERO (3) who did run in a G1 when last seen, finishing down the track in the Spring Champion behind Attica. He was disappointing there having been unlucky in the G3 Gloaming over this trip prior and back to 1800m in easier company he'll roll forward and give a sight. OBVIOUS (2) is a progressive sort who has done little wrong to date. He was beaten 7.5 lengths by Regal Award last time at Caulfield in a strange race but still beat the others and getting to 1800m now from an ideal draw suits. ARABIAN PRINCE (9) just missed a run in the Derby having been running on well in the lead-ups. He looked like he'd want 2500m so dropping back in trip is a query but his Super Impose run over this route reads well. LUNA BAY (14) is on the up and should have no issue out to 1800m. MATAHGA (1) is quickly up in trip off an even run fresh but has ability and could improve. SUGGESTED PLAY: Champagne Hero to win. |
|
4
|
12:40
|
The Schweppervescence Plate 1000m
Wintery should lead at a slick tempo. STREET ARTIST (4) is a speedy horse who has won his past two, dominant in fast time at Mornington two back before a solid win at Bendigo out to 1100m last time. He drops 2.5kg off that and coming back to 1000m looks more suitable. Tipping he can measure up. PALLATON (2) ran a much better race last time out in the Listed Brian Crowley, working home well behind the unbeaten and progressive Skyglider, who we'll get a good guide on through the Coolmore on Saturday. ALEPPO PINE (1) can be forgiven for last start in the Gothic Stakes behind Tentyris. He's not a 1200m horse, coming back in trip is far more suitable, albeit he's had a bit more exposure than some of these. CHOIR POINT (13) is off a smart maiden win at Pakenham that rated quite well, it wouldn't shock if she measured up, similarly VANGOGH BANKCHEQUE (10) who showed a nice turn of foot to win on debut at Echuca. SUGGESTED PLAY: Street Artist to win. |
|
5
|
01:20
|
Australian Heritage Cup 2800m
Karburan, Argentum and Litzdeel to take up the running at a decent tempo. LITZDEEL (9) looks nicely placed going to 2800m fourth up having been beaten a head over this route in the VRC St Leger as a 3yo last time in before winning the G3 SA Fillies Classic. She's been close up in all three runs this campaign, good behind the progressive Gilded Water two back and just missing out to 2400m at Caulfield. She's a dour, staying mare who will relish this trip while also dropping to 53kg. GOLDEN CENTURY (10) is flying, winning a couple in a row in NSW before a good effort when third, just behind Litzdeel last time out, who he now meets 2kg better off at the weights. He closed strongly there suggesting this trip would be suitable. CLEVELAND (1) comes back in grade having run a much better race in the G2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup last time. His best is better than this grade, hence the big weight. ARUGAMAMA (8) was dominant in Adelaide last time and is up to winning this off that effort. RAGING BULL (11) is firmly in the mix off his Bendigo Cup placing. SUGGESTED PLAY: Litzdeel to win. |
|
6
|
01:55
|
Kirin Ichiban Plate 1800m
Moderate pace with Flying Valley taking up the running ahead of Kingswood and Athanatos. Handy race. KINGSWOOD (3) looks primed third up. His return at Flemington in a very strongly run race was excellent behind Golden Path who then placed at G1 level. He then worked early in the G2 Hill Stakes in Sydney behind the likes of Lindermann and Attrition which is top form, perhaps a touch flat there. This is an ideal race for him from the gun draw. ATHANATOS (6) is racing very well without winning this time in. Third in the G3 Sandown Stakes two back behind Evaporate and Transatlantic is excellent form before another game effort in the G1 Toorak behind those horses again. Like him to 1800m now out of two fast races. APULIA (2) was first up off a long spell at Moonee Valley but won impressively over 1496m when coming from last. He should only be fitter and better suited by this trip. SAINT GEORGE (5) caught the eye with a big finish off a long spell in the Seymour Cup. He's a good stayer on his day. MAJOR BEEL (4) did enough fresh and will be fitter. Takes catching. SUGGESTED PLAY: Kingswood to win. |
|
7
|
03:00
|
Lexus Melbourne Cup 3200m
Flatten The Curve, Presage Nocturne and River Of Stars to roll forward and set up a solid tempo. Here it is, the 2025 Melbourne Cup. Chris Waller has an outstanding team and the class runner of that lot is BUCKAROO (2) who is coming through the Cox Plate, going down by a nose to champion mare Via Sistina. His run as favourite in the Cup last year was full of merit, tracking very wide and getting a mile back. The draw is much kinder this year and he's going as well as ever while getting conditions to suit. VALIANT KING (24) is flying. He relished a brutal tempo two back to win the G3 Bart Cummings and was the eye-catcher in the Caulfield Cup, finishing better than anything for third. He should lap up 3200m now and also draws well. RIVER OF STARS (21) was a far better run out to 2400m in the Caulfield Cup and will stay the trip strongly up on speed. AL RIFFA (1) is a 3x G1 winner overseas, dominant in the Irish St Leger last time. He's weighted right up to his best but can't be left out. MEYDAAN (8) had excuses but got going again late in the Caulfield Cup, J-Mac on is a huge plus. SUGGESTED PLAY: Buckaroo & Valiant King to win. |
|
8
|
03:50
|
Lexus Amanda Elliott 1400m
Solid tempo with several going forward headed by Bacash. NAVY PILOT (2) was well supported in the G1 Caulfield Guineas last time out and ran relatively well when battling away for sixth. The win prior was strong when getting over the top of his rivals at Sandown Hillside and back to 1400m looks to suit while also getting J-Mac on board. BACASH (4) was run down by Navy Pilot at Sandown but has come out of that and won dominantly at Caulfield since. Keeps raising the bar and will take beating again. RIPLEY (7) is a lightly raced horse who won dominantly fresh at Rosehill, trying hard in a strongly run Gothic Stakes behind some class sprinters. Suited up in trip now and if he can get across from the wide gate he'll take beating. BURMA STAR (8) hit the line well at Rosehill in a BM72 when last seen, winning dominant prior. Very wary of Waller bringing him down here. GRAND PRAIRIE (3) is off a let-up here and drawn wide but has the class through his Sydney form to be competitive. SUGGESTED PLAY: Navy Pilot to win. |
|
9
|
04:35
|
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes 1400m
Fancify can work over from a wide alley to lead. SURFIN' BIRD (15) is the intriguing runner. She's a lightly raced mare who has won 4/5 starts to date, utterly dominant at Caulfield in a BM70 last start, setting midfield off a strong speed and obliterating her rivals in outstanding time. That was a clear peak performance and this is much harder but if she runs to that level, she measures right up. GUMDROPS (10) has just found one better in both runs this time in, trying hard behind all-the-way-winner She's Bulletproof at Caulfield last time. She needs to run out a strong 1400m which this will be, but McDonald sticks and she's ready to peak. SHE'S GOT PIZZAZZ (2) looks suited going to 1400m third up. She hasn't been beaten far in two runs back and did win her only go this trip. PONDALOWIE (14) is going better than the form guide suggests, she draws a gate here and 1400m looks ideal. FANCIFY (1) won this race last year in slick time leading throughout. She's perhaps not going quite as well and may not get the same conditions here. SUGGESTED PLAY: Surfin' Bird to win. |
|
10
|
05:15
|
Channel 9 Trophy 1400m
A race that lacks early pressure on paper. Keen on SABAJ (8) to round out a big day. He's a lightly raced gelding who was kept very safe in the market first up in the G3 Silver Eagle behind Linebacker, solid there when beaten 3.5 lengths. Last preparation he measured up well against some good horses and he should strip fitter second up in what looks a very winnable race. Zahra hops aboard from the ideal gate and he gets in very well at the weights. SUNSHINEINMYPOCKET (7) and NDOLA (3) come through a good BM84 at Caulfield last time out. Sunshineinmypocket started $2.60 there and just got held up a touch as Ndola went for home. Doubt there's much between them but the former can certainly turn the tables. PERSIAN SPIRIT (12) has come back very well. He was unsuited staying at 1200m last time, now up in trip he can improve. HE'LL RIP (14) is racing well and did win impressively over this route two back. SUGGESTED PLAY: Sabaj to win. |
|
