Summary of Best Bets
- Best Bet: Race 6 – Ohope Wins
- Next Best: Race 9 – Sepals
- Next Best: Race 3 – Persian Wonder
- Best Roughie: Race 9 – Globe
Race by race overview
Race 1
Midway BM72 over the 1300m to kick off the meeting.
Annie’s Rose brings clearly the best form lines to this event with a luckless fourth behind subsequent Group 3 winner Cinsault. There are 48 days between runs but she has been kept up to the mark with a smart tick-over trial. The big ticks are the wet deck, jockey change and positive gate.
Audrey’s Lane should roll forward from the draw coming off a fresh win, with a sharp second-up record of two wins from three starts, and she is another who likes the soft.
Art Volant is worth thought back to 1300m off a 20-day freshen, although the wet track is the concern.
African Daisy was too bad to be true last start and is worth another chance off her trial form.
Selections:
(10) Annie’s Rose
(4) Audrey’s Lane
(3) Art Volant
(1) African Daisy
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 2
One of the most intriguing races on the day.
We see the $9.6 million Yulong purchase Barnavara make her Australian debut. She brings an impressive CV to this event coming off a last-start Group 1 win over 2000m. James McDonald rides and, off her overseas figures, she should land on speed and look the winner for a long way.
The danger is the Haggas import, Caviar Heights, who is drawn to lead and brings a progressive profile to the race. He may not have the same hype as the favourite but he is trained by the master traveller.
Wootton Verni will likely go back from the draw and can improve with the wet deck.
Bois D’Argent was super fresh, OK second-up and now looks ready to peak third-up.
Selections:
(2) Barnavara
(6) Caviar Heights
(3) Wootton Verni
(1) Bois D’Argent
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 3
The Baillieu is the two-year-old contest on the meeting and the key lead-up to the Group 1 Sires in two weeks’ time.
Keen to side with Persian Wonder here stepping up to 1400m after closing off well in the Pago Pago behind War Machine, posting a strong last 200m. He gets James McDonald aboard and draws to find a lovely one-one run.
Plagiarism was great in the Skyline behind Campione D’Italia, who subsequently ran fourth in a Golden Slipper. He should cross with ease from the 1400m start and looks to have no real pressure around him.
High Alert brings another strong lead-up through the same form race and is suited up to 1400m.
Southend looked visually impressive on debut and has a bit of X-factor about him.
Selections:
(4) Persian Wonder
(1) Plagiarism
(7) High Alert
(6) Southend
Suggested Bet: Persian Wonder
Race 4
An even race.
Captain Furai has come back a better horse this preparation, putting up three consistent figures on dry tracks, and now gets onto his preferred rain-affected ground. That is the big tick.
Amreekiyah gets a lovely run from the inside draw, handles wet ground and should be set to peak deep into the preparation.
Our Queen did a terrific job first-up over 1100m and now rises to 1400m, which looks a big positive, while the inside draw and Clark aboard add further appeal.
Overriding was plain fresh but gets onto a better track second-up with Lloyd booked and can improve sharply.
Selections:
(11) Captain Furai
(14) Amreekiyah
(13) Our Queen
(8) Overriding
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 5
The first of the features is the Tulloch Stakes over 2000m for the boys.
The Busuttin and Young-trained Arcora goes on top after a smart last-start win, and he showed last preparation that when he gets out to 2000m he is at his best. He draws well and gets a key booking with Nash Rawiller.
O’Sheamus can improve sharply now third-up and getting out in trip after two fitness-building runs.
The watch is on Storm Leopard, who has been well backed in early markets, maps well and should improve with Berry on.
Varjak rounds out the numbers third-up and can improve.
Selections:
(1) Arcora
(3) O’Sheamus
(5) Storm Leopard
(7) Varjak
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 6
An outstanding edition of the Vinery Stud Stakes. The Kiwis have dominated this event in recent years and this season we have two very sharp additions.
Keen to side with Ohope Wins, now under the Waller banner, after her last-start New Zealand Oaks win over 2400m. She has had 35 days between runs and has been kept up to the mark with a tick-over trial. She will spot the leaders some ground, but she looks the one to beat.
Belle Cheval is the danger after a smart runner-up finish in The Kiwi behind the impressive Well Written. She rises from 1500m to 2000m and has tactical versatility, which is key.
Panova is building steadily towards her best and now looks ready for 2000m.
Salty Pearl was suited last start in Melbourne, comes to Sydney and rises in trip, but does look short enough in the market.
Selections:
(1) Ohope Wins
(2) Belle Cheval
(4) Panova
(3) Salty Pearl
Suggested Bet: Ohope Wins WIN
WATCH: Dean Watling previews the Kiwis
Race 7
There does not look to be a whole lot of speed on in this year’s Emancipation and it shapes as Idle Flyer’s race to lose. She comes off a solid fresh effort, has since been back to the trials and looks ready for all of the 1500m. The map is the big tick, as she should land no worse than three pairs back on the outside.
Verona Rose is another who maps well enough from the draw but will be hoping the speed goes on up front.
Modella went to a new peak last time at Rosehill and rises to 1500m but has to overcome a sticky draw.
Selections:
(6) Idle Flyer
(2) Verona Rose
(13) Modella
Suggested Bet: Idle Flyer WIN
Race 8
The feature of the day is the 2400m Tancred and it looks a race in two between Aeliana and Dubai Honour.
The setup looks ideal for Aeliana with the quick back-up, rise to 2400m and James McDonald staying aboard. She has come back one to two lengths better this preparation and her previous career peak was over 2400m in the ATC Derby.
Dubai Honour returns to defend his Tancred title and always grows a leg when travelling to Australia. He loves getting his toe into the ground and looks the main danger despite the awkward draw.
Soul Of Spain is racing well without winning and now gets to a suitable trip.
Vauban was terrific fresh winning the Sky High Stakes and can only run well again.
Selections:
(9) Aeliana
(1) Dubai Honour
(3) Soul Of Spain
(2) Vauban
Suggested Bet: Aeliana WIN
Race 9
Excited to see the talented Sepals return to Sydney. Last time he was here he ran Autumn Glow to within 1.3 lengths in the Golden Eagle. He was excellent fresh in the Newmarket and looks well suited with 21 days between runs and a rise to 1500m. He should land in the first four in running and prove the horse to beat.
Globe is the danger after resenting the firm deck fresh and now gets his preferred cut in the ground second-up.
Enxuto was a good thing beaten last start at Rosehill, draws better now and should get every chance.
Waterford has been underrated in the market, has trialled up like a rocket and can run into the placings fresh.
Selections:
(1) Sepals
(2) Globe
(13) Enxuto
(8) Waterford
Suggested Bet: Sepals WIN / Globe EW
Race 10
An exciting end to the day, although there may be significant scratchings with plenty of gallopers also entered for Muswellbrook on Friday.
Mal Coupe is the map horse, and the 1200m chute start can be tricky, so those inside draws are gold. He is in career-best form and can improve again getting back onto his preferred rain-affected track.
King’s Secret is ready to win second-up but has drawn poorly and will need plenty of luck.
Miss Roumbini is a great wet tracker who has been somewhat forgotten in the market and has trialled well.
Celui is a massive price, draws well and is a smart 1200m horse rather than just a 1000m specialist.
Selections:
(5) Mal Coupe
(6) King’s Secret
(3) Miss Roumbini
(12) Celui
Suggested Bet: No Bet
