Placing a bet on a favourite – some punters can’t get enough of them, while others steer clear of them. Racing writer Justin Devine looks at some of the more fancied runners for this weekend’s horse racing and decides if he loves them 😍 or if he should leave ❎ them!
Racing heads to Cranbourne and Newcastle for standalone Saturday meetings this week. APRIL RAIN had no luck at Flemington during the carnival and will only need clear running in the straight to atone at Cranbourne. NORWEGIAN BLISS continues to step up in her races and is the best bet on the card at a competitive Newcastle meeting. At Doomben MORETHANNUMBERONE can get the job done after a freshen up 😍.
Weight can stop a train, and 60kgs looks too big an impost for BLUSHING TYCOON over the 2000m. SO TAKEN may have forgotten how to win and looks under the odds in a winnable race at Doomben, while WILCHINO is likely to find 1200m too much for her in the West ❎.
Good Luck Punters!
Cranbourne R5 – 6. April Rain @ $2.10 😍
The grey APRIL RAIN had no luck in the HKJC Stakes (below) during Cup week when well backed, making her one of the only Waller trained runners to disappoint throughout the carnival! The one positive out of the run was that she didn’t exert herself and she looks well placed at Cranbourne this week. Damian Lane replaces Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle and “Frosty” has a great recent record at the Cranbourne circuit. With even luck in running, she gets the prize. Yes please.
Rich Hips explodes along the inside to win this race for the second year in a row. 💥@busuttin @FlemingtonVRC pic.twitter.com/njC0RjERbX
— Racing.com (@Racing) November 2, 2021
BET ON CRANBOURNE RACE 5 HERE:
Newcastle R9 – 11. Norwegian Bliss @ $3.40 😍
NORWEGIAN BLISS made it three from three with a strong win at Canterbury last start despite encountering some difficulties in the run. She looks ready to step up in distance to 1400m and has won at Newcastle before. Connections have been patient with the mare and are reaping the rewards of the conservative approach. She might be a Stakes horse. I’m on!
Doomben R9 – 12. Morethannumberone @ $2.30 😍
MORETHANNUMBERONE has won three from four this prep and was unlucky to be defeated at his other run. Back from an eight week freshen up this week and already well backed, the Michael Costa trained 5yo looks cherry ripe. Expect him to speed past his rivals in the straight. Yes please.
Cranbourne R2 – 1. Blushing Tycoon @ $2.30 ❎
BLUSHING TYCOON ran around in Listed company last start and makes a big step back in class this week. On exposed form, he is clearly the best horse in the race and should have no problems getting the trip. Craig Newitt is riding well and has 10 winners at Cranbourne in the last 12 months. Can he give his rivals 6kgs, and still win? That is 9 lengths! I won’t be taking the short price to find out. Pass.
BET ON CRANBOURNE RACE 2 HERE:
Doomben R3 – 6. So Taken @ $2.90 ❎
The career record of SO TAKEN makes for interesting reading. She won three from her first seven starts and was being touted as a potential black type horse. Since then, the Waller trained mare has had one win from 26 starts and lines up at Doomben this week in a race including plenty of the “usual suspects”. She has been racing well of late and dare I say it, is closing in on a win, HOWEVER her record doesn’t fill favourite backers with a great deal of confidence. I cannot bring myself to back her. No thanks.
Ascot R3 – 3. Wilchino @ $3.40 ❎
WILCHINO is a speed machine, who has won seven of her last eight with her only defeat being when she was eased out of the race. All of her runs have been over 1000m and she steps up to 1200m for the first time this week. She deserves a chance over further but has been looking for the line recently over the shorter trip. Can she get the 6 furlongs? I think she might struggle. I will be betting around her.