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!
It doesn’t get any better than Caulfield Cup and Everest day! The Caulfield Cup favourite INCENTIVISE may have drawn the car park, but he will still be too good for his rivals. COLETTE is a dead set swimmer and will get conditions to suit in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield. She can power past her rivals. The Maher and Eustace trained BROWNIE has impressed winning her last two runs at the provincials and looks well placed at Morphettville. She can lead all the way again 😍.
NATURE STRIP and EDUARDO went too fast in last year’s Everest and set the race up for the backmarkers. Both horses are back in the $15m race this year and I can’t back NATURE STRIP at the short price. Expect history to repeat itself. ZOUTORI will struggle to run out a strong 1400m in the Group 3 Moonga Stakes and looks under the odds, while RHAPSODY ROSE will need to improve sharply at Eagle Farm to justify favouritism. I’m happy to take the pair on ❎.
Good Luck Punters!
Morphettville R5 – 2. Brownie @ $2.50 😍
The Maher and Eustace trained mare is chasing a hat trick of wins after a couple of strong on pace wins in regional Victoria including a last start win at Kilmore (below). BROWNIE gets in well with the 2kg claim for Jacob Opperman and this is not an overly strong race. Expect her to jump to the front and lead all the way. She is well placed and looks the best of the day.
Brownie railed like a greyhound and couldn't be caught at Kilmore. 👌@cmaherracing pic.twitter.com/eG7VYkQCsj
— Racing.com (@Racing) September 28, 2021
BET ON MORPHETTVILLE RACE 5 HERE:
Caulfield R7 – 2. Colette @ $2.50 😍
The Godolphin trained COLETTE has won five from seven in the wet including the Group 1 Australian Oaks and last years Golden Eagle on heavy tracks. Earlier this year she was too good for a star studded field in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (below) over 1400m on a soft track at Randwick and she worked home strongly in the Group 1 Makybe Stakes to finish just out of the placings last start. Conditions will suit and she only needs to be near her best to get the prize. Yes please.
Colette dominates in the G2 Apollo Stakes.
Bravo, @RachelK11. 👏👏👏
Thoughts on Verry Elleegant's return? pic.twitter.com/QuFYqmu0sq
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 13, 2021
Caulfield R9 – 2. Incentivise @ $2.50 😍
INCENTIVISE is the emerging superstar of Australian racing with eight wins on the trot including a tough win in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (below). While the widest barrier is not ideal the 5yo makes his own luck in races and in form hoop Brett Prebble can cross to the lead and dictate the race from there. He was a 12 length Group 3 winner at his only 2400m run and is the clear top pick. He might be a great! MELODY MAN has savaged the line to win his last two runs at Morphettville over distances of 1600m and 1950m. The further he goes, the better he gets. The 2000m today’s looks ideal and the 6yo could have a big race win in him this spring. I’m on.
https://twitter.com/Aushorse_TBA/status/1444179510073577478
Caulfield R6 – 1. Zoutori @ $3.40 ❎
ZOUTORI went down narrowly in a three-way photo in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes last start and steps up to 1400m this week. He never runs a bad race but does his best racing over 1200m (six wins) when compared to 1400m (one win). The 60kgs also looks a challenge. I will be betting around him this week.
Randwick R7 – 1. Nature Strip @ $3.50 ❎
Here we go again! NATURE STRIP ($4.2 – $3.7) has been well supported to win the $15m Everest despite going down as an even-money favourite in the Group 2 Shorts at his last start. He went too hard too early in this race last year and set it up for the backmarkers. With EDUARDO engaged again, it is hard to see how he will get an easier run in the lead this year. He’s an enigma, to say the least! I can’t back him at the short price. Pass
Eagle Farm R8 – 1. Rhapsody Rose @ $3.60 ❎
RHAPSODY ROSE steps up to 1400m after a couple of average runs over shorter trips this prep and is expected to improve sharply. Connections had a big enough opinion of the filly to run her in the Group 2 Sires during the Brisbane Winter Carnival and she wasn’t disgraced finishing midfield. However, she has drawn gate 9 in a field of nine and will need to carry 59kgs. Her main dangers all have a big weight advantage and have drawn well. Can she win? Yes. Will I be backing her? No thanks!
BET ON EAGLE FARM RACE 8 HERE: