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!
What a fantastic day of racing we have this Saturday. The Godolphin blue will be well represented as always this week and filly HERESY looks the best for the stable when she lines in the Thousand Guineas Prelude after a couple of solid recent runs. VERRY ELLEEGANT had no luck first up and is well placed to bring up her ninth Group 1 win in the George Main Stakes from the nice gate. MELODY MAN continues to improve and the 2000m at Morphettville this week looks perfect. He is one to watch as the Country Cup circuit heat up 😍.
NATURE STRIP has made a habit of putting in one poor run each prep and I think he is vulnerable second up over 1100m in The Shorts at Randwick. SHE’S IDEEL doesn’t win out of turn and while she will run well in the Kingston Town Stakes I don’t expect her to be winning. While on the Gold Coast, MORETHANNUMBERONE is looking to improve on a poor 1400m record when he jumps a short-priced favourite. He looks under the odds from the poor gate ❎.
Good Luck Punters!
Caulfield R3 – 1. Heresy @ $2.50 😍
The Godolphin prepared HERESY has found the line strongly at both runs this prep without enduring “gut-busting” runs. The step up to 1400m for the Thousand Guineas Prelude looks ideal and I expect her to enjoy a soft run for Olly in transit. She will be too strong in the run home. Yes please.
BET ON THOUSAND GUINEAS PRELUDE HERE:
Randwick R7 – 7. Verry Elleegant @ $2.20 😍
Forget the hype about her rivals, VERRY ELLEEGANT is still the best racehorse in Australia. The mighty mare put in a terrific first-up run when second over the unsuitable 1400m in the Group 1 Winx Stakes despite enduring a torrid run in transit. She steps up to the 1600m for the Group 1 George Main Stakes and is searching for her ninth Group 1 win. She only needs even luck in running to get the prize. The best bet of the day.
BET ON GEORGE MAIN STAKES HERE:
Morphettville R6 – 6. Melody Man @ $2.30 😍
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.
BET ON MORPHETTVILLE RACE 6 HERE:
Randwick R8 – 1. Nature Strip @ $2.40 ❎
Here we are again! To NATURE STRIP or not to NATURE STRIP? The superstar sprinter was awesome when winning the Group 3 Concorde Stakes over 1000m first up. JMAC took the now 7yo to the front and it wasn’t much more than a glorified track gallop. The margin was 2.5 lengths, but it could have been much more. However, the star is prone to going under as favourite from time to time. He is two from seven second up and has never won when stepping up in distance second up. I think this might be his flat run. I’m taking him on.
Gold Coast R8 – 2. Morethannumberone @ $2.20 ❎
MORETHANNUMBERONE is in career-best form with two wins and a second from his last three runs. He landed some good best when bursting through the field to win over 1200m on the Gold Coast last start and is expected to be suited by the set weights on the Gold Coast this week. Interestingly, the 5yo is 0 from 7 over 1400m and will need to jump from barrier 13 this week. He looks under the odds for mine and I will be betting around him. Pass.
BET ON GOLD COAST RACE 8 HERE:
Randwick R9 – 14. She’s Ideel @ $3.50 ❎
The positives first, SHE’S IDEEL is two from two over 2000m at Randwick and was terrific when resuming in the Winx Stakes. She will appreciate the step up to 2000m for the Kingston Town Stakes this week and the market suggests a bold showing. . Having said that, the 6yo mare hasn’t won for 49 weeks and this is a field with plenty of depth. I expect her to run well without winning. That seems to be her go of late.
BET ON KINGSTON TOWN STAKES HERE: