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’s an interesting day of racing coming up with a number of imports well in the betting markets. WICKLOW has won both his Australian starts and looks a class above his rivals at Rosehill, while the lightly raced Godolphin mare KATALIN was a standout at her last run and can go on with the job this week. The unbeaten KURABUI has handled every challenge put to her so far and with 7kgs less than her most recent outing, she looks beautifully placed for leading jockey Jamie Kah at Flemington😍.
Irish stayer SOUTH PACIFIC is yet to fire in Australia and the short price on offer for him is one for the thrill-seekers at Flemington! LACKEEN is another import who is yet to show his best in Australia and I will not be rushing to back him at Rosehill. SO YOU WIN continues to race consistently but struggles to win. He is likely to find one or two better than him in the Ipswich Cup ❎.
Good Luck Punters!
Rosehill R2 – 4. Wicklow @ $1.60 😍
The import WICKLOW has won both his Australian starts in impressive style and is expected to plough through the rain-affected going. Brenton Avdulla has been aboard at both his wins in Australia and retains the ride. Simply, he looks better than his rivals in the small field! The best bet of the day.
Flemington R5 – 9. Kurabui @ $1.85 😍
With four wins from four runs, KURABUI is working through the grades well and finds herself in another winnable race this weekend. She will sit off the fence in what is likely to be the best part of the track in the run before coming with a strong finish. With 7kgs less weight than her most recent run she is thrown in at the weights and the Jamie Kah/Price & Kent jnr team has a 28% ROI this season. She ticks every box! Yes, please.
BET ON FLEMINGTON RACE 5 HERE:
Rosehill R8 – 7. Katalin @ $2.10 😍
The lightly raced Godolphin prepared KATALIN was very impressive when winning first-up after an absence of more than a year and you would expect the mare to improve after that outing. This is not an overly hard race and she was good enough to finish 2 lengths off the winner at Group 3 level in The Vanity early in her career. The stable has been very patient with the now 4yo and she clearly has lots of talent. The red hot James McDonald takes the ride. I’m on.
Flemington R2 – 2. South Pacific @ $2.40 ❎
The Irish import SOUTH PACIFIC has hardly set the world on fire since coming to Australia with one placing from seven runs and only plodded in the Warrnambool Cup last start. The Maher and Eustace stable is flying and Jamie Kah would win on a rocking horse at the moment, BUT the reality is that SOUTH PACIFIC hasn’t won for 2 years and punters are being asked to take a short price. He might improve over the longer trip and brain them. He is well under the odds for mine. Pass.
BET ON FLEMINGTON RACE 2 HERE:
Rosehill R4 – 1. Lackeen @ $2.70 ❎
LACKEEN is a Godolphin import who won impressively on debut in France last year and hasn’t done much in his seven runs since. His last few Australian runs have been full of merit, but he could only manage second place last start despite getting the box seat run throughout. It is hard to get enthused with him at the price and with his record. I will be betting around him.
Ipswich R7 – 2. So You Win @ $3.60 ❎
SO YOU WIN is an ultra-consistent galloper who continues to find one or two better than him in his races. His recent form is solid enough with four placings and suggests that a win isn’t far away. However, he hasn’t raced at Ipswich before and has only won two of his last 23 starts. Can he win the Ipswich Cup? Yes. Am I backing him? No thanks.