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 is a big weekend of racing coming up. The Hawkes trained HILAL resumes in the Listed McKenzie Stakes at The Valley after a promising 2yo campaign. He has trialled well and can get the prize first up. Irish import DEGRAVES did plenty wrong when winning on Australian debut in June and looks to have plenty of upside. He can progress through the grades quickly. In Brisbane, RELEASE THE BEANS should have no issues recording a hat trick of wins at Eagle Farm 😍.
VERRY ELLEEGANT begins her Spring campaign in the Group 1 Winx Stakes. She is likely to find her rivals a bit sharp over the 1400m and I am happy to take her on! SMOKIN’ ROMANS will struggle to go back to back at Moonee Valley with the big weight, while MELODY MAN looks under the odds at Morphettville after a couple of disappointing runs ❎.
Good Luck Punters!
Eagle Farm R6 – 1. Release The Beans @ $2.30 😍
RELEASE THE BEANS is racing in great form winning his last two, including a last-start win over 1350m at Doomben with 59kgs. Up to 1400m at Eagle Farm this week with the same weight and drawn to get the run of the race he looks too good for his rivals. Expect him to power home in the straight.
BET ON EAGLE FARM RACE 6 HERE:
Moonee Valley R6 – 4. Hilal @ $2.40 😍
HILAL showed plenty of promise as a 2yo, placing twice in Group 1 grade including a second in the Champagne Stakes at his last run before heading to the paddock. Had it not been for a 10/10 ride on CAPTIVANT in the Champagne Stakes, HILAL would already be a Group 1 winner. He won at his only other first-up run and has trialled well. If there is any positive betting moves for the Team Hawkes trained galloper double up! The Listed McKenzie Stakes is his for the taking.
Captivant wins the Group 1 Champagne Stakes! @mcacajamez produces a 🍑.
@BlueBetAu pic.twitter.com/mKnRIJmA8c
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) April 24, 2021
Moonee Valley R9 – 11. Degraves @ $2.90 😍
Irish import DEGRAVES won on his Australian debut despite racing ungenerously in the straight (below). He hasn’t raced in nine weeks and you would assume that Team Williams have been working on ironing his kinks and that he will be improved from his first hit out in Australia. Star jockey Jamie Kah jumps on. DEGRAVES has the talent to win a Group 1 this Spring. I’m on!
Degraves, green as grass but does enough to cross the line first…
The money came for him and it was spot on. 👌 pic.twitter.com/gBwN2fJvnv
— Racing.com (@Racing) June 19, 2021
BET ON MOONEE VALLEY RACE 9 HERE:
Moonee Valley R5 – 1. Smokin’ Romans @ $3.50 ❎
SMOKIN’ ROMANS was far too good for his rivals over 2500m at The Valley last start and returns to the same class and conditions this week. The 3kg weight rise will be offset by Josh Richard’s claim, BUT Jamie Kah jumps off. This race looks to have more depth than the last one with a number of fit and inform runners engaged. Can he win? Of course. Am I backing him? No thanks. He looks under the odds.
BET ON MOONEE VALLEY RACE 5 HERE:
Randwick R8 – 12. Verry Elleegant @ $2.90 ❎
The superstar VERRY ELLEEGANT resumes in the Group 1 Winx Stakes and has been installed as a $2.90 favourite. We all know how brilliant the mare is, but can she win a Group 1 over 1400m first up as a 6yo? She has won three times over 1400m and interestingly has only won one from six first up. I have no doubt that she will add some more Group 1s to her CV this Spring. However, I believe that the 1400m will be too short for her. Not this week.
Morphettville R7 – 4. Melody Man @ $2.70 ❎
MELODY MAN has been a money muncher of late, going down as favourite at his last two starts. At his most recent run, he settled well back over 1700m at Murray Bridge and worked home OK without threatening the winner and finished fourth. He jumps back in distance to 1600m this week and will once again drift back in the run. He will finish strongly once again but have too much to do. Pass.
BET ON MORPHETTVILLE RACE 7 HERE: