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!
The eyes of the racing world head to Moonee Valley for Cox Plate Day. Blue army filly HERESY was held up for a run in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas and can stretch out to the 2000m in the Group 2 Fillies Classic. Imported stayer ZEYREK continues to improve and looks a class above his rivals in the Tatts Cup at Randwick while ENCHANTINGLY returns to Morphettville after a solid Group 3 run at Caulfield. The pair look beautifully placed 😍.
Punters have put their faith in strong finishers CRIADERAS and PURE DEVOTION at Randwick and Ascot respectively. Both horses have their fair share of hard luck stories already and I can’t back either with their speed maps. PONDUS is clearly a stayer with plenty of ability, BUT he does struggle to win. He will be running around without my money in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup this week ❎.
Good Luck Punters!
Moonee Valley R5 – 2. Heresy @ $3.20 😍
HERESY was caught up in traffic at the top of the straight in the Thousand Guineas when she looked to be tracking into the race well. The only positive out of that run was that the Godolphin prepared filly didn’t expend any energy and the stable is happy to back her up over 2000m this week. She was placed in the McNeil Stakes (below) earlier in this campaign and did look a little hampered for space up along the rail on that occasion. She is due a change of luck! Yes please.
Bruckner has loads of ability, what a performance! ⭐
How about the run of Artorius… 👀@cmaherracing @MelbRacingClub pic.twitter.com/JxtiXuR8km
— Racing.com (@Racing) August 28, 2021
Morphettville R5 – 8. Enchantingly @ $3.20 😍
ENCHANTINGLY recorded dominant back to back wins at Morphettville (below) before going down by less than two lengths in Group 3 company at Caulfield last start. She takes a HUGE drop in class back to a BM76 and will make her own luck on the speed. She is beautifully placed and the best bet of the day at a nice price.
The @swestover93 trained Enchantingly closed the card with a bang at @SAJockeyClub 😧😧😧 pic.twitter.com/Utp4usr63J
— Racing SA (@RacingSA) September 4, 2021
BET ON MORPHETTVILLE RACE 5 HERE:
Randwick R7 – 3. Zeyrek @ $2.50 😍
ZEYREK found the line well for fourth in the Group 1 Metrop last start (below in white cap on rails) despite being caught in the worst part of the track. He will definitely get the 2400m and this is a much easier race than the metrop. To put it simply, the French import is in a different class than his rivals. He can break through for a deserved Australian victory.
.@hugebowman scores his 100th Group 1 winner aboard Montefilia in The Metropolitan. 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/liT8OK3JVr
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 2, 2021
BET ON CITY TATTS CLUB CUP HERE:
Randwick R5 – 4. Criaderas @ $3.40 ❎
Punters (me included) who backed CRIADERAS first-up last prep were wailing when the lightly raced gelding get a mile back and zoomed home for second. While his jockey was widely criticised, that is his racing style and he has once again been well found for his first-up run this week. He is clearly an above average galloper and his recent trials have been terrific suggesting he is cherry ripe. Can he win? Of course he can! Am I backing a horse who will get a mile back and zoom home? No thanks. I’ve been burned before!
Ascot R3 – 2. Pure Devotion @ $2.80 ❎
PURE DEVOTION will be the first of six runners for the Willie Pike and Bob Peters combination at Ascot this week with all six runners jumping close to favourite. After winning her maiden at Bunbury back in February the mare has raced four times for three seconds and one unplaced run, with the majority of runs in good company. She dropped back to last and zoomed home when unplaced first-up. She is mapped to get well back again this week and will have too much to do. Pass
Moonee Valley R8 – 10. Pondus @ $2.50 ❎
The globetrotting PONDUS was solid finishing less than 3 lengths behind some good stayers in the Bart Cummings first up and the money ($3.2 – $2.5) suggests he is ready to fire in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup this week. Raced by Lloyd Williams, the Irish import is yet to win in Australia, finishing 2nd at both his Spring races last year when appearing to have every possible chance. Three wins and seven seconds from 18 runs suggests he struggles to get past his rivals in the straight. He will run well without winning. No thanks!