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!
Spring is officially here! Australia’s (and possibly the world’s) best sprinter NATURE STRIP returns in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes and should be too quick and classy for his rivals. Import DEGRAVES will get one more chance from me at Moonee Valley after circumstances conspired against him when resuming. MELODY MAN powered to the line to win well over 1600m last time and should eat up the 1950m at Morphettville this week. Bad luck looks like his only danger 😍.
Cox Plate favourite ZAAKI begins his spring campaign in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes at Randwick. His Brisbane carnival was nothing short of outstanding, but his 1400m record is poor. I can’t back him at the price. GENERATION will need plenty of luck from the gate at The Valley while SASSY TRADER looks under the odds at Belmont with the weight rise ❎.
Good Luck Punters!
Randwick R5 – 1. Nature Strip @ $1.45 😍
The superstar NATURE STRIP has not raced since destroying his rivals in the Group 1 TJ Smith in the Autumn (below). With six Group 1 wins to his name, he is still the best sprinter in Australia and has trialled well in the build up to his first-up run. He will be too good for his rivals. Yes please!
You do not want to miss this full race replay of Nature Strip's absolutely dominating victory in the G1 TJ Smith, again!
Ridden perfectly by James Mc Donal for trainer Chris Waller, Nature Strip does not disappoint in this impressive win.
The G1 Doncaster Mile is up next! pic.twitter.com/E7CCIcZPVo
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 10, 2021
Moonee Valley R4- 9. Degraves @ $3.60 😍
Irish import DEGRAVES was a tad disappointing when unplaced first-up after being heavily supported. He didn’t have much luck on that occasion with the tempo going against him and he peaked on his run with 100m to go. His only other run in Australia was a win and Team Williams have a high opinion of the horse. The step up in distance will help. He wasn’t brought to Australia to make up the numbers and big things are expected of the 4yo. I’m happy to give him one last chance.
BET ON MOONEE VALLEY RACE 4 HERE:
Morphettville R5 – 3. Melody Man @ $1.50 😍
MELODY MAN came with a strong finish to win well over 1600m last start after a frustrating run of minor placings. The Jake Stephens trained gelding jumps up to 1950m this week and gives the impression that the further he goes the better he will be. Leading jockey Todd Pannell retains the ride. He ticks all the boxes.
BET ON MORPHETTVILLE RACE 5 HERE:
Moonee Valley R3 – 2. Generation @ $3.40 ❎
GENERATION tasted defeat for the first time last start when beaten into third placing despite enjoying the run of the race for Jamie Kah. With Kah out suspended this week, Jye McNeil takes the ride and he will have his work cut out for him from the wide barrier draw. I fear he will either get caught facing the breeze outside the leader in the run or even worse, get caught three-wide the trip. While he looks to have a bright future ahead of him, he will have his work cut out for him this week. I will be betting around him.
BET ON MOONEE VALLEY RACE 3 HERE:
Randwick R7 – 1. Zaaki @ $2.30 ❎
ZAAKI got tongues wagging with a dominant Brisbane winter carnival which included a 7+ length win in the Group 1 Doomben Cup. The Annabel Neasham trained English import is now the clear favourite for the Cox Plate and is the “spruik” horse for the Spring. However, he has never run a placing in four runs over the 1400m and has bigger fish to fry this spring than the Group 2 Tramway Stakes. Will his class get him over the line? I’m not taking the short price to find out!
Belmont R3 – 1. Sassy Trader @ $2.30 ❎
SASSY TRADER enjoyed all the favours in the front last start to win well, bringing up his first win in 10 starts in the process. Up 2.5kgs this week after the claim, he is unlikely to enjoy it as easy in the lead and this race has more depth. Can he go on with the job and make it two on the bounce? Maybe. Am I backing him? Pass.