Form analyst, RIC CHAPMAN, looks at every runner in Saturday’s Group 1 $1.5m Newmarket Hcp with horse racing tips for the first four. Read on to see how he maps – he has included the potential for a damp track in his thoughts. Good luck!
Flemington R7 – $1.5million G1 Newmarket Hcp 1200m
1. PRIVATE EYE (2) 5082x1217x
T; Joe Pride / J: Brenton Avdulla (58kg)
Superstar. Last campaign he carried 60kg here and ran faster time than any of these have ever done. So, if he is that forward again, he should finish too hard and win this. Is an extremely exciting sprinter on his day.
2.MAZU (16) 1111x5232x
T: Team Snowden / J: Sam Clipperton (57kg)
Gr 1 winner, so talented and more importantly is profoundly consistent. Can and has run effectively against the best sprinters in the land. Won the Doomben 10,000 last year and last prep was beaten less than a length when 3rd in the $15m The Everest. Big danger.
3. I WISH I WIN (14) 123x1151x2
T: Peter Moody / J; Luke Nolen (56.5kg)
Might be one of the top 3 sprinters in the land and this race will tell. Extremely talented miler and no one could have missed his astonishing finishing burst to grab 2nd in the recent Gr 1 Lightning over 1000m. Extra trip suits here a great deal.
4. ROCH ‘N’ HORSE (3) 210x4221x0
T: Michael Moroney/ J: Jamie Mott (55.5kg)
Is a little in and out but did win this race last year and loves this track. Is 2nd up here and bound to be competitive again.
5. BALLER (13) 8815x133x7
T: Tony Gollan / J: Blake Shinn (55kg)
Good sprinter with a genuine knock out chance here. Is up with the best of them on his day and is 2nd up here. Not far away when 7th in the Gr 1 Lightning last start when resuming. Fitter now and is much more at home this trip.
6. BELLA NIPOTINA (1) 155x1219x3
T: Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace / J: Craig Williams (54.5kg)
Is just the professional sprinter. Always shows up in Gr 1 races and is worthy of your investment. Ran a cracking 3rd in the Gr 1 Lightning last start beaten just half a length and did win a 1200m Gr 1 race last prep. Big show.
7. SEPTEMBER RUN (11) x3135x84x4
T: Chris Waller /J: Jye McNeil (54kg)
Looked good when resuming and 4th in the Gr 1 Lightning. Stormed through along the inside and for about 100m looked likely to grab the lead and win. Only beaten half a length. Fitter now. Always a threat.
8. THE ASTROLOGIST (15) x6463681x0
T: Team Corstens /J: Damian Lane (54kg)
Won the Gr 1 in West Australia last prep this trip. Harder here but is capable of being right in it. Is 2nd up in this after poor 13th in the Gr 1 Oakleigh Plate last start.
9. LOFTY STRIKE (12) 11x347x12
T: Julius Sandhu / J: Craig Newitt (52.5kg)
Star speedster and looks the one to beat. Stormed home to run a record in winning the Gr 2 Rubiton at Sandown over 1100m then last start finished like a shot from a gun from 13th at the end when 2nd in the Gr 1 Oakleigh Plate. Is weighted to win this. Big threat.
10. CHAIN OF LIGHTNING (6) x111310x38
T: Peter Moody J: Linda Meech
Good sprinting mare who was a game 3rd beaten less than a length by Lofty Strike in the Rubiton and only 2 lengths away last start when 8th in the Oakleigh Plate over 1100m. Won a Gr 2 at 1400m so trip suits.
11. FRONT PAGE (7) 02x104x10x
T: Geoff Duryea/ J: Pat Moloney (52kg)
Outstanding bush sprinter but Gr 1 level may test. To possibly counter that he resumes here and is dynamite while fresh.
12. SNAPPER (4) 180×891714
T: Michael Moroney/ J: Michael Poy (52kg)
Nice horse who looks to have a good future but this is too much of and ask against this level.
13. STAR PATROL (10) x1112x3x16
T: Clinton McDonald / J; Damien Thornton (52kg)
Is smart and on a rapid improvement curve. Can run on pace and is very fit. After comfortably winning the Listed Adams at Sandown, stepped up to Gr 1 and was beaten less than 2 lengths when 6th in the Oakleigh Plate. Is good at this track and trip.
14. SWATS THAT (5) 55x36008x3
T: Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace / J: Daniel Moor (52kg)
Not won for a while and not racing like she used to. But the best Swats That with this weight finishes hard and nearly wins this. Fair third when in bother in Sydney last start. Place at best.
15. IN SECRET (8) 11x2121x13
T: James Cummings / J: Jamie Kah (51.5kg)
Superstar filly whose only run at this track was last year when an easy Gr 1 winner this trip. Carries no weight and is profoundly talented. Is 3rd up and looms very large.
16. BUENOS NOCHES (9) 16123×5
T: Matt Smith / J: Ben Thompson (50.5kg)
This postage stamp weight makes him a threat. Can run with the best of these and was a close 5th in the Gr 1 Lightning last start when resuming. Now, he has run Giga Kick to a nose at level weights, was an lucky 3rd at Gr 1 level to In Secret here and meets her considerably better at the weights and last start was just behind I Wish I Win in the Lightning and meets him 3kg better.
