ANZAC Day Racing Preview: Monday 25/4/16

Apr 25, 2016
8 min read

Picture: Vince Caligiuri

Racing on this ANZAC Day comes from Gawler, Flemington and Randwick. It's always a good days racing and this year looks to be no exception. The highlights come from Flemington with the 2800m St. Leger for the 3 Year Old stayers and the ANZAC Cup over 2500m.

Flemington

The track is rated a Good (4) at the time of writing and the rail is out +9m the entire circuit.

Race 3 1610m William Newton VC Handicap

Three-Years-Old and Upwards. BenchMark 84. Fillies and Mares. Handicap.

There looks to be a decent amount of speed in this with Written and Long Face Grace likely to push forward from the outside with Darcy's Law, Testability, Domino Vitale and Miss Cooper all capable of being on speed also.

I was taken by the win of Loveitt at Sandown on Wednesday the 6th of April on a Soft track. She had a ton of work to do at the 400m but let down like a horse capable of heading on to much better company. This is clearly harder, but she looks a really nice style of horse and the 1600m should suit her here with Craig Williams riding and only 54kg on her back from barrier 4.

Hijack Hussy is the logical danger. She's been good this prep without winning, running 3rd to Miss Seton Sands, 4th to Writen against the pattern at Bendigo and then chased home Nevis (smart horse) over the mile last time out. The issue with her is that she puts in a 'Black Book' run every start, catching the eye running home but she doesn't win often enough (3/16) to confidently back her. 60kg also makes it dificult.

Testability should get a good run up on speed and carries 51kg after Ben Allen's claim. She was 2nd to Clemency two starts back and then stuck on well when up to 2000m last time. Freshened up here and back to the mile she could be hard to catch.

Written, Amarela and Long Face Grace are all chances too.

Strategy: Backing Loveitt.

Race 6 2530m ANZAC Cup

Four-Years-Old and Upwards. No class restriction. No sex restriction. Handicap.

Mujadale and High Church look to be the two most likely to compete for the lead. Behind them Tintaglia and Aagas can race handy as well as Big Memory.

The run of Big Memory in the Mornington Cup was enormous. He sat handy to a ludicrously fast speed (broke the track record by some 4 seconds) and was the only horse from the leading division to be in the finish. Not only was he in the finish, he was only beaten a lip on the post by Berisha swooping hard late. He gets in with 58kg here so only gives them 4kg. He should be able to get in to a nice position in running even from barrier 10. His form around this distance is very good and he is going as well as he ever has.

Tintaglia shapes as one who can beat him here though. She is low flying at the moment, having won her last 3 over 2400m. The last two have been by a combined 9.75L so she isn't just winning, she's been dominant in doing so. This is much harder than the races she's contested but when mares find form like this they tend to hold it.

High Church is the other who looks a good chance. He has won his only two 2400m+ starts in Australia after leading both times. He's down 5/4.5kg in weight off of those performances also. I don't think the fields he beat have been much chop and he has only fell in both times, but the drop in weight may mean he has more left at the end of this.

Swacadelic beat Signoff/Real Love before heading to the Adelaide Cup and running 5th after getting too far back. He covered ground in the Mornington Cup and ran on soundly.

Strategy: Backing Big Memory.

Race 8 1200m Phillip Schuller Handicap

No age restriction. BenchMark 84. No sex restriction. Handicap.

Interesting to see if there is a bias towards the inside or outside section for the straight races or if it plays evenly. Also not sure if they split or stay as one, but with a field this size you'd think they split. Pace will come from Rich Jack, Decircles, Face Forward and Alias. The pace looks just even but they can fly in these races.

Supido looks to be a very classy animal. He is 6:4-1-0 in his career to date and returned after a spell with a dominant win over 1100m here when in the worst part of the track. At his next start, he won a BM78 over 1200m at Moonee Valley giving his rivals 4.5kg and demolished them in the process, breaking 1:10 which only good horses do around that track. He won like a horse with some serious ability and although he has 60kg, an inside draw and is two months between runs he looks the one.

Illustrious Lad was dominant in winning a BM90 in Adelaide last time out, winning by 5L running away from a pretty handy bunch of horses. He runs very well down the straight and looks to have come back this time in in good order. Carries 58kg after Mertens' claim and draws favourably in 15.

We've Got This has won his last 2, the latest a good win over this track and trip in BM96 grade defeating some decent gallopers. He is another who is good down the straight and is going to be very competitive. He carries 59.5kg after Thompson's claim.

Of the others, Chivalry is a talented horse and must be respected on debut for Weir. Duibio is talented and won over this track/trip in January in blistering fashion.

Strategy: With Supido despite this being his biggest test to date.

Gawler

The track was rated a Soft (5) as of Sunday night but we could get an upgrade. The rail is in the true position the entire course.

Race 3 2100m ANZAN Appeal/SABOIS Distance Maiden Plate

Three-Years-Old and Upwards. Maiden. No sex restriction. Set Weights.

Speed from October Dawn, Visual Motif, King Of Siam. With only a short run to the first turn those drawn wide will have to decide whether to go forward or back quickly.

I thought De La Cruz had a lot to offer last start when finishing back in the field to Ready Right Now over 1600m. She was back in the field behind runners and copped a check at about the 300m but I saw enough to think she can win this out to 2100m.

Sanima Star is racing well and is a chance again here. She was good two back behind a subsequent impressive winner and ran on again at 1600m last time. Not sure if 2100m is her go but we'll find out.

Oakbank Reign has beaten 0.1L to Exalted Lightning over 1600m and then ran 4th to Cool Target over the same trip last time and is a chance again despite drawing barrier 10. Prince Of Pagoda was okay last start running 5th beaten 2.5L to Power Glen over 2100m here but looks to have come up unders.

Strategy: Backing my eye and hoping De La Cruz improves out to 2100m.

Race 6 1200m RSL Centenary/Adelaide Galvanising Handicap

No age restriction. Class 1. No sex restriction. Handicap.

Speed out wide from Tempting Faith and inside from Junior Mac and Deanna Jean. There doesn't appear to be a whole lot of speed in this event.

Royal Guard won on debut over 1050m at Morphettville and then went to 1400/1500m where he ran 4th on both occasions. 1st up at the 1200m appears to suit. He was run off his legs a bit by two very fast and smart types in a recent trial and ran through the line very nicely running good time comparative to other heats on the day. Can win this 1st up from barrier 2 for Finnegan.

An overall record of 1/18 doesn't fill me with a lot of confidence but Our Prospect's last two runs have been good in harder company than this. Two back she was beaten 2.7L to Tycoon Sofie/Mullinger Lane and last time out she was 3L off Master Sommelier/Ample On Offa. That form is strong for this event.

Tempting Faith led and won it's Maiden 1st up and will attempt to win again following breaking it's Maiden, which many horses fail to do. Barrier 14 is tough but she should get across and she's in with a chance. Enchanting Beauty has some claims as well.

Strategy: Backing Royal Guard to win this 1st up.

Race 8 1200m Western Front 1916/Goldin Farms Handicap

No age restriction. BenchMark 60. No sex restriction. Handicap.

Lots of speed here. Danouli, Thespinis, Jest For The Road, Here Comes Theboom, Rain Attack, Astro Damus and Cyclone Thomas are all amongst those who can race on speed. So it looks like their may be speed in this event.

Jest For The Road is a better horse than his first two runs this preparation have shown. I fancy he has been looking for this sort of trip and I'm willing to look past his average efforts so far this time in. He beat Comprende over 1530m at Morphettville to finish last prep and that horse ran 3rd in Stakes company on Saturday. He carries 56kg after the claim for Spain.

Outside of that this race looks a bit of a raffle. De Jorvik and Freedom Road weren't beaten far by the smart Cocoa Doll last time out. Here Comes Theboom won his Maiden over 1350m at Strathalbyn last time. Danouli was 4.5L off the smart Mihany last start. Heidi Star is another who broke it's Maiden last start. Thespinis was a good run when 2nd last time out also.

Strategy: Jest For The Road is $6 on Sportsbet (about right) and $21 on Bet365 which is absolutely ridiculous. Backing him each way with Bet365.

Randwick

The track was rated a Heavy (8) as of Sunday night and it looks like it's going to stay pretty wet. The rail is out +12m from the 1600m to the winning post and out +6m the remainder. Hopefully that fixes the slow lane on the rail at Randwick of late.

Race 6 2000m Tommy Hill Memorial Handicap

Three-Years-Old and Upwards. No class restriction. No sex restriction. Handicap.

Faust and Aomen should roll forward with perhaps Sense Of Occasion and Tremec. The pace looks just even on paper.

I think Lady Le Fay is one of the best bets so far this year in this. Her two runs last preparation after coming to Chris Waller from New Zealand were very good including a 3rd to subsequent Group 1 winner Good Project. This prep she was sound with a big weight over the unsuitable 1300m trip 1st up, then went to the Group 2 Emancipation and make steady ground behind Zanbagh/Supara/Amicus. At her latest run she was back and wide again and ran home for 4th in the Queen Of The Turf behind Azkadellia. Out to 2000m looks ideal (has won at 2100m in NZ) and she is 3:2-1-0 on heavy tracks. 54kg and barrier 6 are perfect and she just has so much more upside than these.

Sense Of Occasion is a good horse and has been tuned up for this assignment first up with three recent trials. The latest of those was particularly pleasing. He was 2nd in the Brisbane Cup last year and loves wet tracks.

Destiny's Kiss loves it wet and was good over this distance three back when a 1.4L 4th in the Group 3 Sky High. Gets 57kg after Deanna Payne's claim.

The Waller trio Hawkspur, Moriarty and Weary are all well performed gallopers but they are all nearing the end of their careers and their best has likely left them now.

Strategy: Lady Le Fay all day.

Our Bets

Flemington

Race 3 - Loveitt - 1 unit win @ $4.80

Race 6 - Big Memory - 1 unit win @ $3.10

Race 8 - Supido - 1 unit win @ $2.20

Gawler

Race 3 - De La Cruz - 1 unit win @ $5

Race 6 - Royal Guard - 1 unit win @ $4.20

Race 8 - Jest For The Road - 1 unit each way @ $21/$5.50 (Bet365)

Randwick

Race 6 - Lady Le Fay - 3 unit win @ $2.35