The radar was almost spot on last week. I was thereabouts but I just seemed to be following horses who were following another horse.
Hopefully that string of second placings can be converted to winners this weekend but unfortunately we'll have to deal with rain affected tracks in both Sydney and Melbourne after downpours during the week.
Hopefully that string of second placings can be converted to winners this weekend but unfortunately we'll have to deal with rain affected tracks in both Sydney and Melbourne after downpours during the week.
THE SULTANS OF SPRING
It's Week Three and we look back at another forgotten hero - a grand campaigner of Spring Carnivals gone by whose name we seldom, if ever hear anymore.
As I've written in previous weeks over the next few months I will revisit the deeds of some of the superstars of yesteryear.
I will look at, if you will allow me to wax lyrical, "The Sultans of Spring". (Apologies to Dire Straits.)
I will look at, if you will allow me to wax lyrical, "The Sultans of Spring". (Apologies to Dire Straits.)
Grand Flaneur
This Hall of Famer had just the nine career starts but won them all - including a string of five victories in the Spring of 1880 that saw him win the AJC Derby (at just his second start!) followed by wins in the AJC & VRC Mares Produce Stakes then the Melbourne Cup and a few days later the VRC Derby.
Not a bad CV for a horse that had just six starts to that point.
Not a bad CV for a horse that had just six starts to that point.
He won over distances ranging from five furlongs to three miles (1000m-4800m) and he went on to be leading sire in Australia in 1895 and near the top of the list for a decade. His progeny include Melbourne Cup winner Patron, Epsom Handicap winner Hopscotch and (GB) Ascot Gold Cup winner Merman.
LOOKING FORWARD
Who's hot?
Paul Messara has started the new season with a bang, training three winners and three placegetters from his first eight runners. In fact since July 22 he's had six wins and five placings from 14 starters (Win 42.9% / Place 78.6%). Has just the one runner tomorrow in Mic Mac (Randwick Race 5 No. 3).
Royal Randwick
*** As of 4pm today the track was rated a Heavy 8. The forecast for tomorrow is for a sunny day after an early morning shower. ***
Missile Stakes (Group 3, 1200m, w-f-a)
I don't like tipping odds-on favourites but Rain Affair really does seem to get conditions to suit here with the rain tumbling down midweek. He's won six from seven on slow or heavy with his only miss being a second to Your Song in the BTC Cup in May. Looks primed for a big first-up run after a dominant nine length trial win last Friday. Weight-for-age conditions also suit.
The only knock is that this Randwick track has not been kind to frontrunners in recent weeks, especially when the rail is out. Most winners have been coming down the crown of the track and from off the speed.
Hay List is next in the market but I can't have him. I need to see him do something first. I love the big guy and he has been a wonderful servant to racing in this country but he won't be carrying any of mine until he shows me he has returned in top order. Best wishes to him and connections though because if it wasn't for bad luck this bloke would have no luck at all. It may be a moot point too because a decision on whether he runs or not will not be made until race morning.
Next best according to the market is Mic Mac even though he has never really shown a liking for affected ground. He does however have race fitness on his side and he's been around the money in his last three starts and will appreciate a little weight relief. He's been lumping huge imposts in handicap affairs and giving away a lot of weight to those on the minimum. He won't know himself tomorrow.
Locky's Selections
The only knock is that this Randwick track has not been kind to frontrunners in recent weeks, especially when the rail is out. Most winners have been coming down the crown of the track and from off the speed.
Hay List is next in the market but I can't have him. I need to see him do something first. I love the big guy and he has been a wonderful servant to racing in this country but he won't be carrying any of mine until he shows me he has returned in top order. Best wishes to him and connections though because if it wasn't for bad luck this bloke would have no luck at all. It may be a moot point too because a decision on whether he runs or not will not be made until race morning.
Next best according to the market is Mic Mac even though he has never really shown a liking for affected ground. He does however have race fitness on his side and he's been around the money in his last three starts and will appreciate a little weight relief. He's been lumping huge imposts in handicap affairs and giving away a lot of weight to those on the minimum. He won't know himself tomorrow.
Everything else is double figure odds but there are a couple I could make a case for in my exotics. Title is a three time winner here, a five time winner at the distance and has four wins on slow or worse going. My Destiny handles wet tracks and does her best racing with a couple of runs under her belt and did string together four on end late last year so she has ability.
Atomic Force hasn't won for a long time and has only beaten a handful of runners home at his last half a dozen starts. Centennial Park has had 10 starts at Randwick and has never run a place and Mrs Onassis has taken a bath in the betting ($13 out to $21) possibly because of the rain (any worse than dead and she'll probably be scratched anyway), her ordinary first-up effort or the fact that she's never won beyond 1100m.
Lastly - four eight-year-olds, a seven-year-old and three six-year-olds. This is what happens when all your good horses are sent to stud early.Locky's Selections
2 Rain Affair
3 Mic Mac
7 My Destiny
3 Mic Mac
7 My Destiny
The Rosebud (Listed, 1200m, quality handicap)
* Dream Forward is an early scratching
Eurozone meets Bull Point a half kilo better off for beating him last time out and the form from the race looks strong with the fourth placegetter Kirov (who was beaten nine lengths that day) subsequently posting successive victories. I think these colts will fight it out and I think Eurozone can get the job done again and keep his unbeaten record intact.
The fillies Watabout and Northern Glory are in commission and their recent winning form on wet tracks has to have them in the mix but I just think the formline isn't as strong and they do meet the boys poorly at the weights too.
The best roughies for mine are Good Job Bro who won a race on a wet track by a big margin in the lead-up to the Golden Slipper, and Dissident who showed ability in an abbreviated Melbourne Autumn campaign.
Locky's Selections
The fillies Watabout and Northern Glory are in commission and their recent winning form on wet tracks has to have them in the mix but I just think the formline isn't as strong and they do meet the boys poorly at the weights too.
The best roughies for mine are Good Job Bro who won a race on a wet track by a big margin in the lead-up to the Golden Slipper, and Dissident who showed ability in an abbreviated Melbourne Autumn campaign.
Locky's Selections
5 Eurozone
3 Bull Point
6 Good Job Bro
3 Bull Point
6 Good Job Bro
Other bets
Gangster's Choice (Randwick Race 8 No. 6) won a 1400m Benchmark 85 first-up at this meeting last year and yet he'll go around at double figure odds tomorrow - probably because of the wet track. Hoop James McDonald has ridden four winners for trainer John O'Shea in the last seven days and is coming off midweek trebles at Goulburn (Tuesday) and Hawkesbury (Thursday) and had just the one ride at Wyong today for yet another winner.
Teronado (Eagle Farm Race 4 No. 2) was one I tipped two weeks ago and he went OK, coming from last on the turn to finish fourth beaten just under two lengths. I'll give him one more chance because I think his racing pattern suggests he'll be a better horse at Eagle Farm with the longer straight. Meets his last start conqueror two kilos better off. $6.50
Temple of Boom (Flemington Race 7 No. 2) has average form on paper until you realise that in his last five starts he's chased home the likes of Mental, Snitzerland, Bel Sprinter, Buffering and Your Song. This is a much easier assignment and the wet track is a big plus because he has five wins and three seconds from 10 starts on slow or worse. He won this race two years ago and boasts another two wins down the Flemington straight and he's also won four times first-up. $4.20.
Teronado (Eagle Farm Race 4 No. 2) was one I tipped two weeks ago and he went OK, coming from last on the turn to finish fourth beaten just under two lengths. I'll give him one more chance because I think his racing pattern suggests he'll be a better horse at Eagle Farm with the longer straight. Meets his last start conqueror two kilos better off. $6.50
Temple of Boom (Flemington Race 7 No. 2) has average form on paper until you realise that in his last five starts he's chased home the likes of Mental, Snitzerland, Bel Sprinter, Buffering and Your Song. This is a much easier assignment and the wet track is a big plus because he has five wins and three seconds from 10 starts on slow or worse. He won this race two years ago and boasts another two wins down the Flemington straight and he's also won four times first-up. $4.20.
NEWS OF THE WEEK
Tributes continue to flow in following the tragic death of jockey Simone Montgomerie in a race fall at the Darwin Cup meeting on Monday.
Jockey Glen Boss will be donating all the prizemoney he earns this week to the Montgomerie Fund. Fellow hoop Tommy Berry will do the same with all his earnings from the Wednesday Canterbury meeting, while trainer David Hayes and owner Phil Sly will donate their winnings from the Sandown meeting on the same day.
The Darwin Turf Club has pledged the $200,000 purse from the abandoned Darwin Cup to the fund and the first races at both the Sydney and Melbourne meetings tomorrow have been named in Simone's honour.
Cup sponsors CUB have also donated $50,000, which has been matched by the Northern Territory government.
Chad Schofield will be out of action until next Saturday after stewards dismissed his appeal against a careless riding suspension incurred last Friday.
The news is worse for his father Glyn though. On his first day back from suspension for weighing in light he's been rubbed out again, this time for careless riding at Rosehill last Saturday.
Lastly super stallion Zabeel has reached another milestone with Lovin' Connection's win in a New Zealand maiden on Monday giving him his 1000th individual winner.
Zabeel is already the sire of 43 individual Group 1 winners including three Melbourne Cup winners in Might & Power, Jezabeel and Efficient.
LOOKING BACK
Who's hot?
Peter Robl and David Vandyke have been in good touch recently with Robl riding four winners at Gosford yesterday and Vandyke saddling 10 winners and five placegetters from his last 24 runners. They have combined for 20 winners in the last 12 months from just 63 starters and they combine again tomorrow at Rosehill with Magic in the Mix (Race 4 No. 11) 6th, Breakfast in Bed (Race 5 No. 7) 2nd $1.80 place and Less is More (Race 6 No. 9) 5th.
Winter Challenge (Listed, 1500m, quality handicap)
Rosehill
Winter Challenge (Listed, 1500m, quality handicap)
Had the quinella here, just in the wrong order. The winner just sprinted too quickly for the import but it may pay to follow the runner-up who was having his first start for a new stable and his first run in eight months.
Locky's Selections
1 Bayrir (2nd) $1.80 place
8 Coup Ay Tee (1st) $9.50 win / $2.40 place
2 Under The Sun (7th)
Quinella 1-8 $13.30
Exacta 8-1 $35.80
Any 2 1-8 $5.50
8 Coup Ay Tee (1st) $9.50 win / $2.40 place
2 Under The Sun (7th)
Quinella 1-8 $13.30
Exacta 8-1 $35.80
Any 2 1-8 $5.50
Other bets
Aroused (Doomben Race 1 No. 8) has won four from six and I don't think Allan Denham made the trip from Wyong on a whim. Punters obviously agree because he opened $4.80 but that has been snapped up and he is now $3.10. Stable is flying with three winners last Saturday plus another at Wyong on Wednesday. Denham's only runner tomorrow at any track. 7th. Disgraceful.
Love for Ransom (Moonee Valley Race 4 No. 5) caught the eye with her flashing last start effort and it obviously impressed jockey Dwayne Dunn because he's staying solid even though he also rode last start winner and what appears the biggest threat in Ominous Quality. Another that has been well found but hopefully we can still get $4. 2nd. $1.80 place. Looked home until bloused late by a 30-1 shot. Story of my day.
Breakfast in Bed (Rosehill Race 5 No.7) is another that's been tried in early markets, possibly because of the Vandyke/Robl combo but also possibly because he was a dual acceptor. If they choose to bypass the easier race at Kembla Grange to contest this event in town beware. She's a winner of four from nine who is in consistent form and in a race lacking any real superstars I think she's a good each-way bet at around the $7 mark. 2nd. $1.80 place. Held up for a run at a crucial stage and it cost him victory.
Love for Ransom (Moonee Valley Race 4 No. 5) caught the eye with her flashing last start effort and it obviously impressed jockey Dwayne Dunn because he's staying solid even though he also rode last start winner and what appears the biggest threat in Ominous Quality. Another that has been well found but hopefully we can still get $4. 2nd. $1.80 place. Looked home until bloused late by a 30-1 shot. Story of my day.
Breakfast in Bed (Rosehill Race 5 No.7) is another that's been tried in early markets, possibly because of the Vandyke/Robl combo but also possibly because he was a dual acceptor. If they choose to bypass the easier race at Kembla Grange to contest this event in town beware. She's a winner of four from nine who is in consistent form and in a race lacking any real superstars I think she's a good each-way bet at around the $7 mark. 2nd. $1.80 place. Held up for a run at a crucial stage and it cost him victory.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
I've watched the Kennedy assassination a hundred times and I'm convinced the gunman missed.
- Kumar Dharmasena, using the DRS at Old Trafford, 2 August 2013.
- Kumar Dharmasena, using the DRS at Old Trafford, 2 August 2013.
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