The Championships Week 1 - 01.04.2017

With a wet track for the fourth time in four editions I'm beginning to wonder if they should have named this The Champion Ships.

Last time we were at Randwick it was similar conditions and they all went in search of the outside fence in the straight.

Who's Hot? 

Since returning from suspension on March 11 jockey Hugh Bowman has ridden Black Type winners Falcool, Winx, Jameka and Zanbagh.

What a book of rides he has at Randwick tomorrow with (amongst others) Property (Race 1 No. 1), Perfect Dare (Race 4 No. 3), Invader (Race 6 No. 8), Anaheim (Race 7 No. 7), Spieth (Race 8 No. 7) and Le Romain (Race 9 No. 2).

RANDWICK

*** At time of publication the track was rated a Heavy 8. The forecast was for a mostly sunny day. ***

The Doncaster Mile (Group 1, 1600m, handicap)

Current Sportsbet market

 *** Tosen Stardom is an early scratching ***

Only three winners in the last 20 years returned more than $13. The last 17 had their previous start at Rosehill. Eight of the last 13 came out of the G1 George Ryder Stakes. Five 3-y-o's have been successful in the last 11 years. Chris Waller has won the last four. 

Le Romain has started here eight times for four wins and a second. He has three runs at the mile for wins in a G1 Randwick Guineas and a G1 Cantala Stakes. His only "failure" at the trip was a one length fifth in the G1 Epsom Handicap last Spring when he had to drag the field up to the tearaway leader Fabrizio. Last start (below) he chased home a handy mare called Winx in the G1 George Ryder Stakes.

McCreery meets Le Romain 3.5kg better off for his last start defeat (above) in the G1 George Ryder Stakes and with even luck he probably would have beaten him in the G1 Cantal Stakes last Spring. He was soundly beaten last start and jockey Kerrin McEvoy said he didn't handle the really heavy track at all but his mile record (7:3-3-0) is exceptional.

Hauraki is the only horse in the last 18 months to have won an open G1 mile at Randwick that wasn't named Winx. He has to give Le Romain half a kilo here and he hasn't been able to get near him at level weights his last two runs. I'd be a lot more confident about his chances on a drier track.

Happy Clapper finished second to Winx in this race last year (below) and has also won a G2 Villiers Stakes at the track and trip. His only other run at the course and distance was a half length fourth to Hauraki in the G1 Epsom Handicap last October. It was hard not to like his last start win at Newcastle where he gave the placegetters 5kg and beat them by three and a half lengths under a hold.

Palentino is a specialist miler with five runs at the trip for wins in a G1 Australian Guineas, a G1 Makybe Diva Stakes and a G2 Blamey Stakes. He was well tried in the G1 Epsom Handicap here last October but forget the run because there had to be something amiss. I'd be all over this bloke if they ran this race at Flemingon but he still can't be ignored. The heavy track is an unknown but he handles slow.

Redkirk Warrior caused a boilover when claiming the G1 Newmarket Handicap first-up at $31. Now he's trying to win a G1 Doncaster Mile second-up. Jumping straight from 1200m to 1600m is never easy but the stable is in great form, he has no weight and jockey Regan Bayliss could win on a broomstick at the moment. He's been well backed too.

Antonio Giuseppe finished on the heels of some quality G1 w-f-a performers last start (below) in the G1 Ranvet Stakes. He's dropping back from the 2000m but trainer Chris Waller took the same path in 2010 with Rangirangdoo. He handles all going and first-up over 1500m he bolted in with 59kg. Getting back to 52kg is a big plus. 

Spectroscope has burst onto the Australian scene with two wins from as many starts and he does profile well for a race like this. He's lightly raced young horse who is still on an upward spiral and he gets in with no weight. He overcame trouble to come from last at his previous run and given his racing pattern the wide draw isn't the end of the world. Joao Moreira flies in from Hong Kong to ride.

I Am A Star is building a formiddable record but all her wins have been on dry tracks. She's never missed a placed in four runs at the distance but her two wins were in fillies and mares grade. She takes on all comers here and the only 3-y-o filly to manage the feat in the last 20 years was the mighty Sunline. 52kg and barrier one are plusses.

There's a bunch of others at longer odds that I could entertain in wider exotics. 

Ecuador comes out of that hot G1 Australian Cup which provided the trifecta in last weekend's G1 B.M.W. Arod has had a freshen up and Glyn Schofield will be smarting after having to surrender the Le Romian ride to Hugh Bowman. Stablemate Endless Drama has had two runs behind Winx at w-f-a and now drops to 53kg. Sense Of Occasion has never missed a place in three tries at the Randwick mile and came from last to win the G2 Villiers Stakes fresh late last year. I'd like to know what Hey Doc has done wrong to go up at $15 and then drift. His mile record is super and he's a last start G1 winner. Dibayani has had three runs at the Randwick mile for seconds in a G1 Epsom Handicap, a G1 Chipping Norton Stakes and a G2 Villiers Stakes. It's Somewhat has some claims.

A good betting race.

Locky's Selections

BEST        

2. Le Romain

DANGER  

5. Happy Clapper

FOR EXOTICS

11. McCreery
16. Antonio Giuseppe
19. Spectroscope

7. Ecuador

OTHER G1'S

Tulip (Randwick Race 6 No. 14) had a torrid run (below) in the G1 Golden Slipper last time out whereas Frolic managed to hug the rail and cut the corner. The roles are reversed tomorrow with Tulip drawn to get all the favours while Frolic will probably have to go via the car park. The wet track holds no fears and her last two runs suggest 1400m is no concern.

Inference (Randwick Race 7 No. 3) is back to the scene of his barnstorming G1 Randwick Guineas victory and gets a similar surface. He was unlucky not to go closer when third in the G1 V.R.C Derby last November when badly held up. He's the one who looks set to peak here fourth run back and I'm prepared to risk the favourite given he's been in work a long time.

Chautauqua (Randwick Race 8 No. 1) has not won in five starts since his breathtaking win (below) in the G1 Chairmans Sprint in Hong Kong but his last two starts have indicated to me he's not done with yet. Both were on a Heavy 10 and he beat home all bar Winx and Le Romain. He's won this race the last two years running and at a backable price I think he can make it a three-peat.

Good punting!

G1 The B.M.W. - 25.03.2017

Another bog track in Sydney this weekend with Rosehill drowning under more than 190mm of rain in the last 10 days.

Melbourne has fared a lot better and conditions look fantastic for the G1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley tonight.

Who's Hot? 

Surely it has to be in-form hoop Regan Bayliss? 

He won his first G1 less than a fortnight ago, two days later he won the G2 Adelaide Cup, he was back to Bendigo the next day to ride a double before a rare foray north of the border saw him bag his first Black Type winner in Sydney last weekend. He's since had winners at Yarra Glen and Kyneton too.

He has three rides tonight at Moonee Valley before heading back to Rosehill to partner She's On Que (Race 1 No. 12), Floodlight (Race 3 No. 6), Noble Truth (Race 5 No. 13), Harlow Gold (Race 7 No. 3), Happy Hannah (Race 8 No. 8) and Spy Decoder (Race 9 No. 5).

ROSEHILL

*** At time of publication the track was rated a Heavy 10. The forecast was for a cloudy day with a high chance of showers in the afternoon. ***

The B.M.W. (Group 1, 2400m, w-f-a)

Current Sportsbet market

 *** There are no early scratchings ***

This could turn into another of those farcical G1 w-f-a staying contests with a small field that just becomes a sprint home. Lasqueti Spirit leads with Jameka and Tavago in attendance but the rest aren't types that can be bustled out of the gates.

Stats wise the last five winners have paid $4.50 or less but four of the last 10 paid $11 or better. Only one 3-y-o and two mares have won in the last 10 years.

Our Ivanhowe returns to the scene of the crime after his barnstorming win here seven days ago in the G1 Ranvet Stakes. He looked like he absolutely thrived in the heavy conditions and he'll get the same again tomorrow the only bother is that he's never had such a quick back-up previously. Jockey Ben Melham is fresh off a G1 Golden Slipper victory.

Jameka should stalk the leader from barrier two and get a lovely run. The only time she's hit a heavy track was when she smashed them in the G1 V.R.C. Oaks 16 months ago. Hugh Bowman is looking to win this race for the third time in six years but only four mares have been successful in the last 20 years.  She was brave (below) when just pipped last start in the G1 Australian Cup.

Humidor grabbed an overdue win last start (above) when claiming the aforementioned G1 Australian Cup. He won a G3 Manawatu Classic on a heavy track and that was in his native N.Z. so we know it was a genuine heavy track. Still I'm risking him here because he was well beaten at his only 2400m run and the race pattern doesn't suit. It's also his first look at Sydney.


Exospheric closed well from last in the G1 Australian Cup (above) on that leader-biased Flemington circuit a fortnight ago and probably would have finished closer with an uninterrupted passage. His wet track from isn't flash. Last time he went to this trip he ran third to Jameka in last year's G1 Caulfield Cup.

Tavago won the G1 A.T.C. Derby at this trip around this time last year beating Jameka by three and a half lengths. He thrashed Antonio Giuseppe last start when giving him three kilos and that horse has since run well in last weekend's G1 Ranvet Stakes. He hit a heavy track two starts back (below) when he was great behind Winx in the G1 Chipping Norton Stakes after getting stopped in his tracks at the 600m.

Who Shot Thebarman was third (above) in the same race and I like the way he ran through the line. It gave every impression that this step up in distance will suit and all his previous form seems to indicate the same. Barrier eight is no real concern given the small size of the field. He's finished top four in this race the last two years.

Lasqueti Spirit will spear straight to the lead from the extreme outside gate and she was really good behind Winx in the G1 Chipping Norton Stakes (above) two starts back on a Heavy 9. She finished second that day and comfortably held the rest and with the exception of Jameka she's going to get a 6.5kg-7kg advantage from her rivals here.

Libran has been getting a little bit closer with every run this campaign and he's finally out to a distance where he can be competitive. He's three from four at 2400m and this time last year he won the G3 Manion Cup at this track and trip. He does have some wet track form but I think he'd be better on a firmer track than this.

Grand Marshal won the G2 Moonee Valley Vase last October on a soft track. He beat his stablemate Who Shot Thebarman that day and conceded him a kilo. All his best runs have been at 2400m+ so he should be strong at the end and he can handle the wet. A couple of bucks at $21 the place wouldn't be the worst bet I've ever seen.

Locky's Selections

BEST        

7. Tavago

DANGER  

8. Jameka

FOR EXOTICS

9. Lasqueti Spirit
1. Our Ivanhowe

OTHER BETS

Jon Snow (Rosehill Race 5 No. 2) is dropping back from 2400m to 2000m here so he'll have plenty of residual fitness on this testing track. He's coming via the G1 N.Z. Derby (below) won by Gingernuts en route to his victory last weekend in the G1 Rosehill Guineas. I like backing Kiwi stayers on wet tracks and he's never missed a drum in three runs on affected surfaces back home.

La Bella Diosa (Rosehill Race 7 No. 1) churned through the mud to win the G2 Surround Stakes two runs back and I'm prepared to overlook her last start failure because she pulled up with problems. Three wins on slow and one on heavy and five wins from eight overall is impressive reading. She's already a G1 winner.

Zanbagh (Rosehill Race 8 No. 3) is another who won't mind if the rain keeps coming and third run back she should be ready to peak here. The race wasn't run to suit her first-up but she still managed to run second on that Heavy 10. Last start she was one of the better runs in the G1 Coolmore Classic. Third run last prep she was just over a length off I Am A Star in the G1 Myer Classic when conceding her 8kg.

Good punting!

G1 Golden Slipper Day - 18.03.2107

Thank God we're back to Sydney this weekend and away from the diabolical tracks in Melbourne where everyone except the people responsible for preparing them can see there's something wrong.

(Insert $1500 fine here)

We could have done with a drier week at Rosehill however with the track copping 65mm in the last seven days and more tipped tomorrow.

Who's Hot? 

Jockey Craig Williams was in good touch before his enforced layoff due to the stewards with six winners from his previous 27 rides including consecutive Saturday metro doubles at Caulfield and Flemington.

He rides at Moonee Valley tonight then travels north to N.S.W. tomorrow and he has some choice mounts at Rosehill such as Big Duke (Race 1 No. 3), Raiment (Race 2 No. 6), Comin' Through (Race 6 No. 5) and Catchy (Race 7 No. 9).

ROSEHILL

*** At time of publication the track was rated a Heavy 9. The forecast was for a cloudy day with the chance of showers. ***

Golden Slipper (Group 1, 1200m, 2-y-o set weights)

Current Sportsbet market

 *** There are no early scratchings ***

It had been a pretty even split in the last decade with six boys and four girls successful. Seven of those 10 winners drew barrier 8 or inside but two of the other three winners (Phelan Ready and Vancouver) came from 16 of 16. In the same period six favourites got beaten yet only two winners returned more than $8 so the winner is usually in commission. Nine of the ten were coming off a top two finish at their last start and only Sebring (2008) and Crystal Lily (2010) did not come via either the G2 Todman Stakes or the G2 Reisling Stakes a fortnight earlier.

Houtzen has drawn the car park here but she did overcome the widest gate (below) to win the Magic Millions 2-Y-O Classic two starts back. Her subsequent win at Eagle Farm was full of merit given she lumped 63kg to a four length victory over a horse she was giving 9kg too. Hard not to like a filly who is unbeaten after four starts by a combined margin of 13 lengths. Two from two on soft tracks.

She Will Reign fared only marginally better in the barrier draw but she does have early tactical speed so she may be able to get across into a good spot without much trouble. Her last start defeat was her first in four career runs but she wasn't in the best part of the track in that G2 Reisling Stakes. She won her other two starts on affected ground and was a strong favourite for this race before her colours were lowered for the first time.

Catchy is unbeaten and her effort to win the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes (below) was super given not many horses that day were making ground from back in the field. Having said that only Sepoy and Courtza have completed the double in the last 30 years. Jockey Ben Melham has options from the middle draw so it's no real surprise she's been the best backed runner since the barrier draw. No wet track form.

Pariah has the best draw of those at the top of the market and he should get a lovely run here from barrier four. He was only just pipped last time out by Catchy (above) in the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes after working early. Team Snowden and Blake Shinn combined to win this race last year with Capitalist. He's never seen worse than a Good 4.

Tulip claimed the G3 Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill last weekend so she's won at Rosehill, won at 1200m and won on a Soft 7. The problem is no filly has managed to back-up seven days later and win the double since Bint Marscay in 1993. Still it was a gutsy, dogged win and she was one of the better runs in the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes (above) outside of the winner.

Frolic is one you know will handle the track after her win a fortnight ago in the G2 Reisling Stakes on a Heavy 9. The wide barrier is a concern but she did come down the outside rail to win last start and late in the day it could well be the place to be. Jockey Tommy Berry is shooting for his third win in this race in five years.

Invader has had three runs at 1200m and his last two were on wet tracks so he's rock hard fit. He narrowly missed stablemate Gunnison last start in the G2 Todman Stakes and Team Snowden has decided to accept with this bloke but not the winner. They would have liked a better draw. Formality is an unknown on a wet track but was undefeated before her third in the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes. She's drawn to advantage and the stable is flying. Menari was safely held last start but jockey Tim Clark reported he may have run out of condition on a testing track that he never really handled. Unfortunately he's going to get more of the same tomorrow. The inside gate is some advantage

Trapeze Artist comfortably beat them in the G3 Black Opal last start and also won on debut. His only defeat came in his only run on a wet track. The good barrier helps.  Trekking was three lengths adrift of Trapeze Artist at Canberra but he'll most likely jump from the extreme outside barring scratchings. He was the best closer in a slowly run race and his debut win was solid. Single Bullet should get a nice trail here from the good barrier and I like the way he worried Ducimus out of the G3 Pago Pago Stakes last weekend. If he can back up he should run a strong race. The last horse to complete that double was Stratum in 2005. He has had an injury setback and had to undergo a vets examination.

It's $41+ the rest and I'm not going to preview them all. Buy a Best Bets.

Locky's Selections

BEST        

12. She Will Reign

DANGER  

15. Houtzen

FOR EXOTICS

9. Catchy
11. Tulip
13. Frolic
7. Invader

Rosehill Guineas (Group 1, 2000m, 3-y-o set weights)

Current Sportsbet market

 *** There are no early scratchings ***

Inference got through the bog to win the G1 Randwick Guineas (below) at his last appearance and the step up to 2000m suits because the only two times he's got beyond the mile he was solid despite the fact that tempo/interference were against him. From barrier three he should get a lovely drag into the race. Only It's A Dundeel and Metal Bender have completed the G1 Randwick Guineas/G1 Rosehill Guineas double.

Comin' Through was third (above) behind Inference in the G1 Randwick Guineas and he cut the corner and came through the worst section of the track so it was a solid effort. Four of the last five winners came via that race. He's had the ideal preparation for this and looks set to peak now. Craig Williams picks up the ride and he has won this race twice before. Breeding suggests he should be a sprinter-miler but I'm not second guessing Chris Waller.


Impavido was the unlucky runner (above) in the G1 Randwick Guineas. He finished fourth after swooping from near last and you could make an argument he should have finished closer because he was tightened at a crucial stage and lost all momentum. Once he got going again he was taking ground off them at the end. This is only his fifth start. It would be an incredible training performance given he made his debut less than eight weeks ago.

Prized Icon was no match for the sprint of Hey Doc (below) in the G1 Australian Guineas but he did keep finding the line and gave the impression he's looking for further. He's won twice on soft going including a victory in the G1 Champagne Stakes beating subsequent G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Divine Prophet. He's drawn out but he'll press forward so it isn't too much of a concern.

Anaheim was probably the run of the race (above) when fifth in the aforementioned G1 Australian Guineas. The Flemington track was favouring on-pace runners, they walked in front before Hey Doc sprinted home the final 600m in 33.82 yet he came from near last to finish fifth. He ran the best final 600m and 400m and only Snitzson had a better final furlong. He looks a real Derby type. Placed twice in the wet. Wide draw.

Gingernuts is dropping back from the 2400m after claiming the G1 N.Z. Derby (below) last start. Two winners of this race in recent years (Volkstok'n'barrell and Jimmy Choux) have taken the same path. At his previous run he won the G2 Avondale Guineas at 2100m on a wet track. He's won three on end and four from seven overall so he's building quite the record and Kiwi stayers can never be dismissed lightly. Well drawn.

Seaburge was fair in the G1 Australian Guineas last start and going on his seconds in the G1 Caulfield Guineas and G1 Mackinnon Stakes he'd just about win this. I'm risking him though given his poor wet track record and the ugly barrier. Harper's Choice was pretty good last start in the G1 Randwick Guineas given the jockey reported he didn't let down in the going. He'll get a wet track again unfortunately but he does look like he'll appreciate the 2000m. The wide gate doesn't help. Sizzling Bullet has won three of his last four and all the victories were at 1600m+ and in the wet. He's taking an unorthodox approach here coming off a BM70. Dealer Principal (2008) is the only winner since 1997 that hadn't contested a G1 at his previous start.

$34+ the rest.

Locky's Selections

BEST        

6. Anaheim

DANGER  

4. Inference

FOR EXOTICS

2. Gingernuts
1. Prized Icon

8. Sizzling Bullet

OTHER G1's

Sofia Rosa (Rosehill Race 4 No. 8) has four wins on affected tracks and only five career wins total so she is clearly adept in the going. She's had two OK runs back from a spell in G1's in N.Z. but they were over unsuitable distances. Expect improvement here now that she gets out to a trip because this time last year she won a G1 A.T.C. Oaks (below) at 2400m on a rain affected track. Only one favourite has won this race in the last six years and three of the winners paid $12+.

There's no point tipping Winx so I'm looking for a roughie at odds that could pay well for a place in the G1 George Ryder Stakes and I've settled on McCreery (Rosehill Race 5 No. 6). He's a four time winner on wet tracks and has won three of his last five (twice in the wet) with his other two runs being a one length second in the G1 Cantala Stakes and a one and a half length sixth in a G1 Epsom Handicap. 

Redzel (Rosehill Race 8 No. 6) was narrowly beaten at this track and trip second-up this time last year when lumping 60kg and conceding the winner 4.5kg. His last two runs on heavy tracks were a win and a narrow second to English last start in the G2 Challenge Stakes. He meets her 3kg better off here. Four of his five wins were at 1100m. He won't know himself with just 54.5kg on his back. He beat Terravista (below) at Flemington two runs back in the Listed Mumm Stakes.

OTHER BETS

Raiment (Rosehill Race 2 No. 6) had two wins and a narrow second from three starts last prep and you could make a case she should've been unbeaten because she was unlucky when edged out by the talented In Her Time. That filly went on to win the G2 Breeders Classic and the G2 Mille Fox Stakes at her next two starts thus franking the form. This girl has never missed a top two finish in four starts at the trip and she has two wins and a second from three goes in the wet. Fresh last campaign she lumped 57kg to a one and a half length win on a Heavy 9. 53kg here looks a luxury.

Good punting!

Super Saturday - 11.03.2107

What an incredible 9 days of racing we have over the next week and a bit punters.

It started today with the G3 Keith Nolan Classic at Kembla  and continues tomorrow with three G1's across two states before W.A. hosts the Listed Bunbury Cup on Sunday.

Monday is G2 Adelaide Cup Day, on Thursday Newcastle stages their own G3 Newmarket Handicap before the Friday night meeting at Moonee Valley for the G2 Alistair Clark Stakes warms us up for Golden Slipper Day next Saturday.

Phew.

Who's Hot? 

How can I possibly leave out Joao Moreira after his record eight win haul at Sha Tin last Sunday?

He has a full book of runners at Flemington tomorrow but the bookies think his best chances are Cannyescent (Race 1 No. 9),  Hursley (Race 2 No. 10), Circular (Race 6 No. 9) and Extreme Choice (Race 7 No. 6).

FLEMINGTON

*** At time of publication the track was rated a Good 3. The forecast was for a partly cloudy day with the chance of late showers. ***

Newmarket Handicap (Group 1, 1200m, handicap)

Current Sportsbet market

 *** There are no early scratchings ***

I'll start with a look at the G1 Oakleigh Plate (below) horses because six of the last nine winners have come via that feature. Sheidel was first over the line and simply ran them ragged. She's had two starts down the straight here for a win in the G3 Begonia Belle Stakes with 57.5kg and a fifth to Malaguerra in the G1 Darley Classic at w-f-a. The handicap conditions suit and she's drawn to get a cushy run again. 

Extreme Choice was the best of the backmarkers in that race and gets a 2kg swing on Sheidel here. The outside barrier normally wouldn't be a concern given the small field and the fact that it is a straight race but it has been hard to make ground out wide at Flemington lately. His only start here he was disappointing but he did destroy Heatherly in the G1 Moir Stakes and that mare won well last weekend.

Next I'll look at the G1 Lightning Stakes (below) because the other three winners in the last nine years came out of that race and sixth placed Heatherly franked the form last week. 

That was w-f-a. This is a handicap so while Terravista "drops" 1.5kg he stills meets them worse off at comparative weights. Still it's hard to knock a last start winner and his Flemington record (6:2-2-2) makes good reading because five of those runs (including the two wins) were at G1 level and three of his four defeats were by a quarter of a length or less. 

Spieth meets him 1.5kg better off for that narrow defeat and you could argue that given a bit more luck in his two runs at Flemington to date he'd be a two-time G1 winner here. I don't know that barrier one is an ideal draw for him given his racing pattern but he's due for a change of luck. He's going to start favourite here and deservedly so with the services of Hugh Bowman he will be there when the whips are cracking.

Star Turn also gets a 1.5kg turnaround on Terravista. His two Flemington runs to date have resulted in G1 placings and second-up last prep he was a close second to Astern in the G2 Run To The Rose. He followed that up with a demolition job on the older sprinters in the G2 Schilacci Stakes.

Illustrious Lad meets Terravista 4kg to the good and was less than a length off him there after playing up early in the race. He's had three starts at the Flemington 1200m for two wins and a second and he'll be up on the speed giving you a sight. Counterattack was only two and a half lengths off them and gets a 4.5kg advantage. That was the first time he's missed a place here in three runs. Maybe a roughie for First Fours?

Tivaci beat G1 Oakleigh Plate fourth placegetter Hellbent first-up down the Flemington straight and he gave him 3kg that day. His only go at this track and trip was a second in the G2 Bobbie Lewis to G1 Oakleigh Plate second placegetter Faatinah. He was G1 competitive in the Spring. Super Cash beat Chautauqua first-up in the G2 Rubiton Stakes. She wasn't far off Sheidel in the G3 Begonia Belle (below) at this course and distance last October and she was on the slower side of the track. She hasn't been successful beyond 1100m since winning a maiden on debut at Sale 20 months ago.

Three of the runners are first-up an no horse has won this race fresh since Polycrates in 1917. It was never the intention with The Quarterback but he had to be withdrawn from the G1 Lightning Stakes after playing up in the barriers. He won this race last year but has to carry 3kg more but he is a five time winner here. Craig Newitt has won this race three times and will be looking to make up for getting dumped from Extreme Choice. Voodoo Lad failed at the end of last prep when asked to go to the mile for the first time in the G1 Cantala Stakes but previously he'd never missed a top three finish in 17 starts up to 1400m. He has three wins and four placings at 1200m from seven attempts but he's never won at Flemington. Redkirk Warrior ran a huge race first-up last prep when having his first Australian start. He was five deep on the turn and was only just grabbed on the finish line. This is a lot harder than that however.

 Good luck to the connections of Inspector.

Locky's Selections

BEST        

2. Spieth

DANGER  

9. Star Turn

FOR EXOTICS

6. Extreme Choice
7. Illustrious Lad
1. Terravista

Australian Cup (Group 1, 2000m, w-f-a)

Current Sportsbet market

 *** Real Love is an early scratching ***

I have to stick with Humidor because I've been on his back his last three starts since he transferred to the Weir stable and all his runs have been full of merit. He's run three times at 2000m for two wins and a narrow second in the G1 Livamol Classic. I thought the blinkers might go on this start given his waywardness at his last two appearances but hopefully the stable has sorted that out. The bigger track should suit and Damian Lane and Darren Weir currently lead the Flemington jockey and training premierships.

Locky's Selections

BEST        

10. Humidor

DANGER  

11. Jameka

FOR EXOTICS

5. Ecuador

6. Exospheric

3. The United States

ROSEHILL

*** At time of publication the track was rated a Soft 7. The forecast was for a partly cloudy day. ***

Coolmore Classic (Group 1, 1500m, fillies and mares quality handicap)

Current Sportsbet market 

 *** There are no early scratchings ***

I'm going with Euro Angel here. Six of the last nine winners started at double figure odds and 10 of the last 14 carried 53.5kg or less. She's drawn to get a lovely run from the good barrier and can handle wet tracks. Second-up last prep she won the G3 Ladies' Day Vase over a mile at Caulfield. She beat Rocket Commander on that occasion and that mare came out and won the G3 Wenona Girl Stakes last weekend. She did enough fresh to indicate she's come back in good order and the stable is riding high after success in last weekend's G1 Randwick Guineas with Inference.

Locky's Selections

BEST        

11. Euro Angel

DANGER  

14. Omei Sword

FOR EXOTICS

16. Denmagic

13. Zanbagh

5. Heavens Above

2. Dixie Blossoms 

Good punting!