I'm going to print early here given we have a G1 meeting tonight at Moonee Valley so remember to check scratchings, track and weather conditions before reviewing the tips for tomorrow and then again when we back-up on Sunday.
I think I will need a personal trainer, a bank loan and a liver transplant come Monday morning.
I think I will need a personal trainer, a bank loan and a liver transplant come Monday morning.
MOONEE VALLEY
*** At time of publication the track was rated a Good 4. The forecast was for a chance of showers this evening. ***
The Moir Stakes (Group 1, 1000m, w-f-a)
*** The four emergencies are early scratchings ***
Russian Revolution has drawn very wide but remains favourite on the back of his strong win in the G2 McEwen Stakes at this track and distance three weeks ago. Six wins from nine starts says it all - he's a winner. He beat his stablemate Redzel in the G1 Galaxy last March and that horse has won four in a row since.
She Will Reign is a 3-y-o filly so she gets a big pull in the weights here but as we saw a few weeks ago with Houtzen it's very difficult for these early season 3-y-o girls to be competitive with hardened, seasoned, older gallopers. Sure she won a G1 Golden Slipper (below) but this is a much tougher assignment.Sheidel was pretty plain first-up for a horse that went around as an even money favourite. Yes, I'm talking through my pocket. She is just a six-time winner at the journey but in three runs at this venue she's managed just a solitary third. 15 wins overall in 31 starts at almost a 50% strike rate still makes her hard to ignore. Great draw.
Malaguerra won the G2 Australia Stakes at this track when fresh last campaign but that was at 1200m. I suspect he might find this lot a bit zippy and the barrier draw has certainly done him no favours. Jockey Ben Melham is going to need luck early on or he could end up covering more territory than the early explorers.
Terravista won the G1 Lightning Stakes first-up (below) last time he was in work and he beat a quality field. That was his sixth win fresh in nine runs and he's placed at the other three. No placings in his two starts at Moonee Valley but he did run a slashing race here in a G1 Manikato Stakes when a luckless half length fifth.
Voodoo Lad is drawn wide but I can't see why he's $15 here given his great stats at the track. Sure he was beaten a long way when fourth to Redkirk Warrior last start but to be fair so was everybody else. He doesn't run many bad races. First-up 1000m, second-up 1200m, now back to 1000m - will he be fast and fresh enough?
Faatinah flies fresh but has never won below 1100m. Heatherly has only missed a place once here in eight starts and his only missed a place once in 12 starts at 1000m. Rock Magic will probably need further but he beat Scales Of Justice at level weights last start and that horse will start favourite in the G1 on Sunday. One start at this track for a length and a half fourth to Silent Sedition.
Locky's Selections
1. Terravista EACH-WAY
RANDWICK
Epsom Handicap (Group 1, 1600m, handicap)
*** He's Our Rokkii, I Am A Star, Egg Tart and Embley are early scratchings ***
Happy Clapper won the G2 Tramway Stakes fresh beating Tom Melbourne (meets him 3kg worse off here) then followed it up with a clear cut second to Winx in the G1 George Main Stakes. He's had five starts at the Randwick mile and has won a G2 Villiers Stakes, finished second in a G1 George Main Stakes and two G1 Doncaster Miles and a half length fourth (below) in this race last year. Two of those second placings were to Winx.
Comin' Through carries just the 51kg and has the services of "Magic Man' Joao Moreira. He has started this campaign with two strong wins on the pace (the horse, not Joao) and it's hard to fault his form on dry tracks. He fits the profile of an Epsom winner too - a lightly weighted, 4-y-o male, down in the weights at single figure odds but not favourite.
Tom Melbourne meets Comin' Through 3kg to the better for his narrow last start defeat in the G3 Bill Ritchie Stakes. Prior to that he was just nabbed by Happy Clapper in the G2 Tramway Stakes and he meets him 5kg to the good here. He will not know himself with just the 52kg and Glen Boss has a great record in G1 Randwick miles.
Foxplay has had two runs back for two placings to Winx. She nearly beat the mighty mare (below) first-up in the G2 Warwick Stakes but was safely held by her last start in the G1 George Main Stakes and by Happy Clapper too. She meets the latter on similar terms tomorrow at the weights but he has drawn well and this mare has drawn the extreme outside. It's hard to see her turning the tables but I would never underestimate Chris Waller and Hugh Bowman.
Now to have a peek at some of the longer priced chances.
Sound Proposition is unbeaten at this track and has five wins at the mile. He went enormous first run back when asked to lump 59kg in the G3 Cameron Handicap. He was only narrowly beaten and they ran a record that day. He's Our Rokkii is another who's never lost at Randwick and another who looks like his pet trip is 1600m. This is the first time in his racing career he has carried less than 55kg and he's drawn well. Red Excitement gave Winx the fright of her life two starts back in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes but went too hard in front next time out and capitulated. He maps well from the good gate but I doubt they'll just hand the lead up to him. McCreeery showed good improvement second-up when he charged home from last for fourth in the G1 George Main Stakes. He was still six lengths astern of Happy Clapper at the finish but there is a 4kg turnaround here.
Locky's Selections
Comin' Through carries just the 51kg and has the services of "Magic Man' Joao Moreira. He has started this campaign with two strong wins on the pace (the horse, not Joao) and it's hard to fault his form on dry tracks. He fits the profile of an Epsom winner too - a lightly weighted, 4-y-o male, down in the weights at single figure odds but not favourite.
Foxplay has had two runs back for two placings to Winx. She nearly beat the mighty mare (below) first-up in the G2 Warwick Stakes but was safely held by her last start in the G1 George Main Stakes and by Happy Clapper too. She meets the latter on similar terms tomorrow at the weights but he has drawn well and this mare has drawn the extreme outside. It's hard to see her turning the tables but I would never underestimate Chris Waller and Hugh Bowman.
Now to have a peek at some of the longer priced chances.
Sound Proposition is unbeaten at this track and has five wins at the mile. He went enormous first run back when asked to lump 59kg in the G3 Cameron Handicap. He was only narrowly beaten and they ran a record that day. He's Our Rokkii is another who's never lost at Randwick and another who looks like his pet trip is 1600m. This is the first time in his racing career he has carried less than 55kg and he's drawn well. Red Excitement gave Winx the fright of her life two starts back in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes but went too hard in front next time out and capitulated. He maps well from the good gate but I doubt they'll just hand the lead up to him. McCreeery showed good improvement second-up when he charged home from last for fourth in the G1 George Main Stakes. He was still six lengths astern of Happy Clapper at the finish but there is a 4kg turnaround here.
Locky's Selections
11. Comin' Through EACH-WAY
CAULFIELD
Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (Group 1, 1400m, handicap)
Scales Of Justice boasts 12 consecutive top two finishes and has never missed a place in 18 starts. The WA galloper was having his first East Coast start a fortnight ago when second to Redkirk Warrior in the G2 Bobbie Lewis Stakes. He seemed to get lost down the straight so back onto a bend may suit him better.
Tosen Stardom is well placed at weights dropping back to handicap conditions following two very hot w-f-a contests chasing Hartnell (below) and Vega Magic. Two starts at this track and trip for two placings in G1 races. Trainer Darren Weir applies the blinkers for the first time. Horror draw.
Theanswermyfriend has seven consecutive top two finishes. I doubt he'll get as soft a lead here as he did last start with Charmed Harmony engaged but he loves this track nonetheless. Five tries at 1400m for three wins and two seconds and the last seven winners of this race were 4-y-o's.
Mr Sneaky maps well from barrier five. With pace drawn all around him he should get carted into a lovely spot on settling. He's unbeaten at this track and has never missed a place at this distance. Three wins from his last four. They are really raising the bar here but he's consitent, fit and has earned his spot.
It's $15+ the rest.
Charmed Harmony doesn't often get the luxury of carrying just 52kg and loves the Caulfield 1400m (12:3-5-0). He leads from barrier three. It's a similar story with Grand Rosso. He's two from two here and drops 6.5kg on his last outing. So Si Bon can't be far away from a win and draws well. Craig Newitt returns from Tasmania to take the ride. Land Of Plenty charged from the back in the G2 Bobbie Lewis in a race Redkirk Warrior controlled from the front. He gave Voodoo Lad windburn when he past him. Barrier 14 makes it harder. It's Somewhat won the G2 Ajax Stakes at 1500m first-up last campaign and lumped 59kg to do it. He went on to win the G1 Doncaster Mile at his next start. Rolls forward from the wide gate?
Locky's Selections
3. Theanswermyfriend EACH-WAY
Tosen Stardom is well placed at weights dropping back to handicap conditions following two very hot w-f-a contests chasing Hartnell (below) and Vega Magic. Two starts at this track and trip for two placings in G1 races. Trainer Darren Weir applies the blinkers for the first time. Horror draw.
Theanswermyfriend has seven consecutive top two finishes. I doubt he'll get as soft a lead here as he did last start with Charmed Harmony engaged but he loves this track nonetheless. Five tries at 1400m for three wins and two seconds and the last seven winners of this race were 4-y-o's.
Mr Sneaky maps well from barrier five. With pace drawn all around him he should get carted into a lovely spot on settling. He's unbeaten at this track and has never missed a place at this distance. Three wins from his last four. They are really raising the bar here but he's consitent, fit and has earned his spot.
It's $15+ the rest.
Charmed Harmony doesn't often get the luxury of carrying just 52kg and loves the Caulfield 1400m (12:3-5-0). He leads from barrier three. It's a similar story with Grand Rosso. He's two from two here and drops 6.5kg on his last outing. So Si Bon can't be far away from a win and draws well. Craig Newitt returns from Tasmania to take the ride. Land Of Plenty charged from the back in the G2 Bobbie Lewis in a race Redkirk Warrior controlled from the front. He gave Voodoo Lad windburn when he past him. Barrier 14 makes it harder. It's Somewhat won the G2 Ajax Stakes at 1500m first-up last campaign and lumped 59kg to do it. He went on to win the G1 Doncaster Mile at his next start. Rolls forward from the wide gate?
Locky's Selections
3. Theanswermyfriend EACH-WAY
OTHER BLACK TYPE RACES
Tavago (Moonee Valley Race 5 No. 1) was well beaten last start in the G1 Makybe Diva Stakes (below) but I liked the way he kept coming despite the fact he got preety tight for room at stages. During the Autumn he ran fifth to Winx at a mile before winning the G3 Sky High Stakes second-up at this trip. He follows the same path here.
Lizzie L'Amour (Moonee Valley Race 6 No. 3) was backed as if she were unbeatable fresh but pulled up with an irregular heartbeat after the race. She's been well supported here again ($9 into $7.50 in early markets) and Hugh Bowman can give her the gun run from gate one. The stable also has Bonneval in on Sunday so I'm tipping they're going to have a big weekend.
In Her Time (Randwick Race 6 No. 10) takes on some real topliners here but she does look a potential star of the future. She won the G2 Breeders Classic at this track and trip last February and has gone from strength to strength since. There's a few in this race who are being set to peak in The Everest but her trial indicated she is fully screwed down for this first-up assignment.
Life Less Ordinary (Randwick Race 8 No. 9) has a sense of timing about him fourth run back and out to 2400m. He drops four kilos from his last start third in the G3 Kingston Town Stakes and meets Libran (4kg) and Antonio Giuseppe (3.5kg) much better off. His only unplaced run at Randwick (below) was a fifth to Winx two starts back but I still loved the way he finished it off. That was the only time he's missed a top three finish since coming to Australia.
Bonneval (Caulfield Race 7 No. 8) didn't beat much fresh in the G2 Feehan Stakes but it was the way she rounded them up and put them away was dazzling. I can't possibly take the short odds about Hartnell because Humidor blew by him last start shows he is vulnerable. Black Heart Bart is the only other danger but he's not getting any younger. I'm happy to take the $5 about a lightly raced, talented 4-y-o mare still on an upward spiral.
Good punting!
