Australia Racing Preview for 1/24/2014
by Grant Davies
Australia day racing takes place at Caulfield this Saturday with all eyes firmly focused on the Preview divisions for the Blue Diamond next month.
The Colts and Fillies respectively will race against themselves over 1000m in the $120,000(AUS) SPORTINGBET BLUE DIAMOND PREVIEWS in the first step towards the $1,000,000 purse on offer in the Blue Diamond. It will really give us a look at some talented youngsters and also an idea as to whom we may wish to start following seriously for this great 2YR old race. We will also take a quick look at the other Listed Race on the cards, the$120,000(AUS) EQUIANO SPEED YEARLINGS JOHN DILLON STAKES over 1400m.
And we decided just to sneak up to Royal Randwick in Sydney as well just to have a look at some potential spring stayers going round in the $100,000(AUS) VILI'S PIES AUSTRALIA DAY CUP over 2400m
CAULFIELD – AUS C
RACE 3 – SPORTINGBET BLUE DIAMOND PREVIEW – FILLIES (1000M)
Time for the girls to show us what they’ve got! ELOPING was very impressive on debut and she also gave the track record a shake, she thrashed Jarklin into 3rd who then won and chased home highly-regarded Nostradamus last week, so drawing off that she has to be a good chance here. FONTEIN RUBY was asked to cover ground on her debut and was still able to charge home late, it really was a great run. In that race in 3rd position was La Ciccolina, she was then an odds on fav and beaten in a race won by the well-backed AVANTI at Seymour, and the time ran by the winner was only .6 slower than the older horses that day. GOLCONDA resumes, and to my eye she looked classy before heading out for the spell, she ran the time/sectionals that you would expect from an above average filly. I would advise you to keep a good watch on LONDON LOLLY here too, sire is strong and the Dam was a dual Grade 1 winner as a 2YR old.
SELECTIONS – ELOPING / GOLCONDA / LONDON LOLLY
RACE 4 - SPORTINGBET BLUE DIAMOND PREVIEW – COLTS (1000M)
And now it’s time for the gentleman! MOHAVE trialled well before the solid debut 2nd, back in 3rd was Bold Circle who then won, beating Unencumbered! CORNROW's debut in Spring was a good effort on-speed and he did beat Boomwaa into 4th that day. DUCAL CASTLE was new but good on debut chasing Bugatty who has that Chivalry form, he will most definitely come out and be a better horse based on that. TUDOR thrashed Jarklin on debut, that horse then chased the highly regarded Nostradamus well at Flemington.
SELECTIONS – DUCAL CASTLE / MOHAVE / CORNROW
RACE 6 – EQUIANO SPEED YEARLINGS JOHN DILLON STAKES (1400M)
LIMES was unlucky not to win last time, he was in front of ANLON the entire race but not where it counts, on the line! ANLON bobbed and got the verdict, I can’t see a fast tempo unfolding here so maybe he will be able to control this race too? I cannot find fault with ANLON who has stepped up a gear this preparation and demands respect. STAR ROLLING to my eye is G1 class and he can most definitely win this fresh. FINISHING CARD is ready to win, but may just need an easier task than this one today. CHASE THE RAINBOW closed nicely last effort and that was the horse we wanted to see, he can win this if he repeats, assume fitter again? Importantly too, they have Craig Williams on board.
SELECTIONS – LIMES / STAR ROLLING / ANLON
ROYAL RANDWICK – AUS A
RACE 6 - VILI'S PIES AUSTRALIA DAY CUP LISTED (2400M)
Would you believe, all bar HEAVEN'S RICHES started life overseas and they are now running in an “Australia Day” cup! The Waterhouse pair of runners will most definitely head forward. Taking the punt that BRIGANTIN can improve (just did not fire with Pat Carey, but now is in the hands of the magician Chris Waller) almost as much 2nd-up to 3rd-up as he did 1st-up to 2nd-up, if he can do so then 2400m will be ideal and 59 kilos should not prove that daunting for him. Obviously TRAVOLTA (2nd in this last year) is tough to get past while I'M IMPOSING and MIDSUMMER SUN have form through each other and have beaten the top two recently.
SELECTIONS – BRIGANTIN / TRAVOLTA / I’M IMPOSING
Australia day racing takes place at Caulfield this Saturday with all eyes firmly focused on the Preview divisions for the Blue Diamond next month.
The Colts and Fillies respectively will race against themselves over 1000m in the $120,000(AUS) SPORTINGBET BLUE DIAMOND PREVIEWS in the first step towards the $1,000,000 purse on offer in the Blue Diamond. It will really give us a look at some talented youngsters and also an idea as to whom we may wish to start following seriously for this great 2YR old race. We will also take a quick look at the other Listed Race on the cards, the$120,000(AUS) EQUIANO SPEED YEARLINGS JOHN DILLON STAKES over 1400m.
And we decided just to sneak up to Royal Randwick in Sydney as well just to have a look at some potential spring stayers going round in the $100,000(AUS) VILI'S PIES AUSTRALIA DAY CUP over 2400m
CAULFIELD – AUS C
RACE 3 – SPORTINGBET BLUE DIAMOND PREVIEW – FILLIES (1000M)
Time for the girls to show us what they’ve got! ELOPING was very impressive on debut and she also gave the track record a shake, she thrashed Jarklin into 3rd who then won and chased home highly-regarded Nostradamus last week, so drawing off that she has to be a good chance here. FONTEIN RUBY was asked to cover ground on her debut and was still able to charge home late, it really was a great run. In that race in 3rd position was La Ciccolina, she was then an odds on fav and beaten in a race won by the well-backed AVANTI at Seymour, and the time ran by the winner was only .6 slower than the older horses that day. GOLCONDA resumes, and to my eye she looked classy before heading out for the spell, she ran the time/sectionals that you would expect from an above average filly. I would advise you to keep a good watch on LONDON LOLLY here too, sire is strong and the Dam was a dual Grade 1 winner as a 2YR old.
SELECTIONS – ELOPING / GOLCONDA / LONDON LOLLY
RACE 4 - SPORTINGBET BLUE DIAMOND PREVIEW – COLTS (1000M)
And now it’s time for the gentleman! MOHAVE trialled well before the solid debut 2nd, back in 3rd was Bold Circle who then won, beating Unencumbered! CORNROW's debut in Spring was a good effort on-speed and he did beat Boomwaa into 4th that day. DUCAL CASTLE was new but good on debut chasing Bugatty who has that Chivalry form, he will most definitely come out and be a better horse based on that. TUDOR thrashed Jarklin on debut, that horse then chased the highly regarded Nostradamus well at Flemington.
SELECTIONS – DUCAL CASTLE / MOHAVE / CORNROW
RACE 6 – EQUIANO SPEED YEARLINGS JOHN DILLON STAKES (1400M)
LIMES was unlucky not to win last time, he was in front of ANLON the entire race but not where it counts, on the line! ANLON bobbed and got the verdict, I can’t see a fast tempo unfolding here so maybe he will be able to control this race too? I cannot find fault with ANLON who has stepped up a gear this preparation and demands respect. STAR ROLLING to my eye is G1 class and he can most definitely win this fresh. FINISHING CARD is ready to win, but may just need an easier task than this one today. CHASE THE RAINBOW closed nicely last effort and that was the horse we wanted to see, he can win this if he repeats, assume fitter again? Importantly too, they have Craig Williams on board.
SELECTIONS – LIMES / STAR ROLLING / ANLON
ROYAL RANDWICK – AUS A
RACE 6 - VILI'S PIES AUSTRALIA DAY CUP LISTED (2400M)
Would you believe, all bar HEAVEN'S RICHES started life overseas and they are now running in an “Australia Day” cup! The Waterhouse pair of runners will most definitely head forward. Taking the punt that BRIGANTIN can improve (just did not fire with Pat Carey, but now is in the hands of the magician Chris Waller) almost as much 2nd-up to 3rd-up as he did 1st-up to 2nd-up, if he can do so then 2400m will be ideal and 59 kilos should not prove that daunting for him. Obviously TRAVOLTA (2nd in this last year) is tough to get past while I'M IMPOSING and MIDSUMMER SUN have form through each other and have beaten the top two recently.
SELECTIONS – BRIGANTIN / TRAVOLTA / I’M IMPOSING
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