It’s time for the “stallion making race of Australasia”, the Longines Golden Slipper is set to be run today at Rosehill. The richest race for 2YO’s in the world, and we have a cracker of a field assembled for this edition. So many horses have come and gone as favourite in the past few months, and each week a new horse would stand up and make a case for why it should win. As it stands now, Tagaloa holds favouritism, ahead of Farnan and Hanseatic, while emergency runner Minhaaj has gained a start, and is sure to add some interest. There is a total of five Group 1 races to be run at Rosehill today, so we are not short of action. Meanwhile, down on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, we see the running of the listed Mornington Cup. Plenty of racing today, so check out PlayUp form analyst Lewis Willoughby’s top five bets of the day.
Mornington: R1 #4 Albukhturi $4.60 at PlayUp – Can’t understand why this 2YO son of Iffraaj is so far from the top two in the market, hence why I’m making him a play here. Last start when finishing 8th at Flemington on unsuitable soft going, he still managed to run with quickest last 600m sectional of the race, and was working very strongly through the line out wide. Two starts back on debut he was likewise very strong through the line, after settling last in the run. He comes here now third up nearing peak fitness, and gets extra distance out to the 1500m which will definitely suit. Drier ground helps, I seriously think he can win this race.
Mornington: R2 #7 Des Moines $3.00 at PlayUp – Heavily backed last start when resuming down the Flemington straight over 1100m. She came third that day after sitting without cover, and was beaten by the very talented Diamond Effort, so you can hardly knock this mare’s performance. Comes here fitter second up, and 1200m looks to be more suitable. Her last win came at this track & distance, so she enjoys racing at Mornington, and looks set to map very well here from barrier 9. The big drop in grade will really suit her, and she is well-weighted in comparison to others. The early price was good, and she is still a bet.
Mornington: R6 #8 Chuck A Luck (BEST) $4.40 at PlayUp – This Busuttin & Young trained 3YO had his first run in Australia last start, and acquitted himself nicely with a third placing over 1400m at Sandown. He was forced to race three wide without cover from the 800m onwards, and fought back really stoically on the line. Comes here second up, fitter, and steps out to the mile which is very suitable. At the end of last year he finished 6th to Catalyst over 1600m in the G1 2000 Guineas in NZ, and Catalyst has since come out here and stamped himself as a serious race horse. That form is definitely good enough to win a race like this, top chance here.
MORNINGTON CUP TIP – #10 Future Score each-way
Rosehill:R1 #1 Cosmic Force $2.40 at PlayUp – This Snowden trained colt looked very good last start first up, over the 1100m at Randwick he flashed very hard through the line, unable to reel in the winner who had a picnic up front during the run. Cosmic Force ran the quickest last 400/200m of the race, and looks to have come back in very good fashion. Second up now out to the 1200m will definitely suit, he is fitter and a drying surface is sure to help his cause. Holds weight from the last start effort, he just needs a good ride from Glen Boss from that outside barrier.
Rosehill: R6 #2 Shadow Hero $2.90 at PlayUp – Of all the last start winners that are contesting G1 races today at Randwick, Shadow Hero by far represents the best value. It was a dominant win second up over the 1600m in the Randwick Guineas last start, knocking off a number of rivals that he faces again today. Stepping to the 2000m third up looks ideal, he is 1:1 at the distance, and beat Castelvecchio when they met in October last year at this trip. He should hold his form into this race, and the drying track is definitely to his liking.
G1 RANVET TIP – #1 Avilius
G1 GEORGE RYDER STAKES TIP – #3 Te Akau Shark
G1 GOLDEN SLIPPER TIP – #2 Hanseatic
G1 GALAXY TIP – #3 Kementari each-way
