Posts Tagged ‘Denman’
Much love for Heart of Dreams and Miss Marielle
September 5th, 2009 by adminAfter making hay with Mic Mac and Denman last weekend I can hardly wait for Saturday’s horse racing, which has no Golden Rose to whip me into a group 1 fever but does have a couple of very interesting races to make or break your morale.
I’ll get the the group 2 Danehill Stakes at Flemington out of the way first. I say ‘out of the way’ because picking the winner is a distinctly grim task – it’s going to be Black Caviar unless there’s a gigantic upset.
The filly looks something special and has stormed to three wins in her first three starts and has been recording ‘freakish’ times. As such she’s on a recession-like 1.75 with Centrebet.
If you are quick it might actually be worth slapping a pile on this because Rostova, another promising youngster, has been scratched, according to Centrebet, and Manhattan Rain, one of the most valuable horses in Australia, is out as well after an underwhelming trial on Tuesday. Black Caviar is likely to drop further and of the other eight horses running only two are over 6.00 for a placings bet – Extra Zero at 7.50 and 51.00 for the win and Point Pain, 21.00 or a whopping 151.00 for the win.
The group 2 Makybe Diva Stakes is also at Flemington tomorrow and is much, much tighter. Typhoon Tracy is the favourite here on 2.82, followed by Predatory Pricer on 4.1 and Heart of Dreams on 5.1 – oops as I say that he’s just gone to 5.00 with Betfair so is dropping – form is strong for all three going into this one but because we’re seeing movement if I had to I’d go with Heart of Dreams now.
On to the 1600m Chemlsford Stakes at Randwick now, and O’Lonhro is the out-and-out favourite and has shrunk throughout the week to stand on 2.80 with IASbet – he has two wins and two placings from his last four and runs from barrier six. Close behind are Court Command on 4.50 and Triple Honour at 5.40, both with Betfair. This is a tricky one and I actually have a good feeling about Roman Emperor, on 12.00 with Betfair – don’t look at me like that, it’s just a ‘feeling’. Also there’s Miss Marielle on 12.00 for the win but certainly worth a little look on 6.33 for a placing with IASbet.
Black Caviar today. The horse, not the sturgeon eggs. Saturday wasn’t that successful.
September 3rd, 2009 by adminBesides tipping who is going to win races, I’ve recently been trying to pick up on who is not going to make the grade. Unsurprisingly deciding which bets are likely to fall flat is easier, but there is at least some brainpower needed.
For example it would’ve been easy to plump for Trusting in the Golden Rose on Saturday given his previous win in the Warwick Stakes – and with many bookies he was joint second favourite on about 5.80 on Thursday and Friday. I decided to steer clear because one Warwick Stakes win does not a Golden Rose winner make and the coverage of Trusting had smelled partly of pure hype the week before. Hence I went with Denman as a safer bet.
The point I’m trying to make is it may seem risky to call an avoid on a horse who appears to be attracting plenty of attention and plaudits, but there is method to my madness.
On Saturday we have the group 2 Danehill Stakes at Flemington and Manhattan Rain, trained by Gai Waterhouse and known as one of the most valuable horses this side of the Danube, will be appearing. Given his touted worth of $20 million you’d think he’d be a wise move for Saturday but the midweek reports suggest otherwise.
Today the press has been awash with the news he didn’t fare that well in a four-horse 800m trial on Tuesday and will have blinkers on Saturday.
“It was a bit like ‘Well, here I am’,” is how Gail Waterhouse described his performance in the Sydney Morning Herald. I know just how he feels. Anyway, early doors he may be among the favourites but this race also involves filly Black Caviar, as yet unbeaten, while Grand Harmony was the winner of Tuesday’s trial and lead all the way to win at Seymour last month.
While I’ve got your attention it’s worth taking a look at how Saturday’s result in the Golden Rose has affected Denman’s odds for the season’s main events. He is now at 17.00 for the Cox Plate with IASbet, ahead of the aforementioned Black Caviar, who is on 21.00 for the Plate – possibly worth a shot now before what could be a good performance from the filly on Saturday?
Mic Mac and Denman make it a bumper weekend
September 2nd, 2009 by adminMic Mac and Denman make it a bumper weekend
It was a bad weekend for the bookies, but a decent one for the Pom de Turf, who is starting to enjoy this tipping lark.
On Saturday anyone who took my advice on Friday of sticking a ‘reasonable wedge’ on Denman in the Golden Rose at 2.64 with Betfair will have had a heavy one, no doubt. Trouble is, now I wish I’d said ‘skipful’ instead of ‘wedge’, but that’s the way the turf cracks.
Unfortunately Phelan Ready, my advice for a slightly riskier shot, was apparently not that ready after all and came 14^th . Bombay Sling also failed to come off as an outside placings bet, ending up in seventh.
Phelan Ready later underwent a once-over from the vet but was found to be in good shape so his poor performance remains a mystery. Perhaps he reads this blog and is an Aussie Cricket fan, not wanting to miss the chance of making an Englishman look stupid after the Ashes. Or perhaps someone out there with a grudge read the tip on Friday and fed him a crate of Castlemaine. Either way, the horse will get the chance to redeem himself in the Guineas.
Thankfully the Memsie group 2 over at Caulfield provided welcome respite on the same day. Mic Mac was identified as a strong safe favourite bet by yours truly on Friday thanks to that barrier four draw. He duly delivered and his odds even lengthened to 3.00 and over with some bookies before the race.
Whobegotyou, the ‘sexier’ punt for this one, ended up in second and the placings tip, Sea Battle, again let me down.
So, a strong record so far on picking up on truly likely favourites but less impressive with the placings. I shall hunker down in the lab and work on this.
Back with the cricket and the one day internationals are off the mark on Friday and the second Twenty20 is on today at Old Trafford.
‘Old Faithful’ or ‘rain’ saved England from what could’ve been a tanning in the first Twenty20 on Sunday, and I see no reason to think today will be any different. Most amusing betting odds award goes to the idea that Ravi Bopara will be the top England batsman at 4.90 with Betfair. The internal collapse of the sun is more likely. I’ll be going for 7.60 on Paul Collingwood instead.
Read more »Bombay Sling may throw us a tasty one in the Golden Rose
August 29th, 2009 by adminBombay Sling may throw us a tasty one in the Golden Rose
There’s nothing like the first group 1 horse racing betting of the season to test your mettle and the market for the Golden Rose at Rosehill is already boiling and getting hotter. This means I finally have to commit to some tipping or I’ll probably turn red and sweaty like a lobster.
To recap, much noise was made earlier in the week for youngster Trusting after he won the Warwick Stakes, and he stands at 5.80 with Betfair. However, as of Friday the same bookmaker was offering a reasonable-looking 6.40 for Phelan Ready who has shortened to 5.50 with some other bookies.
Denman remains the firm favourite at 2.64 with Betfair and is backed up by a barrier four draw. Denman won the Run to the Rose and it would be a significant surprise if he didn’t at least make the top two. A reasonable wedge might well be worthwhile on him, but go for Phelan Ready on those Betfair odds if you are after something sexier.
The real cash is likely to come from the placings, and there are some decent-looking shots hovering around the 20.00 – plus odds for the win.
This translates to 8.81 for a placings punt on Bombay Sling with IASbet, who is out at 31.00 for the win with the same bookmaker. Other placings bets don’t look nearly as worthwhile.
Got it? Good. On to the Memsie group 2 over at Caulfield now and the feel of the betting almost reflects the fact attention is not so much on the winner but on the field, as many a recent Cox Plate winner has run in the Memsie. Mic Mac is way out in front at 2.60 with IASbet and has all sorts going for him – especially the barrier four draw. El Segundo is second favourite on 4.80 but Whobegotyou looks better at 5.00. If you are feeling all brave and bolshy and the approaching smell of spring has you all confident, I like the look of Sea Battle at 15.00 with IASbet. Don’t look at me if this one falls on its face though because Mic Mac is well and truly the Mr Safe for this.
The Pom De Turf will be back on Tuesday – I’ll need Monday to recover from the commiserations or celebrations. Meanwhile enjoy the return of group 1. It promises to be a sizzling spring.
Read more »Memsie promises to give season clues
August 27th, 2009 by adminAttention will rightly be focused on the Golden Rose on Saturday but the hardcore punters among us, including the Pom de Turf, will also have keen eyes on the Memsie stakes over at Caulfield on Saturday.
The attraction lies in the fact horses who have run in the Memsie have often gone on to win the Cox Plate – although it’s not necessarily the winner who goes on to victory in the big one at Moonee Valley later in the season.
Some basics for the Memsie morons out there – it’s a group 2 weight-for-age race over 1400m and there are usually plenty of glamorous names preparing not just for the Plate but also for the Melbourne Cup – who are often not yet as fit as less well-known runners who tend to do quite well.
El Segundo is running on Saturday having already won it once in 2006 and is apparently not showing his age going into a shot at a second.
After the 2006 victory he went on to win the Underwood Stakes and got himself placings in the Caulfield Stakes and Cox Plate later in the same campaign.
So besides him, who else could be worth a look on Saturday? Sea Battle is being ridden Craig Williams, who piloted Miss Finland to victory in this one in 2007, but Sea Battle hasn’t raced since November.
Whobegotyou could be a better shout – he’s the early Cox Plate favourite and did well when resuming to seal second in the recent Liston Stakes – which is probably a better indicator than the glittering historical form but less inspiring early season patter of other familiar names lining up on Saturday. More on this one later in the week.
Back to the Golden Rose build up-now and Denman currently remains the firm favourite at 2.75 with Centrebet. My interest is, however, drifting towards Bombay Sling, at 21.00 with Centrebet, and Porsched, who is currently looking a decent placings bet at 7.50. Interestingly, Centrebet also has outsider Magic Model at 81.00 down from 101.00 earlier in the week, so worth keeping an eye on going into Thursday/Friday.
Read more »Sainthood threatens to send me to punting hell
August 26th, 2009 by adminSainthood threatens to send me to punting hell
As it happens Tuesday’s racing at Randwick on the Kensington track was the day of truth for Glowlamp after all.
She grew to 2.25 from around 1.85 to ditch her unlucky tag in fine style in the 1100m Intergaze Maiden Plate.
On the same card I made a noise on Monday for Sainthood in the 1550m. This was not so holy and finished a disappointing third with outsider Kossack coming home and wrecking all chances of canonisation in my eyes.
So far my success rate is two in four solid tips – so some of you are already hoping I burn in hell.
That’s just how it goes – and there’s a shot at redemption this coming weekend.
On Saturday we have a mouth-watering 1400m Golden Rose appearing at Rosehill and the build-up has already started in earnest. The race has been building a reputation as a premium race for three-year-olds.
Trusting is the early hype-magnet for the $1 million event after the colt picked up a surprise win in the Warwick Stakes on Saturday and is already at third favourite for Saturday with Centrebet on 5.00.
Denman is the current favourite thanks to a favourable gate four and is at 2.80 with the same bookmaker.
Phelan Ready has also been attracting early attention and is currently at 6.00 with Centrebet but is a more appealing 7.50 with IASbet.
The Mikado is at 26.00 with IASbet today having firmed up to around 17.00 with some other online horse racing betting markets so now could be a good time to get something on this one if you are in the mood for a long shot.
Look carefully and hovering down the list at number 12 is Headway, standing at 11.00 with Centrebet but at 9.00 with IASbet. Headway has three wins in the last six, plus two placings, so is an interesting prospect considering Phelan Ready has two wins and two placings in the last six.
My ear is to the ground and I’m holding off on a call for the winner at the moment. Denman’s gate draw means the odds are mighty short and an each way could be your best chance of picking up a wedge. I shall sit on my rock and go ‘ommmmm’ quietly until later in the week. Buddhism is now more my thing after the embarrassing failure of Sainthood on Tuesday. Have faith turf lovers.
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