It’s one of the key features of the Sydney Autumn Carnival, with a stacked program headlined by the Group 1 Tancred Stakes and several intriguing support races across the card.
The rail is out +6m the entire circuit, and we’re racing on a Soft 5 surface at time of writing, but with further rain forecast, expect conditions to deteriorate into the Heavy range by race time.
It’s a true test of stamina and adaptability, and punters should keep a close eye on track pattern, with possible advantage to those handling the going and settling on-speed as the day unfolds.
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Clear Thinking steps up to 1500m for the first time in her career, a genuine test considering she’s never raced beyond 1200m.
But based on her closing sectionals and racing pattern, this rise in trip looks tailor-made.
She’s given every indication that the extra ground will suit her, particularly with a more tactical tempo expected over this distance.
Crucially, she’s proven on heavy ground, relishing the conditions in her only attempt on rain-affected going.
With a wet track forecast for Saturday, the stars appear to be aligning.
From a low draw with just 54kg on her back, she should find a midfield spot with cover and if the tempo is genuine, look to peel out and let down strongly in the straight.
There’s plenty of upside and in the conditions, she looks set to run a bold race.
Ammenable’s second-up record (5:0-1-0) might look underwhelming on paper, but a deeper dive shows that she’s improved significantly off her first-up runs in most of those preps.
If she follows that same pattern again on Saturday, she becomes a serious winning chance.
Barrier 7 is ideal as she maps to land in the first four and will avoid the worst part of the track if the inside cuts up.
The forecasted rain enhances her credentials further, as she’s shown a clear affinity for wet ground, including a superb runner-up finish behind Magic Time in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes on a rain-affected surface.
Fit, well-drawn, proven in these conditions and with natural improvement expected second-up she shapes as a major player.
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This might be the best $50 pop of the entire carnival.
He was great on debut at Canterbury when getting a mile back and flashing home.
He had the fastest final 200m of the race and a few of his rivals in that race went on to contest top 2YO races.
Next start at Newcastle he ran a bottler and was unlucky to not finish closer after being forced into inferior ground along the rail.
At both starts he has charged through the line and the step up to 1400m now looks perfect.
He has potential J.J. Atkins runner all over him and will be looking to qualify for the race here with a strong performance.
From the soft barrier hopefully he can land midfield with cover and just needs clear running to be in the finish here at a massive quote.
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There was some serious merit in the win first up.
He sat off only a moderate tempo and stormed down the outside to claim the win.
He has always been held in high regard and now gelded looks to have returned a different horse.
Handles all track conditions and from the draw may end up in the best ground come jump time.
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