Coolmore Stud Stakes

While crowds of eager racegoers won't be descending on the Melbourne Cup Carnival this year, the four-card program still remains the pinnacle of Australian racing. It all kicks off this Saturday with Derby Day, regarded by purists as the best quality card of racing this country has to offer. It's hard to disagree, with four Group 1's being contested, highlighted by the young sprinters and stayers doing battle in the Coolmore Stud Stakes and the Victoria Derby respectively.  The stakes ramp up again on Tuesday, where one of the deepest fields in recent memory will line up for the 2020 Melbourne Cup. That's followed by the VRC Oaks on Thursday then the Mackinnon Stakes next Saturday, with both days sure to present plenty of opportunities for punters. With almost 40 races taking place at Flemington over the four-meet carnival, we've looked at the four tipsters who are best placed to deliver you a profit. Best tipsters from the media at Flemintgton over the last year   This table ranks all media experts in Australia by profit on turnover (POT) from their tips at Flemington over the past 365 days. We've filtered out the tipsters who have placed fewer than 100 tips in this period, to ensure that the most consistent Flemington tipsters have risen to the top. And it's hard to disagree with the results.   Coming out in front is one of Winning Post's premier form analysts, Paul Richards.  Richards is the racing publication's systems man, creating betting strategies based on the stats to help give punters an edge. Which ever system or strategy he's using to pick his horses at Flemington, it's been working.  Richards has tipped 44 winners at Flemington over the past 365 days, at a juicy average price of $5.11 and a strike rate of 25%. This has generated a bumper 30% POT, or $5,300 in cash profit for punters betting with an even $100 stake.  That's tremendous going.   Keen to see who else has tips available for the Melbourne Cup carnival?  Check out our Flemington Tips market here to back the tips of winning punters using HOT Bet.    Coming in next is Joel Marshall from Winning Post's sister publication Best Bets. Arguably Best Bets' premier form expert, Marshall's Flemington success has been driven by the mouth-watering value he's been able to find. His 32 winning tips have greeted the judge at a fat average price just shy of $7. This has led to a terrific 24% POT for Marshall and his followers. With big fields and plenty of value expected across the entire Melbourne Cup Carnival, Marshall's proven record of finding winners at a price could be a very valuable asset.   Rounding our the podium for the best performers from the media at Flemington over the past 365 days is Racing.com's Ben Asgari.  The Persian Prince has found 39 winners, to drive a 14% POT for his followers. Asgari also boasts the best strike rate of the top four Flemington tipsters, with his winners getting home at a very impressive 27% of the time. On top of that, the form analyst has a proven record in the race that stops a nation. Last year he was all over Vow And Declare, that saluted at meaty $11 odds. Asgari will definitely have his fans this year.   The fourth and final tipster who has excelled at headquarters is none other than Deane Lester. The undisputed king of Victorian form analysis, Deano has delivered an 11% POT despite providing over 200 Flemington tips. With 51 winning tips at the track, he's also nabbed the most Flemington winners of the top performing media experts.   Get your hands on Deane Lester's tips and staking plan for this Saturday here.   Deane is also coming off a stellar Melbourne Cup Carnival in 2019. He made a profit on 3 of the 4 cards, with his biggest inroads coming on Cup day itself. There he bagged 2 juicy winners, including Vow And Declare in the feature. Hone in on the last 180 days, and Deane's tipping stats only look better. Over this time period, Lester shows 29% POT with the average price of winners coming in at an enviable $5.14.  All signs point to another fill-up over the Cup carnival, and you can access his race day package exclusiveley through theGreatTipOff.com here. It includes his staking plan, comments on every runner, speed maps and race day audio preview. It's all you need for a day on the punt! Deane Lester's impressive 180 tipping stats at HQ

Distance 1200m Grade Group 1 Track Rating Good 4  Prizemoney $1,500,000 Class 3yo Set Weights 2018 winner Sunlight ($5) The Coolmore Stud Stakes is a high profile sprint down the famous Flemington straight, featuring some of the best colts and fillies in the land.  Many of this year's main hopes will be out to achieve both financial and reputational glory. If the the winner is a colt, the horse is almost certainly guaranteed to double in value and take his place at stud. I am with those who are coming in on the fresher side. I believe the favourite is vulnerable and may be over the top here following an arduous campaign involving two "Grand Finals". Godolphin's second pick has been set for this and could hold the key.     Race Flemington Track Traits For the latest insight into how the Flemington track is expected to play, read our preview of the Victoria Derby here.      Racing Market Movers Race favourite Bivouac is a slight drifter in betting early, out to $3.20 from an opening quote of $3.00. Libertini has firmed into $4.80 from $5.50. All other runners remain steady.    Key Runners #1 Microphone $11 Appears to have been set for this race, which could prove the key advantage over his rivals. The first-up effort in the Roman Consul was sound, where he got back and chased hard through the line. That run would have topped him off beautifully for this.  He is dripping in quality and with plenty of early speed engaged, he is sure to be one of the strongest late. With a record of two wins from two starts up the Flemingtion straight, he looks great value at the current $11 quote. Goes on top.    #2 Bivouac $3.00 > $3.20  Is probably the best horse in the race, however this reeks of an afterthought following his luckless Manikato Stakes effort last start. He has been up a long time now and has already contested two "Grand Finals", being the Golden Rose and Manikato. It can get ugly if they attempt to peak up again in a big race. He could easily blow them away if he still holds form, however I would much prefer to be with the fresh profile of others considering his "afterthought" status.    #3 Accession $51  Has a sense of timing here third-up and he's proven that he has the ability, following midfield finishes in two high quality Sydney three-year-old races this prep (Roman Consul and Heritage Stakes).  He closed off the race well last start, after recording the best final 200m sectional of the field. Appears to be right on target and may fly under the radar in this. Leading chance.    #5 Cosmic Force $8 Was backed off the map to win the Roman Consul and duly saluted after racing on speed and charging away to win well. He is a big player here and is another that profiles well third up (1:1-0-0).  It will be interesting to see if the big money comes late. If it does, I would suggest he goes very close. Top hope.     #6 Exceedance $4.60 Highly talented colt who is the horse on everyone's lips here. He must be training the house down to warrant the whispers circulating, that he is "the" horse for this race. The Golden Rose effort was excellent, where he finished 3 of 8. The five week freshen is perfect and a dominant performance would not surprise. Yes.    #12 Libertini $5.50 > $4.80 Started this campaign with a bang when winning her first two races with ease and creating plenty of hype. These runs led to her being touted as a possible Everest hope. A good filly (Sunlight) did win this race last year, hence the precedent is clearly there. I have a few ahead of her, however she could be ready to do something very special following the five week freshen. Very wary.      #14 Brooklyn Hustle $21 Was excellent last start in the Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield, when finishing a close up 3 of 11. However, that form looks well below many of these with the leading hopes coming via much stronger Group races. Looks completely outclassed. No.    Of The Others #15 Broadwayandfourth won the William Crockett at big odds ($18) last start, when she darted through late to claim them all. She is lightly raced (3:2-0-1) and may still have significant improvement in her. A genuine blowout hope, where a win at cricket score odds would not completely shock.     Best Racing Tips 1st  Microphone 2nd  Exceedance   3rd  Cosmic Force  4th  Accession 

Distance 1,200m Grade Group 1 Track  Flemington Prizemoney $1,500,000 2018 winner Sunlight ($5.00) The Coolmore Stud Stakes, also known as the Ascot Vale Stakes, is one of Australia's most recognised race for three-year-old's.  Run down the famous Flemington straight over 1200m on Derby Day, the race consistently attracts the country's best three-year-old sprinters.  Notable past winners of the Coolmore Stud Stakes include Alinghi (2004), Weekend Hussler (2007), Zoustar (2013) and Merchant Navy (2017).  The early favourite in all-in betting is the James Cummings trained Bivouac. The Godolphin owned colt was luckless in the Group One Manikato Stakes and if Cummings accepts for the race, he can bounce back in style.  The Everest winner, Yes Yes Yes, is on the second-line of betting but is unlikely to accept for the race. If they do opt to run him however, this could make for a great re-match against Bivouac after the Godolphin runner claimed bragging rights in the Golden Rose earlier in the Spring.  On the third line of betting is the team Hawkes trained Exceedance. This colt has been aimed at the Coolmore and with Dwayne Dunn already booked for the ride, he looks a certainty to line up on Saturday.  Nominations for the 2019 Coolmore Stud Stakes are below:  Horse Name Trainer Odds BIVOUAC James Cummings $ 3.50 EXCEEDANCE Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes $ 4.00 YES YES YES Chris Waller $ 4.00 LIBERTINI Anthony Cummings $ 6.00 COSMIC FORCE Peter & Paul Snowden $ 7.00 CALIFORNIA ZIMBOL Peter & Paul Snowden $ 8.00 MICROPHONE James Cummings $ 8.00 LOVING GABY Ciaron Maher & David Eustace $ 11.00 ACCESSION Chris Waller $ 26.00 BROADWAYANDFOURTH Mitchell Freedman $ 26.00 BROOKLYN HUSTLE Jason Warren $ 26.00 DUBIOUS Ciaron Maher & David Eustace $ 26.00 LI’L KONTRA Ryan Balfour $ 26.00 ALABAMA EXPRESS Michael Moroney $ 51.00 CARDIFF Gerald Ryan $ 51.00 RUUCA Toby & Trent Edmonds $ 51.00 SARTORIAL SPLENDOR John Sadler $ 51.00 EXETER David & B Hayes & T Dabernig $ 101.00

Distance 1200m Grade Group 1 Track Rating Good 4 Prizemoney $1,000,000 Class 3yo Set Weights  2017 winner Merchant Navy ($19) The Coolmore Stud Stakes is a Group 1 1200m shoot-out down the Flemington straight, which typically sets up the winner's career at stud.  This year however, a lone filly may spoil the party for all other runners who are desperate to increase their stallion prospects. Gun filly Sunlight won brilliantly first-up, before starting favourite amongst Group 1 WFA company in the Manikato Stakes. She did not fire on that occasion and back to 3yo only grade here, can sprout wings. There is no doubting the class of this field elsewhere, however I am happy to take the lead of master trainer Tony McEvoy and his abilty to place them. This girl should teach the boys a lesson!    Flemington Track Traits Flemington is currently rated a Good 4, with the rail in the true position the entire circuit and fine conditions predicted for Saturday. At recent meetings, straight racing at HQ has seen runners come down the centre of the track, however this can easily revert to the outside rail if the track walkers declare it to be better going early in the day. Expect noted speedsters Sunlight and Written Tycoon to opt for a rail which could be down the outside of the track.     Racing Market Movers Zousain is a slight drifter from an opening $3.50 quote to now trade at $4.00, whilst Sunlight has seen early support, into $4.60 from $5. All other runners remain steady in early betting.     Key Runners #1 Written By $4.20 Was ultra impressive right throughout his 2yo season, which included winning the Group 1 Blue Diamond in dominant fashion before starting favourite and running 4 of 16 in the Golden Slipper. That form is exceptional and he has since returned as a 3yo to win both starts impressively in the lead up to this. Ticks every box except a Flemington straight run, and although it does not mean everything, there is always a lingering doubt that he could fail to handle it. However, expect him to have the class to overcome and he must be considered a leading chance. Yes.     #2 Zousain $3.50 > $4.20 Brings outstanding Sydney form following a close second to gun colt The Autumn Sun at his last outing in the Group 1 Golden Rose. Expect him to measure right up here and he is one that will appreciate a warp speed tempo, which could eventuate considering early speed in the race. He draws in gate 4 where J Mac will have options and preferably have him sucking up just in behind, before running home hard over the top. Top hope.   #3 Encryption $8.50 Godolphin hope who is building an impressive 3yo resume, where two starts back he won the Danehill at Group 2 level before placing 2 of 6 in the Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield. This colt was lightly raced as a 2yo (one start in the Group 1 Champagne at Randwick). Given that Team Blue have a tendency to produce a good one that they deliberately hold back, he may just be their best 3yo sprinter. Could easily blow them all away, however prefer to be with others on this occasion.       #4 Lean Mean Machine $9 > $12 Won the Run To The Rose in the build-up to the Group 1 Golden Rose, where he ran 5 of 9 behind The Autumn Sun. This Sydney form looks superior and he is another that can capitalize on a fast run race, provided he can find clean air from gate 3.  If the speed goes on up front, he will be rocketing home from near last. Big chance if the tempo is genuine.     #6 Sesar $8 The stable declared how good he was during the Brisbane Winter carnival and then he came straight to Randwick first-up for the Group 2 Roman Consul where he brained them. He is best suited over more ground and is likely to find plenty of these far too sharp. Would need a charmed run and a touch of rain to be a chance against these. No.    #8 Diplomatico $8 Has emerged from nowhere to be a genuine chance in this. He is lightly raced (3 starts) and comes via a Monday holiday Randwick Kensington meeting two starts back, where he won impressively. He then tackled Randwick Saturday grade and again won well. If they decide to race down the stand side, he will be in ideal striking position however just too many question marks for this fellow and he would need to be very good to trouble these more experienced campaigners. Prefer others.    #10 Sunlight $5 > $4.60 Started favourite in the Group 1 Manikato last Friday night at Moonee Valley, when jumping from a wide gate and was never a significant threat against the older horses. She is back to 3yo grade here and could easily atone with her freakish natural early speed. If Written Tycoon leaves her alone and does not challenge for the front, expect her to just keep kicking. Must go on top. Yes. Of The Others None preferred.     Best Racing Tips 1st  Sunlight 2nd  Written By 3rd  Zousain 4th  Lean Mean Machine