Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing in Australia, Ireland and USA, including Rosehill, Dundalk and Gulfstream Park.
Ranvet Stakes Group 1 (2000m)
Newmarket trainer William Haggas sends ADDEYBB for this $700,000 contest and the former Lincoln Handicap winner turned Group scorer is popping his corks following an impressive barrier trial at Canterbury. For that readying work he stepped sharply from the gate and looked to have the edge required to obtain a good stalking position. He’s a strong traveller who is usually the last off the bridle, while he’s a Group winner over a mile. He delivered against Mackinnon Stakes winner Magic Wand in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot and hasn’t raced since chasing home Magical in the Group 1 Champion Stakes at the same course in October. The Ascot form was boosted when Magic Wand went on to plunder the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes in Melbourne.
AVILLIUS seeks to go back to back and make it four wins from as many visits to the track for trainer James Cummings and Jockey Hugh Bowman. As well as the Ranvet he bagged the BMW Stakes while finishing a creditable fifth in the Australian Cup. That was his readying run for the Ranvet last year and there are plenty of shrewd judges that think lightning can strike twice, especially since his 2019 success happened on a heavy track.
Pitching for minor money at the very least is VERRY ELLEEGANT. As an Oaks winner she deserves considerable respect. Her trainer Chris Waller was pleased with the way she settled on her latest outing and that the likelihood of a wet track will also benefit the filly.
Waller fields four of the final field of seven, NORWAY having been switched from the George Ryder following a gallop under Kerrin McEvoy on Tuesday. Trainer and jockey agreed that taking the extra distance of the Ranvet was the better option.
Last year’s third DANZDANZDANZ gets Opie Bosson in the plate who knows her and usually gets the best out of her. The fourth Waller candidate YOUNGSTAR recovered some of her zest in blinkers last time, finishing off her race strongly under Josh Parr.
Prediction
1st ADDEYBB (Nap)
2nd Avillius
3rd Verry Elleegant
4th Norway
5th Danzdanzdanz
Longines Golden Slipper (1200m)
Fillies have an outstanding recent record in the world’s richest two-year-old race and SEE YOU SOON will attempt to follow in the hoof prints of She Will Reign, Estijaab and Kiamichi, with jockey Jean Van Overmeire the only apprentice riding in the race.
Only two apprentices have won the Slipper since it’s inception in 1957, and Overmeire has sound claims of becoming the third as he’s partnered the Jean Dubois-trained See You Soon throughout her career.
And she has the points on the board having gunned down DAME GISELLE on her debut last October only four days after her first barrier trial, and then followed that rival home in the $1m Golden Gift over 100m the following month.
The pair clashed for a third time in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes a fortnight ago with See You Soon failing by an inch to catch Dame Giselle, when interestingly the former clocked the faster last 600m in a time of 34.51secs that equates to a length and a half faster than the winner. Furthermore See You Soon became restless in the gate and had a wide draw, and went for a daring run along the rail, while on Saturday she jumps from the middle of the 16-strong field.
It’s perfectly feasible that the pair will fight out the finish but perhaps See You Soon holds slightly more room for improvement?
HANSEATIC lost his unbeaten record in the Blue Diamond at Caulfield when possibly unsuited by the course but he put in a super trial at Randwick last week, and is not badly drawn. If there’s one that might have gone under the radar it’s AWAY GAME who from the two gate can get competitive.
Prediction
1st SEE YOU SOON
2nd Dame Giselle
3rd Hanseatic
4th Away Game
N E Manion Cup (2400m)
The Bernard Kantor-owned YOUNG RASCAL appeals as a worthy challenger to race favourite MUGATOO and can provide an early fillip to stablemate Addeybb’s chance in the Ranvet. The Autumn Carnival reaches its crescendo with five Group races on the card and Young Rascal, who hasn’t raced since struggling in the Hong Kong Vase last December, is prepping for his main target the Sydney Cup on April 11th. Trainer William Haggas hopes his gelding could develop into a live candidate for the Melbourne Cup if successful and is delighted with the work put in by the son of Intello since his arrival.
The Kris Lees-trained Mugatoo has won all three of his starts Down Under and greatly impressed when earning black type in the Canberra Cup. He’s shown blinding speed at the mile pole but now has to try to do the same over 2400m. It’s a big ask but up to now he’s delivered with flying colours.
SUPERNOVA is another British import and the gelding caught the eye when chasing home the talented Shared Ambition while RED CARDINAL sent out some encouraging signals to place third in the Parramatta Cup behind stablemate Mustajeer.
Prediction
1st YOUNG RASCAL
2nd Mugatoo
3rd Supernova
4th Red Carnival
2020 Agency George Ryder Stakes Group 1 (1500m)
Trainer: Jamie RichardsJockey: Opie Bosson
The decision to head for this in favour of the Ranvet Stakes can pay dividends for connections of TE AKAU SHARK whose Chipping Norton (Group 1) success at Randwick was very pleasing on the eye. The form might have taken a couple of knocks but his closing sectionals were impressive to say the least. His Kiwi trainer Jamie Richards is grounded across the Tasman owing to the tightening of quarantine restrictions to combat the coronavirus outbreak.
But Richards can rest easy that Te Akau Shark can complete a fine Group 1 hat-trick after a couple of pleasing workouts earlier in the week. Opie Bosson knows the son of Rip Van Winkle and his mad dash to avoid isolation protocols tells you all you need to know about the chances of the evens favourite. Although back in distance it shouldn’t be an issue as he’s won five races between 1100m and 1400m, while if there’s a wet track it further bolsters his winning chance.
Rosehill Guineas (2000m)
Race 6: CHENIER (10)
Trainer: Anthony Freedman
Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy
Godolphin’s lightly-raced CHENIER has less experience than race favourite Shadow Hero but granted a trouble-free run he should prove a big player for McEvoy. His third behind Alligator Blood in the CS Hayes Stakes and unlucky-in-running fourth in the Australian Guineas are serious formlines and even though his gate position could have been better he can swoop to conquer. Shadow Hero might offer the most resistance while Castelvecchio also has a good chance to earn.
Rosehill Birthday Card
Race 9: RESIN (4) (Each Way)
Trainer: James Cummings
Jockey: Rachel King
From a difficult gate, RESIN will require a ‘peach’ from her jockey in the nightcap but if finding a midfield spot the Godolphin-owned filly can deliver. She put in a solid effort to finish third to Fasika in the Group 3 Winona Girl Quality last time and with 54kg on her back can shake up the best of these at fancy double-figure odds. Stablemate Soothing looks her main threat.
Dundalk Best Bets
Race 6: CAUTIOUS APPROACH (3)
Trainer: Richard O’Brien
Jockey: D O’Connor
A winner of three of his last six outings, CAUTIOUS APPROACH will benefit from the claim of his apprentice pilot in this mile and a half handicap. His course and distance win was followed by a cracking run in defeat off his new mark and he goes to post with all guns blazing.
Race 7: POET’S PRIDE (6)
Trainer: David Marnane
Jockey: O J Orr
There’s not much to choose between Major Power and POET’S PRIDE at the weights but after scoring over seven furlongs here last time the latter shouldn’t mind returning to sprinting. He travelled well, showed tenacity to take a gap between horses and finished off his race strongly while here he should get a strong pace to aim at, which is important to his chance.
Race 8: KERRY BLUE (4) (Each Way)
Trainer: Luke Comer
Jockey: G Ryan
If you want some fun from the nightcap then KERRY BLUE can provide it and deliver an earning run. The prominent racing son of Camacho hasn’t been seen since fading out of the money over seven furlongs in December and connections have rightly brought him back to six. He missed a race here the other day after banging a joint in the horsebox but is ready to make up for lost time. He’s never started less than 20-1, so is sure to offer value.
Gulfstream Park Best Bets
Race 7: BOURBON IN MAY (9)
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Although he didn’t cut much ice in two starts here more than a year ago BOURBON IN MAY flourished in New York, going close in successive Belmont races before putting in 2 from 2 at Aqueduct. He’s also narrowly missed out in his two starts over the mile here and looks poised to go one better.
Race 9: FOOLISH HUMOR (7)
Trainer: Wesley Ward
Jockey: Luis Saez
FOOLISH HUMOR hasn’t raced since gaining a second success from just three starts at Monmouth Park last August. Her only blemish was when beating only one home in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot in June but she’s trained well since shipping south and can deliver for powerful connections.
Race 11: AYE AYE SIR (2)
Trainer: Wesley Ward
Jockey: Javier Castellano
One week ahead of the prestigious Florida Derby the 3yo turf sprinters go under the spotlight. This can go to the Midshipman colt AYE AYE SIR who is well drawn to attack in the silks of Ken Ramsey. On his FLA debut he took down the useful Cajun Casanova over this course and distance, and a repeat is on the cards.
