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Neil Morrice: International Racing – Saturday 16 May 2020

Neil Morrice Best Bets & Tips

Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park – including video analysis – as well as Auteuil

Other international racing tips for Saturday: 
Strasbourg
Ascot
Flemington
Morphettville
Neil Morrice Tips


Santa Anita Best Bets 

Race 3 (Maiden Special Weight): No3 – AFFIANCED
Trainer: Richard Mandella – Jockey: Flavien Prat

Several of the big stables are represented but AFFIANCED could hold the cards, having been heavily bet when third on her introduction in March, and sure to be wiser for that experience from a barn whose horses improve with racing. The daughter of More Than Ready has the perfect post from which to get a good early position with one of her market rivals Navetta in close company alongside. The latter finished in front of her on debut but I’m looking to Affianced to progress more. At longer odds Moonhall Milly should also be considered, having earned here in early February, but her rider that day seems to prefer Affianced.

Prediction: 3-4-9


Race 6 (Stakes): No8 – BIG SWEEP
Trainer: Mark Glatt – Jockey: Flavien Prat

BIG SWEEP made the perfect start to her career when landing some good bets under Prat two months back. To go off 6-5 she had clearly shown plenty in her work and that manifested itself in the manner of her triumph. She can have the call over Bettor Trip Nick, who after winning four from five at Golden Gates at the end of last year will be all the better and sharper for his earning comeback run in first-time blinkers here in January. Rookie Mistake steps up after landing an AOC here when last seen in early March and has to be considered along with Phantom Boss.


Prediction: 8-7-2

Race 7 (Allowance Optional Claiming): No5 – DESERT OASIS
Trainer: Neil Drysdale – Jockey: Flavien Prat

Aided by first-time blinkers, DESERT OASIS began a winning roll at Del Mar last summer and progressed from breaking her maiden to taking out an AOC over this track and trip when returning from a more than six months break in February. She now steps out after a further absence of almost 100 days, but her workouts have been good and according to her veteran handler is in a good place for the hat-trick bid. In order to achieve that she needs to overcome Dogtag, who went close on her debut for Richard Mandella and is sure to be fitter for that first outing at Santa Anita two months back. Ron McAnnally has the joker in the pack by way of She’s Our Charm, who rates highly after just four career starts which include wins at Del Mar and here when last spotted in March.

Prediction: 5-7-2

Race 9 (Maiden Special Weight): No1 – HEYWOODS BEACH
Trainer: John Sadler – Jockey: Umberto Rispoli

From the rail, HEYWOODS BEACH can prove a tough nut to crack, and if continuing the improvement he’s displayed from race to race should be good enough to open his account. The son of Speightstown may find company from Leprino who showed ability on his second start even though unconsidered in the market, but a bigger threat possibly looms from out wide in the shape of Frasard. He’s taken home a cheque on three of his four starts here and sets the standard for the others to aim at, but I hope Heywoods Beach proves the more progressive.

Prediction: 1-13-4
Auteuil Best Bets 

Race 3: No5 – NANOSECOND
Trainer: F Nicolle – Jockey: A Zuliani

NANOSECOND looks a filly with a bright future, and should relish the task in hand on her second run at this course. On chase debut she ran out a clear cut winner as an 11-8 favourite, and as that came after a four months break it could have made her fitter for an assignment that requires her to get past two other prolific scorers in stablemates Galant Du Cheney and Arbarok. The former has scored twice here, but it was over hurdles that he got home in a desperate finish at the end of March. Arbarok won two of his three hurdles outings at Clairefontaine, followed up in a chase at Compiegne and might have been tilting at windmills when unable to maintain his golden run in a Listed Chase at the same course last autumn.

Prediction: 5-7-2

Race 5: No1 – NIMES
Trainer: Guillaume Macaire – Jockey: James Reveley

Having made no mistake on his introduction at Campeigne, NIMES ranks the one to beat in this juvenile hurdle in which a penalty shouldn’t blunt his progression. SHAWINIGAN ran well to place here on his own debut and could be the one to cash in if anything goes wrong with the favourite. Also set to improve from an eye taking first run is Yes Indeed, a stablemate of the main pick. However, jockey bookings indicate Macaire is more likely to win this with Nimes. Another potential improver is I’m Walkin’, who troubled the judge first time and represents bigger price value.

Prediction: 1-6-1

Race 6: No2 – FIGUERO
Trainer: F Nicolle – Jockey: A Zuliani

It should take something special to prevent FIGUERO continuing his upwardly mobile progression at a course where he’s become almost invincible since being equipped with blinkers. The five-year-old is looking to complete a four-timer and can thwart the reliable Ebonite, who when returning with a Grade 3 win indicated she had progressed. Feu Follet showed improvement for a move to the Macaire yard when taking out a chase at Compiegne in March, and could be a threat to all if showing its made him fitter.

Prediction: 2-5-6

Gulfstream Park Best Bets 

Race 3 (Starter Allowance): No4 – SOLITARY GEM
Trainer: Peter Walder – Jockey: Miguel Vasquez

On first start at Gulfstream and for a new barn SOLITARY GEM can lead them home. She has her tail up after a couple of taking victories at Aqueduct in the winter and has thrived in the Florida sunshine. Sammie Sunshine will be fitter for her run back from a break behind the useful Up In Smoke. She was very easy to back and the run will have brought her on from a fitness perspective. Moonstone also needed her latest outing earlier in the month and will be sharper, and is having just a third run for her hot trainer.


Prediction: 4-1-2


Race 5 (Allowance Optional Claiming): No15 – PLEASANT ORB
Trainer: Barclay Tagg – Jockey: Joe Bravo

Should she scratch from her intended Stakes race on Friday, PLEASANT ORB becomes the focus of attention in this, and one of the best bets on the card. On second start the daughter of Kentucky Derby winner Orb and champion mare Pleasant Home opened her account in taking manner over the course and distance and is an upwardly mobile filly worth following. The best alternative is Urban Fairytale who defends a one race unbeaten record at the track. She’s going to be more streetwise for that confidence-boosting win while if Pleasant Orb scratches Joe Bravo will partner Jades Gelly who won well in first-time blinkers here back in the New Year and is in the capable hands of Wesley Ward.

Prediction: 15-1-4


Race 7 (Allowance Optional Claiming): No6 – KROY
Trainer: Danny Gargan – Jockey: Luis Saez

KROY came back from a nine-month absence to run a stormer, chasing home Halladay in what looked a hotly contested AOC over this track and trip early last month. He’s not been the most straightforward of horses to train, but is reported to have done well since the race and can make up for lost time by confirming his superiority over Class And Cash. The latter finished fourth that day but at the time of writing it’s unclear whether Irad Ortiz will partner the eight-year-old or the multiple scorer Quenane, who has looked the part putting together that sequence and now returns from three months off.


Prediction: 6-5-1

Race 8 (Allowance Optional Claiming): No6 – CASINO GRANDE
Trainer: Christophe Clement – Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr

This is a sizzler to bring the card to the boil and on his debut at the track CASINO GRANDE can remain unbeaten, endorsing the promise of his debut success at Tampa. By Cairo Prince out of a Tapit mare, he justified strong support that day and has trained well in his prep for this. Also unbeaten and definitely a name to conjure with is Cajun Brother, who posted a 33-1 shocker on debut before showing it was no fluke by following up an AOC here a month back. Untitled represents top connections after breaking his maiden on a class drop and is going to give the main pick plenty to think about, while Edge Of Fire showed with his good run against Money Moves that he’s more than capable of getting involved.


Prediction: 6-5-4

Race 9 (Poweder Break Fillies Stakes): No10 – GOT STORMY
Trainer: Mark Casse – Jockey: Luis Saez

GOT STORMY returns to the track where her career started and granted the rub of the green it should prove a successful one. Looking for a third win here, having taken out an AOC on her latest visit just over a year ago, she’s bidding to put behind her a couple of costly defeats this year. She ran a stinker when only fourth as a 2-7 favourite at Tampa in February before getting rolled as an even money shot here the following month. But all this is meaningless if she can recapture the form of her near-miss at the Breeders’ Cup last November and her subsequent stylish win at Del Mar. In a race stacked with talent, Valiance takes the eye as a threat coming off three straight wins for Todd Pletcher last year. She completed that hat-trick by stylishly taking out the Open Mind at Monmouth, but as that was more than ten months ago she needs to show she’s ready. Jakarta was a multiple scorer in Pennsylvania and signalled when chasing home Kitten’s Covergirl on first run for Mike Maker that she can be a force on the FLA circuit. However, a more fascinating contender is Noor Sahara on first run for Chad Brown. The Lope De Vega filly was a Listed winner at Longchamp when with Fabrice Chappet in France and has contested Group races.

Prediction: 10-1-7

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