Australian Spring Racing incl Melbourne Cup 2012

[martinr]

The Spring racing season in Australia is warming up and with the UK flat season in its twilight I thought I'd give followers of racing a squiz of what's happening from an Australian point of view.
There is world class racing year round over here but these next 2 months are when it all really happens and the Memsie Stakes last weekend signals the beginning of the action.
With the digital age we have such access that major carnivalscan be enjoyed by all and from anywhere and as a horse racing nut I'm feeling pretty damned lucky for having that access. This year has been the first I have been able to follow the UK season and I've gotta say I have loved it. We don't really do jumps racing over here and I'm looking forward now to following the NH season.
This weekend has Group racing i Sydney and Melbourne and I've got a couple of good bets I'm eyeing...
The Concorde Stakes sees the return of Rain Affair and this bloke is our next sprinting star. The son of Commands has already shown what he's capable of but all reports are that he has improved over the break and is ready to blitz them on Saturday. He'll be a short price but a good safe bet and I would probably take odds on, which I rarely do.
The Chelmsford Stks, also at Warwick Farm, and in Melbourne the Makyb Diva Stks, Bobby Lewis Hcp, Matriach Stks etc are all full of quality horses and the form from these races holds up well through the Spring. There are 2 three year olds I reccomend watching this
weekend with an eye to races later. Both are from the same yard. They are Strength and Trophies. Both are nominated in both Syd' and Melb' so I don't know which races they will contest. They are NOT betting propositions this weekend but will be at some stage this Spring.
The time zone makes it tough for people who keep to daylight routines but these are races worth doing form study on and betting on. My other bet on Saturday will be Hi Belle. She's a mare who has been trialling well and is reliable.
I will add a horse to this thread that is ready to win during Spring and would like to see thoughts from other members re the UK horses that come over or general comments about the Spring Carnival.
Cheers. Martin. [/i]

[thatsa donkey]

martinr.

Hi.
Welcome.

BFA knows I am going to ask if springs are allowed in the paralympics hurdles???

[munchen]

Hope to hear more from you regarding the spring races there.I am looking forward to see the exciting pierro and all the big races at the carnival especially the caulfield cup which is one of my favourite race.

[gecko6]

hi martinr

welcome aboard

I have amended your opening thread to include the Melbourne Cup as we usually have a thread devoted to that each year but it is obviously part of the whole spring racing calendar down under


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[The Executioner]

Entries are now in for the Big One


http://www.racingpost.com/news/live.sd?event_id=206304

[martinr]

Well for starters...Rain Affair I'm thinking the hard track was his downfall. There were a few punters saying he was limited to tracks with give in the ground and so it could be. He was smashed in the betting to start $1.40 but stuggled to hold on for 4th.
The Makybe Diva Stks was illuminating. A few ex UK horses went around here in Manighar, December Draw. The Caulfield Cup winner of last year, Southern Speed, won the race, but narrowly, and Manighar was super impressive with his second. December Draw was good and those two are the ones to follow from the race.
My girl Hi Belle was held up in her race but grabbed second and she'll win a race over the Spring.
The Melbourne Cup noms came out last week. Red Cadeaux, Dunaden are there. I was pleased to see Quest For Peace in the entries. He's my early ante post bet. I'll have others no doubt.
Next week is the Golden Rose. 7f $1,000,000 for 3yo at Rosehill. The boom filly Nechita takes on Black Caviar's brother All Too Hard. All Too Hard hasn't quite lived up to his promise as an early 2yo (to put it mildly), but I think the 7f and the big field, with the pace on, is what he wants. He's out to a great price now and I'll be backing him now that my early pick Samaready has been spelled.

[munchen]

I don't think rain affair is as good as he been touted on the tote yesterday.The makybe diva stakes should be a valueable race for the coming big races with southern speed again proving how tough she is in this kind of races but manighar should have won the race if nolen did not put him in trouble in the straight.I think moudre was the big eye catcher on the race as i always held him in high regard and to come back from a long Lay off because off injury and still run a credible race behind southern speed and manighar is exceptional.December draw should be fitter and mawingo was a tad dissapointing but should improve too.
Were gonna rock might have a big spring as well from what i saw yesterday.

[redman30]

It's been 4 years since I've been out for the cup but thankfully I' heading back over this year. Had a nice ante post wager on Mount Athos who is very progressive and will hopefully go well for Luca. I'm more looking forward to derby day though than cup day as I reckon derby day is one of the best days racing anywhere. Anyone got any news on leading fancies, any info would be much appreciated.
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[gecko6]

hi redman... enjoy the trip mate.. should be superb (and the weather will be gorgeous too mate)

I've posted a blog about these races

HERE


All Too Hard has been pulled out of that race by the way martinr
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[martinr]

The Golden Rose...
This is the old Peter Pan Stks, (1500m),a traditional lead up race for the Spring Champion Stks (2000m), and then the Victorian Derby (2500) for 3yo's. It was changed to a 1400m race and given a huge boost in prizemoney about 8 or 10 years ago and is now a race targeted as both a main goal and a lead up to the longer races. It has been used as a lead up to the Caulfield Guineas with mixed success
Last year's winner Manawanui went on to have an Epic battle with Helmut in the Guineas in one of the best 2 horse battles I have seen. He went down narrowly.
10 runners this year and to me it looks an interesting race with the withdrawals of the ante-post favourites Samaready, All Too Hard and Pierro.
To be cont'.....

[martinr]

The Golden Rose continued...
2 fillies bookend the market this year and 8 colts complete the field. The boom filly Nechita is a short quote to go on her winning ways although fillies haven't had much success in this race, and this is her toughest test to date. She seems a tractable type and capable of racing forward or back depending how the race pans out. Christian Reith will be trying for a one out, one or two back position to give her every chance. Doubtfilly quickly rose through the ranks in her 2yo season, culminating in her 4th in the Golden Slipper at long odds, and she isn't yhe worst 80-1 chance I've seen in a race. She comes into this after 2 lead up runs which were acceptable and she deserves her place. It's as difficult as ever to line up the form for this race.
I have been watching Ninth Legion since he first raced as a late 2yo in the Autumn. He is probably headed to the Spring Champion Stks as he shapes as though more ground would suit, but with this race generally run at a solid pace look for him to be coming on late. Anthony Cummings also has Your Song to run. He beat all bar Pierro last time out and will be spot on for this. Pace in the race will come from the Gai Waterhouse trained Kabayan. As usual Gai is super confident about her runner being up to this, will definitely lead, and has a master judge of pace onboard in Nash Rawiller. You can never discount her runners. Amborino should be on speed to keep Kabayan honest, so hopefully with those 2 keeping a steady pace on it'll be a matter of the best horse winning. Kerrin McEvoy has chosen Allbrecht over the other Darley runner Epaulette, so that is probably a good guide regarding those 2 runners. Allbrecht put paid to doubts over his ability with a soft win lto and he could prove himself as good as the stable says he is here. There is a sense of timing about him.
Rosehill is a spacious track with a straight that gives all runners their chance. When wet it is always preferable to be drawn from 1-5 but with the forecast fine and the relatively small field the barrier drawn shouldn't hinder a horses chance here.
Also on the day More Joyous makes her first appearance for the Spring. In Gai Waterhouse's words- "She'll win this race. She's too good for those". You'd be brave, or something less complimentary, not to heed her words there.
Shoot Out is entered to resume this weekend as well, although his trainer was undecided on his running as of yesterday. He could be saved for next week. I'm looking forward to the return of this High Chapparal gelding who promised so much as an early 4yo, went off the boil a bit, or in some people's opinion was possibly asked to do too much, and as a 6yo now might be in for a good campaign.
Each week from now has great racing as the Spring builds. Ghekko6 has a great blog with more indepth knowledge than I could provide about the Carnival, so have a read of that and enjoy the racing.
Cheers. MartinR.

[martinr]

[double post]