2017 Hobartville Stakes betting, form and free tips, February 18
ROSEHILL hosts a great day of racing this Saturday, headlined by the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes, Group 2 Silver Slipper and the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes.
The $400,000 Hobartville Stakes features a field of nine runners, including Victorian Derby-winner Prized Icon, Carbine Club-winner Comin’ Through and a host of other stakes-performed runners.
The Silver Slipper will be a hotly-contested race for the juveniles. Running is the unbeaten Veranillo, Golden Slipper hopeful Khan and hot-favourite She Will Reign.
Punters will be intrigued by every race this Saturday – the Spark Of Life Handicap kicks things off at 12.45pm.
Race 1 – Spark Of Life Handicap (1100m)
Spending To Win has won only one race from six starts, but that was a quality win at Canterbury and it hasn’t been far away from some nice types of late. The Snowden-trained colt worked hard in front last start and with a better run here, it could win at odds of $3.20.
Tactical Advantage has come of age this preparation with three consecutive wins. The three-year-old scored a late gasp win over Spending To Win last start and another repeat performance should see it winning again. It has drawn the outside, but expect it to settle back and launch late.
Scarlet Rain is easing in the betting, but it has done nothing wrong to date in winning four of its five starts. The filly has to carry 62kg which will hurt its chances, but it has the best form leading into this race and it has a bright future.
Race 1 tip: Tactical Advantage to win ($2.80) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 2 – Happy 80th Birthday Stan King Handicap (1350m)
Handfast is the drifting $2.50 favourite after opening at $2.20. The John O’Shea-trained gelding is twice a winner at this distance and it should be forgiven for running last in the Expressway Stakes last start. It’s better than that and it should be tough to beat.
Roaring To Win is a five-year-old which has run against some nice types and has needed both runs back. The Snowden-trained gelding goes best on rain-affected ground, but consider here at $4.20 after some market support.
Elle Lou has been disappointing in two runs back from a spell, but it usually needs time to find its best and this isn’t the strongest field. The Waller-trained mare has won at Rosehill in the past and it could sneak into the money at odds of $5.50.
Race 2 tip: Handfast to win ($2.50) at Bet365.com
Race 3 – James Ruse Handicap (1500m)
Antonio Guiseppe produced a great campaign last time in and this looks a suitable fresh up target. The Waller-trained former New Zealand runner finished second in the Metropolitan Handicap and is unbeaten in three starts at this distance. This distance suits and it has been backed at $3.50.
Strawberry Boy boxed on nicely last time out in the Gardenia Stakes and it likes to put itself in the race. The Waller-trained eight-year-old has won at this distance and it gets a 3kg claimer in the saddle to bring its weight down to 58kg. Chance at $3.20.
Gold Symphony has been drifting steadily in the market, but it gets a significant weight advantage of many of these. The four-year-old carries only 53kg with Tommy Berry in the saddle and it jumps from the inside barrier. Chance if it gets everything going its way.
Race 3 tip: Strawberry Boy to win (+250) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 4 – Tab Highway Handicap (1100m)
Kooringal Star has won its last two starts since resuming from a spell and it has been winning by margins. The Mark Gee-trained runner has stayed steady in the market at $4.80 after getting out to $5 and it looks a top chance from a nice barrier.
Zakynthos Regrets is another back-to-back winner which gets a valuable 3kg claimer in the saddle, taking its weight down to 54.5kg. The three-year-old won by three lengths last start and although this looks a rise in grade, it’s not without a chance at $5.
Fickle Folly has mixed form this campaign, but it’s talented at best and it has come for support. The Sue Grills-trained filly gets Tommy Berry in the saddle over a sprinting distance and the $6.50 on offer looks like good each way value.
Race 4 tip: Zakynthos Regrets to win ($5) at Palmerbet.com.au
Race 5 – Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m)
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1129659_05]
Khan has been confidently backed for the Golden Slipper and it’s a good winning chance in this. The Snowden-trained colt won impressively on debut at Randwick which suggests it has a bright future and it prepared for this with a trial win. $4.60 is good value after opening at $4.
She Will Reign is the boom horse of the field after remaining unbeaten from two starts. The Gary Portelli-trained filly won by 8.3 lengths on debut before winning the Inglis Nursery by four lengths. That wasn’t the greatest field in history, but it has since won a trial by nine lengths and the $1.60 tells punters all they need to know.
Veranillo is also unbeaten from two starts and it shouldn’t be overlooked. The O’Shea-trained colt won by a length on debut before beating Exceeds by 1.5 lengths second up. In any other race it would be the odds-on favourite, but punters are getting $6.50 here. Shows you how strong the form in this race is.
Race 5 tip: She Will Reign to win ($1.60) at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 6 – Schweppes Hobartville Stakes (1400m)
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1129659_06]
Prized Icon opened as the solo $3.70 favourite, but it has since drifted to $4.40. The James Cummings-trained three-year-old is fresh up after winning the Victoria Derby and this distance will likely be short of its best. It usually goes well fresh up, but consider for only place options.
Comin’ Through has won two from four starts which includes the Carbine Club Stakes at Flemington. The Waller-trained colt was running on wide behind Man From Uncle last start which looks like a good guide for this and punters are confident at $4.40.
Man From Uncle has come in from $7 to $6 following a quality victory last start. The American-bred gelding sat three-wide but still managed to beat a quality field and it could be one to watch for the future. Not easy to back that up with a win, but consider here.
Race 6 tip: Comin’ Through to win (+340) at WilliamHill.com.au
Race 7 – Ranvet Millie Fox Stakes (1300m)
Euro Angel has been backed form $7 to $6 and it has the class to beat a field of this quality. The Hawkes-trained mare won the Ladies Day Vase at Caulfield last campaign and it has won two from three in a fresh up state. The mare didn’t fire in the Myer Classic, but this is easier so respect.
Denmagic is another runner which has been specked at each way odds. The David Pfieffer-trained mare has yet to win in five starts on this track, but it looked strong when third in the Myer Classic at Flemington last campaign and it resumed nicely last start. Light weight chance at $4.80.
Private Secretary built towards a strong win last start and there’s no reason why it can’t win again. The Gregory Hickman-trained mare stays at a luxury weight of 54kg for this and its opening odds of $9 has dropped to $7. Chance based on that.
Race 7 tip: Denmagic to win ($4.80) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 8 – Parramatta Cup (1900m)
Religify must be considered a strong chance after its form this campaign. The Waller-trained sprinter has won three of its last four starts and the only concern is that it will have to cross from the wide draw. After opening at $4.20 it has dropped into $3.20 and looks a strong hope.
Red Excitement is a winner of its past two and only the big weight will stop it from winning another. The Gerald Ryan-trained gelding has led in most of its races, but it will have to do more work than Religify will do find the lead. It’s drawn out in barrier 10 and that’s a major concern.
Allergic is on the drift in the market, but it shouldn’t be overlooked. The O’Shea-trained runner is second up after finishing fifth last start and despite drifting from $6.50 to $9, it could feature in the placings.
Race 8 tip: Religify to win (+220) at Palmerbet.com.au
Race 9 – St Johns R93 Handicap (1100m)
Ziggy Willie has had a consistent campaign which has featured consecutive wins and three placings. The Pfieffer-trained gelding won’t have to expend much energy from barrier two and it gets in well on the weights. It has won on this track and it looks a strong hope.
Hieroglyphics has been very well supported at $2.90 following a fresh up win at Canterbury. The Anthony Cummings-trained mare is twice a winner at this distance and the weight of 53kg helps immensely here. Can’t be overlooked considering the betting support.
Aegean Sea has all the ability, but it needs to put everything together. It looks a solid each way chance at $5.50 after its fresh up fifth.
Race 9 tip: Hieroglyphics to win ($2.90) at Sportsbet.com.au