Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes betting, form and free tips, May 6
SOME of Australia’s best sprinters are on show at Morphettville this Saturday where the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes is the headline act on the premier card.
The $1 million race includes the likes of English, Sheidel and I Am A Star in what will be a hotly-contested affair – which is only one of the nine quality races on the card.
Also featured is the Group 1 Schweppes Oaks where the Darren Weir-trained Kenedna will take on the Chris Waller-trained Egg Tart in what is expected to be a match race between the two.
It’s a great day of racing in the south and punters at Ladbrokes.com.au will get enhanced odds for every runner in the Oaks.
Race 1 – Mac Drink Driving Handicap (1600m)
Royal Rumble is a quality gelding which has won its last two starts. The four-year-old is a three-time winner on this track and it scored a gutsy win last start on this track. It drops slightly down in weight which is ideal and we’re expecting a good run at odds of $3.40.
Model Dragon is the current favourite after showing good form at its last two starts. The Phillip Stokes-trained mare won by over two lengths two starts back and the rise in distance looks ideal for this. The four-year-old by Pendragon won its only start over this distance and punters have been confident throughout the week.
Great Esteem finished third behind Burning Front on this track in March and despite showing nothing last start, a return to form looks likely here. The Stuart Webb-trained gelding is a four-time winner at this distance and it handles good ground the best, so conditions should suit.
Race 1 tip: Royal Rumble to win ($3.40) at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 2 – Carbine Club Handicap (2010m)
Kourkham comes into this having won the Oakbank Cup with ease last start and the form out of that race should stack up nicely. The Tony McEvoy-trained gelding has experience on this track with a win from two starts and it gets champion jockey Joao Moreira in the saddle. It will attract plenty of attention and the $4.80 is a nice price.
Second Bullet is a talented six-year-old for Danny O’Brien which brings in tough Victorian form. The son of Encosta de Lago finished second in the Easter Cup behind Observational last start at Caulfield and that form against a smaller field will suit nicely. It has been heavily-backed into $2.80 and should prove tough to beat.
Lamborghini is a consistent Kiwi runner which ran nicely fresh up in Australia when running second behind Royal Rumble on this track. The Lowry/Cullen-trained six-year-old scored an easy 2.3-length win prior to coming over and it is well-suited at 54kg. $5 is a touch short, but it has ability.
Race 2 tip: Second Bullet to win ($2.80) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 3 – House Rules Queen Adelaide Stakes (1050m)
Indian Thunder comes from the powerful Darren Weir stables and it scored a good win on debut, but was put back to second on protest. Punters have a chance to get their money back here and will a little more education, it could run straight and get the job done. Bookmakers are giving good odds for the two-year-old and we’re expecting punters to snap up the $4.40 on offer.
Outboard Motors didn’t fire behind Limestone on debut at Flemington, but it showed good improvement when fourth last start. The Lindsay Park-trained filly ran just over a length behind race-rival Tabbing on this track and there has been sufficient support for it at $5.50.
Tabbing won a good form race last start on this track, but the bookmakers aren’t giving it much respect at $6.50. The Jon O’Connor-trained gelding gets an inside draw which should see it land on the speed and there’s nothing wrong with its form to suggest the current odds available.
Race 3 tip: Indian Thunder to win ($4.40) at Bet365.com
Race 4 – D.C. McKay Stakes (1100m)
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1132935_04]
Faatinah was on the Dubai radar at the beginning of this campaign, but that didn’t amount to much. The four-year-old finished second in the Oakleigh Plate which was a good sign, but its two runs since have failed to impress. It has won twice on this track which is a positive and Joao Moreira is in the saddle. It’s a chance at $4.20 based on that.
Bassett is the in-form runner of the field having won its last three starts. The Mick Price-trained gelding has a torrent of early speed which it will use here and it has the ability to give a kick late near the line. Senior jockey Damien Oliver takes over from Beau Mertens and it looks a winning chance.
Casino Wizard is a professional 14-time winner which will likely need to lift a touch to trouble these, but it could sneak into the minor money. The Lee Creek-trained gelding has won seven times at Morphettville and it has a good record in all conditions.
Race 4 tip: Bassett to win ($4.60) at Luxbet.com
Race 5 – Hughes Limousines Queen Of The South Stakes (1600m)
Amelie’s Star is a five-year-old mare which has been knocking on the door of late. The Weir-trained daughter of Testa Rossa won three straight races last campaign before running fourth on this track behind Royal Rumble and second last start behind Sadaqa at Flemington. Tricky draw, but it looks a chance at $4.
Circular was a brilliant winner of the Matron Stakes and it didn’t have much luck last time out. The John O’Shea-trained mare was caught wide in the Sunline Stakes at Moonee Valley and the inside draw here will help. It’s another plum ride for Moreira and it should prove tough to beat.
Rocket Commander has yet to win in 13 starts on this track, but it has placed seven times. The Franis/Kent-trained five-year-old is coming off a last start placing in the City of Adelaide Cup and it should take plenty of improvement out of that run.
Race 5 tip: Circular to win ($5.50) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 6 – Schweppes Australasian Oaks (2010m)
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1132935_06]
Kenedna has looked well above average at its last two starts and we’re expecting punters to come for it late. The Weir-trained stayer likes to settle at the back of the field before picking its path through the field. It got up late in the Auraria Stakes last start and a repeat effort sees it winning here. $3.20 with bookmakers is a value price.
Egg Tart has produced four consecutive wins and it never looked like being beaten last time out. The Chris Waller-trained filly scored by 2.75 lengths at Flemington, but our only worry is that its last three wins have come on heavy tracks. The nicely-bred daughter of Sebring looks to have good tactical speed, so no matter what the conditions, it looks a top chance.
Harlow Gold shouldn’t be forgotten, despite its average form this campaign. The Lindsay Park-trained filly only battled in the ATC Oaks behind Bonneval and it was beaten by Kenedna in the Vanity at Flemington earlier this year, but its placing in the Crown Oaks was good and it could return to that form here. Not the worst at double figure odds.
Race 6 tip: Kenedna to win ($3.50) at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 7 – Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m)
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1132935_07]
Sheidel won the Oakleigh Plate to kick off its campaign, which was followed by a fourth in the Newmarket Handicap and a sixth in the William Reid. It has had a freshen up for this which is ideal given that three of its 15 career wins have come in a fresh state. Moreira takes the ride and it will likely settle in a forward position from barrier 10. $5 with bookmakers.
English has all the talent in the world, but punters are finding it hard to trust the mare. The Waterhouse/Bott-trained four-year-old won the Challenge Stakes to kick off this campaign and its placing in the T.J. Smith Stakes was outstanding, but it showed nothing in the All Aged Stakes last start. Four consecutive runs on heavy tracks wouldn’t have helped, but this should suit better now.
I Am A Star battled in the heavy going in the Doncaster Mile, but its form prior included a win in the Sunline Stakes. The Shane Nichols-trained three-year-old has plenty of gate speed and drawing barrier two will see it land right on the speed. It should be able to dictate the play with Dean Yendall in the saddle and although it’s giving up experience, it rarely runs a bad race and the $8.50 is a good each way price.
Race 7 tip: I Am A Star to place ($2.90) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 8 – Euclase Stakes (1200m)
Defcon was a good winner of the McNeil Stakes at Caulfield in August and it wasn’t far behind them in the Arrowfield last start. The three-year-old colt is twice a winner at this distance and despite drawing wide in barrier 13, it could show up at nice odds of $5.
Ken’s Dream has placed more than it has won, but it didn’t have much luck when second in the VOBIS Gold Sprint last start. The Weir-trained sprinter finished 1.25 lengths behind Rich Charm despite being three wide the trip and it should be given another chance from a much better barrier. It hasn’t faced this type of class before, but it has been well-supported at $4.60 and it looks a good winning hope.
Fuhryk has won four from seven starts and all four have come over this distance. The Lindsay Park-trained filly couldn’t quite keep up with them in the Australian Guineas last start, but the drop back to 1200m is ideal and it has drawn and is weighted beautifully for this. Craig Williams rides and it looks a nice each way hope at $6.50.
Race 8 tip: Ken’s Dream to win ($4.60) at Bet365.com