Windsor Park Plate at Hastings free betting tips, odds and form
THE Group 1 Windsor Park Plate continues the Hawke’s Bay spring carnival this Saturday and we have free tips, odds and form for all 10 races on the card.
The $200,000 premier race over 1600m features top New Zealand thoroughbreds Gingernuts, Kawi, Sofia Rosa and Volkstok’n’barrell – with the winner sure to be the new favourite for the Spring Classic on the final day of the carnival.
Big betting fields are in store for punters throughout the day which starts at 9.50am for Australian punters, so get betting early this Saturday for some spending money on the Golden Rose later in the day at Rosehill.
Race 1 – R65 Open Handicap (2200m)
Get Schroeder scored its first win last start at Woodville and it could continue on with it now. The Fraser Auret-trained four-year-old looked horrible when running over the shorter distances, but it looks a natural stayer and it’s bred to be. Rising to 2200m looks ideal.
Lovetokeephim has produced two good efforts since winning by seven lengths at Woodville in August. It’s a past winner over this distance and it certainly has fitness under its belt this preparation. The 2kg claim from Holly Andrew helps and it should go close.
Race 1 tip: Get Schroeder to win at Bet365.com
Race 2 – R75 Handicap (2100m)
Highlad didn’t quite live up to expectations at Hastings last start, but its win prior was quality. The Baker/Forsman-trained runner was good enough to race in Australia and it showed that ability with a 2.5-length win two starts back. This race looks right up its alley and punters should come for the son of High Chaparral.
Clarify produced a strong finish to run fourth in the same race as Highlad last start and that should be the best form guide for this. The Peter McKay-trained five-year-old has yet to perform well at Hastings, but it’s dropping in grade having taken on open handicap level earlier this winter. Winning chance.
Race 2 tip: Highlad to win at CrownBet.com.au
Race 3 – R75 3YO (1100m)
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Cousteau showed good ability as a two-year-old when winning by 2.3 lengths at Woodville and then running second behind Prom Queen at Riccarton. It has been freshened up with two trial runs where it won one of them at Avondale. This isn’t an easy first-up target, but it should prove tough to beat.
Haussmann scored an overdue win at Ellerslie last start and the big son Pour Moi has the ability to win fresh up. The Tony Pike-trained three-year-old finished second behind Star Treasure last December before running second again behind Ardrossan at Te Rapa. It has good form lines and punters should get good each way odds.
Race 3 tip: Haussmann to win at CrownBet.com.au
Race 4 – Open Handicap (1200m)
Amarula saves its best racing for this track where it has won twice from five starts. The McKay-trained five-year-old won on the final day of the carnival last year and its recent form suggests a winning turn is on the cards. Carrying 60kg will make it tough, but it makes its own luck in front.
Wills Road is another runner which goes well on this track with six starts for two wins and two placings. The seven-year-old won two of its last three races, including a 1.3-length win on this track in April. It hasn’t been seen since then, but it runs well fresh and typically pays good money.
Race 4 tip: Wills Road to win at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 5 – R65 Handicap (1400m)
Dig It Up was a winner last year for Stephen McKee and it has been prepared for this with two winter runs. The Dalghar four-year-old wasn’t far behind Rocstock last start at Ruakaka and getting the inside draw with Leith Innes in the saddle is a bonus.
Barnaby could be one at odds. The five-year-old is twice-placed at this distance and is coming off some battling efforts this preparation, but the ability is there and jockey Michael Coleman is riding in good form. Consider at an each way price.
Race 5 tip: Dig It Up to win at Topbetta.com.au
Race 6 – Set Weights & Penalties (1300m)
Mongolian Beauty just can’t seem to win a race, but it gets in well on the weights for this. The Baker/Forsman-trained filly by Fastnet Rock has finished second at all four starts to date, but it could have strengthened up from those outings and carrying only 54kg here helps.
King Cougar might have ended its winning streak last start, but the Mike Breslin-trained gelding didn’t lose any admirers. It settled four-wide in the open and still challenged gamely in the straight. Its two wins prior came by a combined total of over eight lengths and it looks a nice late winter type.
Race 6 tip: King Cougar to win at Bet365.com
Race 7 – Gold Trail Stakes (1200m)
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Belle du Nord opened in the betting at $6.50 and has already been backed into $6. Those odds are much higher than expected for a talented filly which finished second in the Manawatu Sires‘ last season and resumed with a steady second placing last start. It has good form behind Melody Belle and that’s great form for this.
Astor looks a horse on the rise after winning its second consecutive start at Taupo. The Danica Guy-trained runner has won its last two starts in fine style and it pulled up lame on debut after running third, so it could be unbeaten with some luck. Leith Innes takes the ride and it has attracted attention in the betting at $4.
Race 7 tip: Belle du Nord to win ($6) at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 8 – Open Handicap (2000m)
Authentic Paddy showed its worth when running second behind Dolcetto last time out. The eight-year-old turned back the clock and it has won at Hastings on multiple occasions. It has experience running in stronger fields than this and it’s only the weight which is the worry.
Saint Emilion is classy at best having won 11 of its 30 starts and it will improve greatly with the run under its belt last start. It hadn’t raced since February when lining up on this track on September 2 and it wasn’t far away from the winners. It has form behind some handy weight-for-age types and it should have it admirers here.
Race 8 tip: Saint Emilion to win at Topbetta.com.au
Race 9 – Group 1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m)
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Gingernuts flew home to finish fifth in the Tarzino Trophy and that was a good indication of what’s to come. The Autridge/Richards-trained winner of the Rosehill Guineas would have needed the run back and increasing in distance is always going to help it. The four-year-old has more class than most in this field and despite some critics saying it won’t come back well this preparation, we’ll give it the benefit of the doubt.
Volpe Veloce didn’t handle the track last start and it’s tough to rule out such a high-quality mare. The daughter of Foxwedge has won eight from 10 starts and it returns to a dead track where it hasn’t suffered defeat. It has won all three starts at the mile and it has drawn in barrier five and will get every chance to win. The $4.80 is a touch short, but it should give a good sight.
Race 9 tip: Gingernuts to win ($4.50) at CrownBet.com.au
Race 10 – R85 Handicap (1400m)
Capella resumes here having not raced since January. The Guy-trained five-year-old was good enough to run in Australia where it didn’t show its best, but class is permanent and it has found a race that it looks capable of winning. Punters won’t quite be on board yet, which could result in some handy each way odds.
The Baker/Forsman team has seemingly unearthed another top liner with Deals in Heels. The four-year-old mare flew home last start to win at Hastings and it has only suffered one defeat from four starts. That came on a heavy track so the improved conditions will help and the well-bred type should continue winning at this level.
Race 10 tip: Deals in Heels to win at Ladbrokes.com.au