Australia, to the outside world, is known for the 2 mile Melbourne Cup and it’s sequence mile and a half or longer “cups” races spread out around the country. However, looking under the surface one sees where the real focus lies in Australia – the sprints!
Australia is home to the $3.2 million Golden Slipper, a 6 furlong race limited to two year olds bred on Southern Hemisphere time. Day in and day out, the Aussies crank out sprint after sprint after sprint, from 5.5 furlongs to 7 furlongs, and from lowly maiden and handicap races to many, many group level sprints. For example, there are two Group 1 sprints tonight: The BTC Cup from Doomben and the Goodwood from Morphettville.
In that spirit, I “speed handicapped” in 60 seconds or less, every decent sprint race I could. I used my first choice if it was 7/2 or better. Otherwise I chose my second-ranked horse.
Here goes nothin’!
Race 1C Flemington – #8 PICKING TIME – best speed figure, good closing kick, has racing experience, and drawing wide in Flemington races allows a jockey to “move into” a race if the horse does not get a clean break. 7/2 Morning Line (ML)
Race 3C Flemington – #4 NICAMORE – Razor sharp, ran well down the straight last time. Trainer does well with horses down the straight too. Post 10 a good fit for this runner. 4/1 ML.
Race 4A Doomben – #8 ELOPING – Incredibly sharp form. 2/1 ML
Race 5C Flemington – #2 GRACIOUS PROSPECT – Is in good form and owns very good tactical speed. 7F career record is decent: 10-2-3-1. 10/1 ML
Race 6C Flemington – #15 RICH JACK – Wide draw and early speed in a field full of mid-pack runners. TOP trainer. 4/1 ML
Race 7A Doomben – #7 SNITZERLAND – Has won a Group 1 and $1.8 Million in purses and has beaten the heavy favorite in the past (#1 Buffering). 7/1 ML
Race 7B Morphettville – #6 DRIEFONTEIN – Easily the best two races of her career have come at this track and she has defeated top males. Catch her to cash. 9/2 ML