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