BTC Cup Weekend Preview and Tips for Saturday 09thMay09

Best Bests

Hawkesbury Race 2 No.1 Soiled

Flemington Race 4 No.1 Cats Whisker

Morphettville Race 6 No.3 Chasm

Best Each way

Flemington Race 8 No.8 Memorise

Best Value

Doomben Race 4 No.13 Dual Chamber

Hawkesbury (Good)

Race 2

This looks like an ideal race for Soiled. He resumed with a solid 5^th at Randwick last start, he is a winner second up on two occasions, and he likes the Hawkesbury circuit. Last November, Soiled ran 4^th in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Cup, that race was lengths stronger than the field he meets here. Cullen Castle resumed with a win over this course and distance two weeks ago. He is a progressive type of horse who will make his presence felt once again. Shaketheground has been strong at his past two starts. He looks the likely leader in this race, and if he is allowed to dictate the pace at a comfortable tempo, he will prove hard to run down. Future’s Dream is a very good horse who would have been my first choice, had the race been run at a bigger track with more speed engaged.

Tips No.1 from 3, 6, 2

Race 5 Rowley Mile 1600m

Lyncean Academy ran second to Primo Nova at his latest outing and could was considered unlucky not to have won. On that occasion, he did a bit of work in running, hit the front a long was from home and staved off all challengers expect for the eventual winner who only grabbed him on the line. He is coming back in distance slightly, however, I feel he is versatile enough to do that and win. Arlington has the ability to win this race, I just don’t think he is a genuine as he could be, but should not be left out of the multiples. Bellagio Wynn and Teranaba may need another run under their belts to prove competitive, although they are way too classy to leave out of the selections.

Tips No.4 from 3, 2, 1

Race 6 Hawkesbury Guineas 1400m 3yo’s Listed

The Astronomer came back to his best form when second in the Carbine Club Stakes at Randwick last month. He is a classy individual who has a win over Rock Kingdom to his credit. Yesterday is another who raced back to good form last start when she placed third in the Listed James Carr Stakes. I hope that from barrier 1, she can take up a closer position in running and be right in the finish. Baci Amore is starting to get back to some good form. He is a very good horse and should not be taken lightly. Rollins and Related are two others in this race with legitimate place hopes.

Tips No.2 from 10, 3, 8, 4

Flemington (Good)

Race 2

The class horse in this race is Tempest Tost. She is a winner at this track and distance, but more importantly, she showed how good she is by winning the Gold Coast Magic Millions Trophy last January. She is resuming from a spell, therefore, the 1100m of this race looks perfect for her. Indirect looked good when resuming with a win over 1200m at Flemington last month. The pace in this race will once again allow her to finish off her race strongly. Take All Of Me is in good form and has speed therefore should be suited by this race; the last 100m of the race in this grade could prove a problem. Tonic was beaten a length last start to Keano, which is good enough form to be considered a chance.

Tips No.1 from 2, 7, 5

Race 4

The 1400m of this race should prove perfect for Cats Whisker to pounce back into the winners stall. She is a classy filly who distinguished herself with Group 1 & Group 2 placings last preparation. Cats Whisker is drawn awkwardly in barrier 9; however, all that will do is provide punters with better odds. Glaneuse is a South Australian visitor who is in great form. Last start she was a impressive winner during the Oakbank carnival, and from barrier 5, she should put herself in position to be competitive. Trustus is a classy horse at his best; however, I feel his best form has been on mostly wet tracks. Nevertheless, he is capable of producing big runs and must be included in all multiples. Wookah has been out of form for some time but at the odds and at his best, he could prove terrific value.

Tips No.1 from 4, 2, 3

Race 8

Is it just a coincidence when the Progeny of Zabeel are the horses that look the strongest winning hopes in races over 2000m and further? I think not. The only thing I will say is thank god for the likes of Zabeel, otherwise, all our races in this country would be restricted to distances less than 1600m. Now that I have had my rant, I will reveal that the horse I like in this race is Memorise. Last weekend he was cruising behind the leaders looking for a way out that did not eventuate until too late. He will appreciate the 2000m of this race and prove extremely hard to beat. My second selection in this race is another son of Zabeel in the form of Sarem. Last start he did a great job in finishing in 2^nd position after drawing barrier twelve over 1800m at Sandown. From barrier 5, Sarem is poised to get a much softer run in transit and be right in the finish. Saranah Gold, Dance Partner and Blood Diamond have all raced well in their lead ups to this race and could figure in the finish without surprise.

Tips No.8 from 5, 10, 12, 11

Doomben (Good)

Race 4 Golden Stakes 1200m 2yo’s Listed

Eighteen 2yo’s running around the tight Doomben track could prove to be disaster for tipsters and punters alike. However, there is one very interesting runner in this race, which prompted me to have a go.  Dual Chamber has shown promise at each of her three starts last campaign. The run that attracts my attention was her last effort before going for a spell. On that occasion, she managed to run a big race when 4^th in the McDougall Stakes behind Paprika. Paprika started favourite and ran 2nd in the Magic Millions 2yo race won by Phelan Ready. As you can see the form reference around Dual Chamber is outstanding, therefore, she is my number one choice for this race. The Gay Waterhouse trained Madonna looked good in winning on debut at Warwick Farm a month ago. She won as she liked on that occasion but meets much stronger opposition here. Our Dreaming, One Lickety Split and Bob And Dolly have good enough credentials to make some impact in this race.

Tips No.13 from 15, 14, 3, 5

Race 5 Chairman’s Qlty 2020m Group 3

Queen Of Queens has been racing consistently in strong stakes races throughout the autumn carnival. She is nearing a win and looks well suited in this race. At her latest outing she was beaten in a three was go when 3^rd behind Prima Nova and Lyncean Academy. That is strong credentials going into this race. I was impressed with Ballack’s effort when resuming over 1600m at Flemington behind Chasm. He will be suited by the 2000m of this race; however, he is only second up from a spell and will probably improve with the hit out. Imvula hasn’t shown much at his two runs from a spell. He is a much better horse than his runs suggest and I am willing to give him another chance. Last campaign he ran seconds in the Werribee, Bendigo and Canberra Cups. A repeat of those performances would see him be very hard to beat in this. I thought Rubbuka and Sir Slick would be in this race for a long way.

Tips No.10 from 4, 11, 6, 1

Race 6 Doomben Classic 3yo’s 1600m Group 3

The Guy Walter trained Orca is probably in Brisbane for the Derby, however, he is going well enough to be hard to beat in this race. His past three starts could all have yielded wins with a little bit of luck, one of which was a win in the Carbine Club Stks over 1600m at Randwick. Bauble ran a great race when 5^th in the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes at Randwick at her latest outing. She is a stakes winner over 1600m at Moonee Valley; therefore, I another big effort here would not come as a surprise. Frozone may be second up from a spell but the 1600m of this event is exactly what he is looking for. He was a winner over 1800m at Randwick last campaign and may have the ability to develop into a Derby type. Jimmy Fortunes, Za Magic and Hyde Park all have some hope of running into the placings.

Tips No.3 from 14, 13, 10, 7, 8

Race 7 B.T.C Cup 1200m Group 1 W.F.A

I thought there were only two legitimate winning chances in this race, and the betting supports that theory. Apache Cat is the best sprinter in this race; however, I am sure he will win an Academy Award for his portrayal of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. I am not sure which one is going to turn up on Saturday. For that reason, I am going for the safer way out with Swiss Ace as my selection. Swiss Ace ran a close third in this race last year behind Apache Cat. In my opinion Swiss Ace is a better horse now with wins in the Oakleigh Place and Sir Byrne Hart Stks proof of that. I have to make Apache Cat the danger because on his day he is the best sprinter in the country. I thought Solo Flyer was the next best.

Tips No.4 from 1, 7

Morphettville (Good)

Race 4

Tossit Around looks well suited over the 1100m of this race. She is a winner at Sandown over 1200m and resumed from a spell with a solid second to Two Hills over 1000m. From barrier 2, she should get a good run in transit and prove hard to beat. Macchia has drawn a decent barrier for the first time in her career. That should mean she could settle a lot closer in running and be right in the finish once again. Subprime and Murphy’s Cash may be at times inconsistent; however, they both have the ability to shake the life out of this field. Just Sybil never runs a bad race and must be included in the chances.

Tips No.2 from 1, 6, 7, 3

Race 6

Chasm is the sort of horse any owner would love to own. He has been consistent winning eight of his seventeen starts and has won over $400,000 in prize money. Chasm raced at a high level during the Sydney autumn carnival placing in Group races on three occasions before heading back to Melbourne and winning a listed race over 1600m at Flemington. That is high recommendation for this race. Pinnacles is another very good class galloper who was competitive in the past two running’s of the Doncaster Handicap. That would normally be good enough form to win this race; however, he failed at his latest outing over 1400m at Caulfield, which makes me a little tentative in tipping him to beat Chasm. Bird Of Fire is going great and will be suited by this race, while Palacio De Cristal just needs a dry track to show us her best and she may get that finally. Life To The Full is the only other runner in this race I would consider for the minor placings.

Tips No.3 from 6, 2, 10, 4

Race 8

Last weekend Flying Phoenix ran the race of his life when finishing 5^th beaten only 2 ½ lengths adrift of Takeover Target in the Group 1 Goodwood Hcp. From barrier one and 57.5kg on his back in an 86 ratings race, Flying Phoenix looks like a good thing, as long as he can back up racing week to week. Bold Moves is drawn awkwardly in barrier 12, however, he has a wonderful record when resuming from a spell and he has a good record at this track. Bold Moves has an each way chance at good odds. Of the others in this race, I thought Sellers, Jeunealistic and Gandidi where strong enough hopes for the minor end of the prize money.

Tips No.2 from 5, 3, 4, 7