In his regular gambling blog, John Piassek presents his top picks for the upcoming weekend in horse racing, offering betting options at different budget levels. Piassek’s Plays is brought to you by Horseplayers.com, the official online qualifying site of the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) and National Horseplayers Championship (NHC).
Month: July 2021
Eclipse Whittled Down To Four
Saturday's G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown has been cut to four after Thursday's confirmation stage, with Aidan O'Brien declaring just St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) from his three initial entries left in earlier this week. With David Menuisier also opting to wait with Christopher Wright's Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), that means that Ballydoyle's G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero faces two main rivals in the multiple Group 1 winners Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) and Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) plus the Jockey Club also-ran El Drama (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). John Gosden said he thinks that the small field stands up in terms of quality as he prepares Prince Faisal's homebred for a potential third top-level success having garnered last year's Prix du Jockey Club and the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan on his last start Mar. 27, as well as the Saudi Cup.
“I know it is a small, elite, purist field but what people have to realise is that it is a lot of money to enter these races, it is a lot of money at the first forfeit stage and it is a lot of money to confirm,” he said. “When you have the likes of the front three here, they are not easy to take on so I think people slightly take that view point.”
“I've got tonnes of respect for Addeyyb,” Gosden added. “I think he is a wonderful horse. He has won a Champion S. and he has won in Sydney. There is talk about some rain on Saturday afternoon and if the rain came, that is something Addeyyb would enjoy immensely.”
Tom Marquand is keeping an eye on the weather ahead of Addeybb's European return and said, “As we know, Addeybb is entirely ground-dependent and any more rain will help, but provided it's suitable for him to run then he ought to have every chance. It's a small field, but it's good horses against good horses and that's just what you want in a race like the Eclipse.”
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South Africa: Trainer Snaith Chasing Fourth Straight Win In Historic Durban July Handicap
With Independence Day right around the corner, start your holiday weekend off right with some International horse racing on Saturday Morning, starting with the first post at 5:15am ET. Sky Racing World, the Louisville, Ky.-based distributor of International Thoroughbred racing content, is excited to announce coverage of the historic 125th Durban July Handicap at Greyville Racecourse in South Africa, The race will also be broadcast on TVG and be available on our new Sky Racing World App, which you can find here.
Justin Snaith is going all out with four entries among the 18 runners carded for Greyville on Saturday. He is coming off a hat-trick of wins, having saddled Belgarion to win last year and prior to that Do It Again to back-to-back victories. Both horses are in the line-up again this weekend and will spearhead Snaith's attempt to win Africa's greatest horse race for a fifth time, chasing the seven successes of the legendary Syd Laird and the six of Terrance Millard.
Raced on turf, the Durban July Handicap is open to horses of all ages, but all of them will be chasing after Rainbow Bridge from the off, as the gelding and rider Luke Ferraris have changed their running tactics, won their last three races, and claimed pole position for the upcoming race. Top weight Rainbow Bridge will be looking to win this one for owner Mike Rattray, who been competing in this prestigious race for over four decades.
Despite Rainbow Bridge's pole position, he isn't currently trading as the favorite with 5-1 odds, as it's Got The Greenlight who leads the way with 5-2 odds. The 4-year old was runner-up to Belgarion last year where he was beaten by just shy of one length. Trainer Joey Soma has had the Vodacom Durban July in his sights since Got The Greenlight's loss last year and the colt does appear to have had the ideal preparation. On the other hand, weight could be an issue and Ferraris will need to avoid traffic in a notoriously rough race from his pole position draw.
Even with the number 14 draw, Got The Greenlight's jockey, Muzi Yeni, said, “I was extremely happy with Got The Greenlight's gallop, which was outstanding. He gave me the feel that he has strengthened up even further and he is really in a good space, so it's all positive from my side. I am not too concerned about his No 14 draw as I would prefer not to be caught up in the scrimmage for position in the early stages. All the major players seem to have put up good gallops and all looked very well within themselves so it's going to be a great spectacle.”
Speaking of Belgarion, last year's winner is back again looking for the double, but this time with a different rider. This year he will be going for the win with S'Manga Khumalo, who won the race with steed Heavy Metal back in 2013. Belgarion is a 9-1 favorite to win and fans will be hoping he can go back-to-back.
Make sure not to forget about Do It Again, as he'll be in the race as well, with stable rider Richard Fourie. He'll be looking to make history as the only horse to have won the race three times, after winning in back-to-back years before losing to Belgarion last year. Currently at 8-1 odds, Do It Again last won the race two years ago, but can he follow his name and get it done again?
Also in the field is the three-year-old Linebacker, winner of the Grade 2 KZN Guineas and Grade 1 Daily News 2000, who is the clear second favorite at 7-2. Three-year old horses have an outstanding record in this race over the recent years, so maybe Linebacker can make his mark on the proceedings. Another factor going in the favor of three-year old horses is that they will all carry the minimum weight for their age group going into the race.
Who will win this historic event in 2021? Will it be favorite Got The Greenlight or another one of the horses in the field? Find out on July 3rd on Sky Racing World, our app and on TVG!
The Greyville card will be broadcast live on TVG this Saturday morning (First Post: 5:15 AM ET / 2:15 AM PT). All races will be live-streamed in HD on the new Sky Racing World App, skyracingworld.com and major ADW platforms such as TVG, TwinSpires, Xpressbet, NYRABets, WatchandWager, HPIbet, and AmWager. Wagering is also available via these ADW platforms. Fans can get free access to live-streaming, past performances and expert picks on all races at skyracingworld.com.
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Connect Filly Graduates at Gulfstream
3rd-Gulfstream, $60,000, (S), Msw, 7-1, 2yo, f, 5 1/2f, 1:06.17, ft, 1 length.
QUEEN CAMILLA (f, 2, Connect–And Away We Go, by Awesome Again) was third in her 4 1/2-furlong debut at this oval June 3. Sent off at 8-1, the dark bay filly was outfooted in the early going and settled well back as favored Lara's Lady (Uncaptured) rushed out to set the pace. My Sassenach (Uncaptured) overtook the favorite on the turn and took a clear lead in upper stretch, but Queen Camilla was rallying down the center of the track and surged past My Sassenach in deep stretch en route to a one-length graduation. Lara's Lady faded to last. Queen Camilla, a $10,000 OBSOCT yearling, is the second winner for her freshman sire (by Curlin). The unraced And Away We Go, a daughter of multiple Grade I winner Queens Court Queen (Lyphard), produced a a colt by Good Magic this year. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1, $45,400.
O-Cammarota Racing LLC; B-Sally J. Andersen (FL); T-Antonio Sano.
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