flemington | Horse Racing Free Tips

Australia: Mackinnon Stakes Day At Flemington

Five hours and 40 minutes after Mackinnon contests the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, a Group 1 race bearing his name – with a bigger purse! – will be run at Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse. The $2 million AUD Mackinnon Stakes is the eighth on a Friday night card whose first post is 6:40 p.m. Pacific — offering fans a seamless transition from Day One of the Breeders' Cup. It's rare for a $2 million race to be considered a consolation, but the riches in Australian racing at this time of the year are such that connections of Zaaki could well feel that way. Zaaki was favorite for the $5 million Cox Plate two weeks ago, but was sensationally scratched on race morning with an elevated temperature. The Annabel Neasham-trained gelding, victorious in five of his last six starts, has rebounded quickly and will again carry the weight of public support (3-2) in the Mackinnon.

Zaaki was to have been ridden in the Cox Plate by James McDonald, who watched as another of his regular mounts, Verry Elleegant, finished strongly for third. History shows that “J-Mac” reunited with Verry Elleegant for the mare's triumph in Monday night's Melbourne Cup. The champion jockey is again scheduled to pilot Zaaki in Friday night's Mackinnon, at 1 1/4 miles. This past April, 29-year-old McDonald became the youngest jockey in Australia to record 50 G1 wins. He now chases a 21-year-old record for most wins (nine) during Flemington's four-day “Melbourne Cup Carnival,” which finishes this Friday night – a record held by Brett Prebble, whom McDonald idolized growing up and whom McDonald ironically relegated to runner-up status in the Melbourne Cup (Prebble rode the favorite, Incentivise).

Undoubtedly, the bulk of J-Mac's success has been borne of his association with Chris Waller. In a 17-day span, the all-conquering combination captured Australia's two richest races: The Everest with Nature Strip and Melbourne Cup with Verry Elleegant. For all of Waller's wonderful management of Winx throughout her 33 consecutive wins, the aforementioned double garners greater respect from his peers. Both Nature Strip and Verry Elleegant were notorious as younger horses for being head-strong and untractable. Nature Strip was an enigma, whose raw speed proved almost impossible to harness; Verry Elleegant had as many quirks as the spelling of her name. Each horse has undeniably benefitted from Waller's patient tutelage, as they proved the epitome of professionalism while capturing Australia's two richest prizes – at the polarized distances of six furlongs and two miles. Apart from Waller, the other common denominator is James McDonald.

Fittingly, Nature Strip will make an encore appearance this Friday night, as hot favorite for the G1 VRC Sprint Classic (Race 6). Despite a million-dollar purse, many potential opponents have been scared off by the world's top-ranked turf sprinter. Nature Strip (2-5 favorite) is expected to dominate his eight rivals down Flemington's “Straight Six”-furlongs course.

Just as Day One of the Breeders' Cup is promoted as “Future Stars Friday” with its emphasis on juvenile races, Sydney's Rosehill Racecourse offers an early-season gift for 2-year-olds on Friday night. The Golden Gift (Race 7) is the first million-dollar race for youngsters on the calendar – an extraordinary purse just three months into the new southern hemisphere season.

At first glance, favoritism is strangely placed with a horse who debuted out of the money at 25-1. However, the zig-zag closing rush of Shalatin was impossible to miss. The colt broke from Gate 12 in a field of 13 and came from 12^th position – all the while looking as green as a billiard table. In the Golden Gift, Shalatin (7-2) has drawn better in Gate 5 (and, by pure coincidence, will be program #5). His trainer, Joe Pride, has enjoyed tremendous recent success through the deeds of Eduardo and Private Eye (the latter takes on Zaaki in the Mackinnon Stakes).

The Flemington card will be broadcast on TVG this Friday night (First Post: 9:40 p.m. ET / 6:40 p.m. PT) alongside cards from Rosehill, Eagle Farm and Goulburn. 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, DRF Bets 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.

The post Australia: Mackinnon Stakes Day At Flemington appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Australia: Purse Money, Prestige In Abundance This Week

Fans of top-quality Australian racing will experience sensory overload this Friday night, with prestige and purse money in abundance at Sydney (Rosehill) and Melbourne (Flemington) tracks.

Sydney's slate of rich, new races continues with the third running of the Golden Eagle. Rosehill Racecourse has long hosted the world's richest 2-year-old race, the Golden Slipper. More recently, the track introduced a million-dollar race for 3-year-olds called the Golden Rose. This Friday night's Golden Eagle, for 4-year-olds at 7-1/2 furlongs, is the nation's 3rd-richest race with a whopping $7.5 million purse. The 18-strong field (plus four Also Eligibles) features a geographic plethora of form lines:

#1 Private Eye (5-1) is a last-start winner of Sydney's G1 Epsom Handicap. #2 I'm Thunderstruck (7-2 favorite) is a last-start winner of Melbourne's G1 Toorak Handicap. #13 Maximal (10-1) is one of three northern hemisphere 3-year-olds making his Australian debut (with a two-pound weight allowance versus the Australian horses, who turned four on August 1st). Maximal is a ¾-brother to Frankel, with imposing form lines in Ireland and England. The strongly credentialled import had been heavily bet in futures wagering, but his odds drifted back up from 7-1 after he drew the extreme outside gate.

The 6-1/2 furlong Classique Legend Stakes features six horses who contested the world's richest turf race The Everest two weeks ago, including 2nd-placed #2 Masked Crusader (5-2 favorite) and 3rd-placed #1 Eduardo (7-2). #9 Top Ranked (20-1) is a new shooter who was G1-placed in England but – like Maximal in the Golden Eagle – has drawn the extreme outside gate for his Aussie debut.

While Sydney is the unquestioned capital of racing innovation, purists consider Friday night's card at Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse to perennially be the best in Australia. Known as “Derby Day,” the all-graded stakes program (Track B) includes four Group Ones averaging 16 horses:

Race 5: The Empire Rose Stakes is for fillies and mares at a mile. #3 Tofane (5-2 favorite) is a three-time Group One winner at seven furlongs. This campaign, she is targeting mile races and comes off a strong 2nd to Golden Eagle favorite, I'm Thunderstruck.

Race 6: The Victoria Derby, Australia's oldest Classic, dates to 1855. Its 1-9/16 miles provides a stern stamina test just three months into the southern hemisphere season. No runners have raced beyond 1-3/8 miles. #1 Forgot You and #4 Gunstock share favoritism at 3-1 and give every indication – on performance and breeding – of staying the distance. Gunstock must overcome a horror post position with a short run to the sharp first turn.

Race 7: The Coolmore Stud Stakes, for 3-year-olds, will provide a great spectacle on Flemington's famous “Straight Six”-furlongs course. #9 Extreme Warrior (7-2 equal favorite) has burst onto the scene this campaign with impressive wins in a maiden and Group Three. #4 In the Congo (9-2 into 7-2 in the immediate aftermath of the field being finalized) won the Golden Rose in Sydney a month ago and adds blinkers. #6 Paulele (5-1) was considered for Godolphin's slot in The Everest. #5 Home Affairs (11-1) did contest The Everest, as the race's lone 3-year-old. Coolmore's colt adds a shadow roll and tongue tie, as his owners strive to win this stallion-making race that carries their sponsorship.

Race 8: The Kennedy Cantala Stakes is a wide open, one-mile contest whose 7-2 favorite, #14 Mr Brightside, has never contested a Group/Graded race. Supporters will look on the bright side and point to his six consecutive wins while cutting a swath through restricted ranks.

Look for a special preview of Monday night's $8 million Melbourne Cup, the two-mile “race that stops a nation.”

The Rosehill and Flemington cards will be broadcast live on TVG this Friday night (First Post: 9:20pm ET / 6:20pm PT) alongside cards from Eagle Farm and Ascot. 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, DRF Bets 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.

The post Australia: Purse Money, Prestige In Abundance This Week appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

‘I Can’t Believe It’: 300-1 Shocker Provides ‘Massive Thrill’ In Australian Guineas

There are shock results, and then there are shock results. In a triumph described as “surreal” by his connections, Lunar Fox became one of the longest-priced G1 winners of all time anywhere in the world with a 300-1 victory in the Australian Guineas at Flemington.

“I can't believe it – it hasn't sunk it,” said jockey Michael Dee after landing his fifth G1 success. “To be honest, I didn't give him much hope and no one else really did either! It's obviously a massive thrill and I can't believe it has just happened.”

Australian sources were left racking their brains to find an equivalent – but all were agreed this was certainly the biggest price to succeed at the top level for at least 35 years, going back to 250-1 winner Abaridy in the Caulfield Guineas of 1986.

Blinkers seemed to make a profound difference to Lunar Fox, who had come 12th of 14 on his previous outing in the G3 CS Hayes Stakes at the same venue just two weeks ago.

The son of Foxwedge wore down front-running favorite Tagaloa in the closing stages and the line came just soon enough to deny Cherry Tortoni, who flew home from the rear, by a half-length.

Trainer's representative Holly McKechnie was queried by Racing Victoria stewards about the horse's improvement.

Holly McKechnie (representing trainer Paul Preusker): “It's a bit surreal at this stage. I can't believe it. He's always had a lot of ability, this horse. Obviously last start he ran below par and we couldn't really find any issue. We've done the old trick with the blinkers and it seems to have done the job. Last time was just out of character. He's always trying this horse. Getting to the outside and the additions of blinkers certainly helped him.”

Michael Dee (jockey): “All I could do today was do my job and do it to the best of my ability and hopefully the horse ran well in doing so. Having the blinkers on today and just a massive improvement. They drilled it into me before the race to stay off the fence. From the gate we were able to get the perfect run three-wide and work into it.”

This story originally appeared on Horse Racing Planet and is reprinted here with permission.

The post ‘I Can’t Believe It’: 300-1 Shocker Provides ‘Massive Thrill’ In Australian Guineas appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

COVID-19: No Fans To Be Allowed At Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup, scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3, will be held without fans this season as the worldwide community continues to battle COVID-19, according to The Straits Times.

Known as “the race that stops the nation,” the Melbourne Cup Carnival held at Flemington Race Course attracts crowds of up to 90,000 people. The carnival kicks off on Saturday, Oct. 31, and Victoria Racing Club members are working with government officials to make it possible for a small number of owners to attend.

“While we are very disappointed not to be able to welcome our members and racegoers to Cup Week, we understand the government's commitment to keeping our community safe,” Victoria Racing Club chairman Amanda Elliott said in a statement. “What is certain is the Melbourne Cup Carnival will go ahead with viewing audiences watching from across Australia and around the world.”