The Racenet team found six winners between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane on Saturday while a few horses appear to be in for big spring campaigns after excellent performances without winning.
Paul Joice and Clinton Payne led the team with two winners each on Saturday at Rosehill, while Ben Dorries and the Weekend Winners chimed in with some collects also.
Below are Saturday’s winning selections:
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Racenet source |
Winning selection |
Starting Price |
Raceday comment |
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Clinton Payne |
MOSSMAN GORGE |
$5 |
I'm shocked this horse hasn't opened favourite on Saturday. He resumed from a spell on August 10 when scoring an easy win at Kembla against the older horses, beating a horse called Azcannyaz. While I concede that horse's desire is questionable, in its previous two runs he was beaten 1-1/4 lengths by Albumin and 2-1/2 lengths by Centro Superior, both of which are at worst midweek city class. Then you look back at Mossman Gorge's form in his first campaign and there's a third placing, beaten two lengths by Gunnison and Acqume, a Group II winner and a genuine city class galloper. This is a Highway Handicap and the $2.15 favourite did get beaten by a maiden last start, albeit one with potential, off Brisbane midweek form. I concede Mossman Gorge will need some luck early from his wide gate but at the price I'll chance the arm because I'm confident he's the best horse in this race. |
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Replay:
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Paul Joice |
BONNY O’REILLY |
$3.90 |
Class and stats tell the story here with Bonny O'Reilly. Three from three at Rosehill, three from three at the distance and has five wins on good ground. Gate one will offset the 59.5kg impost – it guarantees her a smother and that's when she races best. Has the early speed to take up a position and the acceleration to pinch a break when it counts. That combination generally delivers horses with impressive records and with seven wins from 11 starts – she is one of the most lightly raced horses in the field yet has won as many races as any of her rivals. |
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Weekend Winners |
OAK DOOR |
$3 |
Robert Smerdon is having a winning run and Oak Door looks set to win this first-up judging by a recent jumpout. Has raced in Group and Listed affairs at his past four starts yet resumes here in a Benchmark 90 with only 55.5kg. The wide gate shouldn’t be a problem around Moonee Valley, Ben Thompson can roll forward and either press on to lead or take the trail. Either way, he looks to have a lot on this field. |
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Ben Dorries |
WHYPEEO |
$2.45 |
Nothing went right for this Toby Edmonds sprinter last time when missed the kick, over-raced and was checked several times. Was a good run considering. Strongly suspect Jeff Lloyd will be desperate to get to the front here, like he did when Whypeeo blew them away in his first start at Ballina. There will be a bit of pace inside but even if he happens to miss the kick slightly, Lloyd can stay out of trouble from barrier nine and keep hunting to the front (or close to it). There is every chance Shogun Sun and Italia Bella will be the better prospects going forward, but Whypeeo looks to be the horse on this day for this race. The other favoured ones in the market are likely to be well back while Whypeeo can make use of his speed and give a mighty kick from up front. 1100m could be ideal for him while it's likely to be too short for a few others in the market here. |
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REPLAY — Baddock (@baddocksbest) 28 August 2017
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Paul Joice |
PARIAH |
$2.10 |
I haven't seen him in the flesh this time in but watching the trials on screen he appears to have physically matured. And that's a worrying sign for his rivals because his two-year-old form is superior to these. Only flop was in the Golden Slipper on a heavy 10 track. At latest lead-up trial split Winx and Happy Clapper – and wasn't being asked to do too much. A fast pace up front with the pressure on should offset a wide gate and with patient hoop Blake Shinn engaged – should steam over top of them. |
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Clinton Payne |
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Weekend Winners |
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Weekend Winners |
ALWARD |
$1.65 |
We don’t mind betting-up on the Bowman/Waller combination and this former European franked his good track statistics when towelling rivals around the Flemington 2000m last start. Showed a stunning turn of foot at the end of a genuine mid-distance event and looks to have plenty of upside coming to Sydney for the first time. A soft gate should present Bowman with a smother and confident we are backing the best horse in the race – with the best jockey aboard. |
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Clinton Payne |
NO DOUBT (each-way) |
$9.50 |
He's an underrated horse this bloke and I thought his return to racing behind Badazoj and Denmagic on August 12 was excellent. He's a horse that has improved significantly second up in his only two previous campaigns and there's no reason not to expect he'll continue that trend on Saturday. Have a look through his form last prep where he produced respectable efforts behind It's Somewhat, beaten 2-1/4 lengths in the Ajax Stakes and second, beaten a length behind Spectroscope in the Doncaster Prelude – that form reads well for this. Has always raced well at Rosehill in the past, he's two from three at 1200m and he's most effective on top of the ground. Drawn to get the right run here, he's over the odds. |
HORSES TO FOLLOW
Almandin – If there were any question marks on how the Melbourne Cup winner would return they are surely put to rest after Saturday’s outstanding run. Although he didn’t win it was clearly the run of the race. He covered ground with 61kg, first-up over 2040m and was run down by the talented Pacodali which had race fitness on his side. Could we see Almandin go back-to-back?
Addictive Nature and Assimilate – Outstanding efforts by both of these three-year-olds. Addictive Nature was made to work from the outset and never settled in the run for Tim Clark however he was the only horse left standing at the end of the race from on the speed. After all the pressure he still had the tenacity to hold off Peter and Paul Snowden’s Assimilate which produced a brilliant finishing burst from well-back only to be denied in a photo. Both look extremely talented and that was backed up by the clock.
Harlow Gold – Excellent return by a talented mare. The Group I-placegetter was held up at the top of the straight but hit the line strongly over the 1500m. She looks in for a good preparation and will be better again up in trip.
FORGIVE FILE
Awoke – Hugh Bowman had no luck aboard this Chris Waller trained mare. After jumping out Bowman was caught three-wide mid-field and so elected to go forward to try and slot in behind the leaders. Unfortunately for Bowman the runners to his inside also kicked up, forcing Bowman to use up the mare under 61kg to forge to the lead which resulted in the favourite running out of steam in the finish.
Vaucluse Bay – Although disappointing the start prior Vaucluse Bay never saw clear running in the straight on Saturday and must be given another chance.
Lone Eagle – Although well beaten on Saturday this Mick Price-trained colt worked home nicely late. He was checked for a run at around the 500m-mark and was a clear last coming into the straight. He picked himself up and ran through the line strongly recording one of the fastest last 200m sectionals of the race.
