Massive weekend for The Racing League with hundreds of owners heading to two different tracks in two different states. Hundreds of Vic Husslers are converging on Pakenham this Saturday to cheer on their hero Team Captain as second favourite in the $300,000 Cup. While the Qld Rogues army is out in force at Ipswich on Friday afternoon to support The Big Goodbye looking for another win.
TEAM CAPTAIN TAKES ANOTHER STEP ON A MELB CUP PATH
Blue blood trainer Matt Cumani has described Team Captain as a “special horse” in the build-up to the Pakenham Cup on Saturday. Currently a $4.20 second favourite with Sportsbet, Team Captain is now looking for three straight wins since joining the Vic Husslers after claiming the Hamilton Cup and Macca’s Run at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day. Cumani bypassed the Zipping Classic and Sandown Cup, thinking the Pakenham Cup may be a softer target. However, it’s attracted a strong field with Mankayan the one to beat.
Click here for Matt Cumani’s pre-race thoughts on Team Captain.
It’s worth following Cumani in the first at Pakenham with Tycoon Bec, who’s only lost one of her four career starts. She’ll be fitter for her first-up defeat and will have a stack of support with Jamie Kah to ride.
BET: Team Captain – Each Way (Pakenham Race 7)
BET: Tycoon Bec – Win (Pakenham Race 1)
HEATHCOTE BELIEVES IN THE BIG GOODBYE
Rob Heathcote continues to be impressed with the toughness and talent of The Big Goodbye and is keen to deliver Qld Rogues owners another win at Ipswich on Friday afternoon. The Big Goodbye was an impressive winner at Eagle Farm two starts back and was desperately unlucky at Doomben last start. With the big wet in South East Queensland, it’s still flippers and snorkels required on a Heavy 10 at Ipswich, but The Big Goodbye is undefeated on a heavy track and has never been unplaced on soft ground so he clearly gets through the ground and owners know he’ll give his best.
Click here for Rob Heathcote’s update:
BET: The Big Goodbye – Each Way (Ipswich Race 9)
GOLLAN HAS PLENTY OF ZOUSTYLE
Like most Saturdays, Tony Gollan heads to the track full of confidence and with good reason. The Group 3 George Moore (Race 9) is the feature event, with Gollan producing the lightning fast Zoustyle lining up as a $2.40 favourite on Sportsbet. Zoustyle could not have been more impressive winning first-up at the Sunny Coast, he should get through the going and there’s no reason why he can’t win again. Ashgrove (Race 3) has been smashed in early Sportsbet markets and is now into $2.45 after blitzing his rivals last start over three lengths eased down. Tiger Heart (Race 5) has been placed in its two starts this campaign, should be fitter for those efforts and his breeding suggests the soft ground won’t be a problem.
BET: Ashgrove – Win (Doomben Race 3)
BET: Tiger Heart – Win (Doomben Race 5)
BET: Zoustyle – Win (Doomben Race 9)
MAHER & EUSTACE TO PACK A PACKENHAM PUNCH
The Ciaron Maher/Dave Eustace stable is in a real purple patch of form and there’s no reason their good run won’t continue. Brownie (Race 3) is a four-year-old mare who’s maturing beautifully. She’ll go forward, make her own luck and looks to be on an upward spiral. Marine One (Race 4) won its first two starts this campaign, clearly didn’t measure up to group one opposition last start but with the 3kgs claim of Josh Richards will take a power of beating. Yulong January (Race 8) is a horse that was on TRLs agenda when in the market for tried horses. He is good fresh and has had good support on Sportsbet at $2.80. Court Deep (Race 9) from barrier 4, shouldn’t be getting caught deep. He’s been solid in the Sportsbet market at $9 and with two wins from his last three starts makes great appeal.
BET: Brownie – Win (Pakenham Race 3)
BET: Marine One – Each Way (Pakenham Race 4)
BET: Yulong January – Win (Pakenham Race 8)
BET: Court Deep – Each Way (Pakenham Race 9)
PRIDE LOVES BRUTALITY
Trainer Joe Pride had Brutality as his horse to follow before it’s current campaign started and I’m happy to take the tip. Joe knows when to back a horse up, which indicates the seven day turnaround from his last start eye-catching effort won’t be an issue for Brutality.
BET: Brutality – Each Way (Rosehill Race 9)
BONE AND MUSCLE
If the Sportsbet early markets are right, the Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott stable is in for a big day at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Shihonka (Race 1) has won two of her three starts and is a super talented filly taking on the males, she can win again. Snitzonfire (Race 3) has won all three career starts. From barrier 8 he should be able to cross the field and if able to conserve petrol can keep the perfect record intact. For Value (Race 6) has won his last two and is certainly a horse on the way up. He’ll go forward and has a good kick.
BET: Shihonka – Win (Rosehill Race 1)
BET: Snitzonfire – Win (Rosehill Race 3)
BET: For Valour – Each Way (Rosehill Race 6)
WAUGH – BOWMAN COMBINATION HARD TO BEAT
The Kim Waugh – Hugh Bowman combination is proving hard to beat of late. The last five times the pair have combined they’ve won three. The pair, team up again with Fenech (Race 5) there’s been some specking on Sportsbet $9 and while he comes to town for the first time he’s up to the challenge.
BET: Fenech – Each Way (Rosehill Race 5)