Although it was a tough day for punters racing was the real winner on Saturday with The Everest proving to be a resounding success at Randwick, adding another dimension to a traditionally outstanding day at Caulfield.
Punters were spoilt with the quality of races between the two states and even though it might not have been a profitable day for many punters, the Racenet team included, the raceday was nothing short of outstanding.
The Racenet team did manage to find five winners despite the average price of the winners being $17.90 at Caulfield, including the Caulfield Guineas winner at $101 and the average price at Randwick being $16.53 including another $101 winner in the final event.
While myself and Josh Rose from Luxbet found The Everest winner on top it was Paul Joice that led the Redzel fan club, tipping the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained gelding on top weeks prior to $10 million event.
To followers delight the bold front runner never looked in doubt, running his rivals into the ground after securing a beautiful run outside the leader Houtzen.
It was an outstanding training effort by Peter and Paul Snowden and a brilliantly rated ride by Kerrin McEvoy. We have come to expect nothing less from this formidable combination.
There was a surprising drift late it betting to $8.50, which only lined the pockets of those who stuck fat that little bit more.
Joice’s other winning play came in the Sydney Stakes with the Ben Smith-trained In Her Time which appeared unlucky not to gain a start Saturday’s main event..
In Her Time was simply a class above over the distance and the price on offer of $2.90 early ended up being a steal – she was never in doubt after Corey Brown got her into a beautiful stalking position.
Weekend Winners selected first-starter Legend Of Condor from the Gerald Ryan stable to prove too slick over the 1000m and he did just that, scrambling in to win the Victory Vein Plate over the fast finishing Spin by a narrow margin, paying $5.
Racenet’s stable of bookies were also able to find some winners for followers on Saturday.
William Hill had Don’t Give A Damn ($1.75) as their best bet and Fast N Rocking ($10) as their value play. Sportsbet were bullish about Invincibella ($2.70), Bet365 made Big Duke ($2.20) their best bet of the day while Betstar and Unibet could only see bad luck beating In Her Time ($2.35) in the Sydney Stakes.
For those willing to look away from the major metropolitan meetings on Saturday, and let’s face it they pay the same at Randwick as they do at Kembla, the Country Crackers found a couple of winners.
A daughter of All Too Hard from the Peter and Paul Snowden stable named Warranty was an easy watch for followers at Kembla, winning easily and paying $3.30.
Despite a betting drift to $4.80, Country Crackers found their second winner at Pakenham with Amthaal charging home to score over the mile for Lindsay Park.
HORSES TO FOLLOW
Johannes Vermeer – This UK import from the Robert Hickmott and Lloyd Williams stable hit the line with a serious flashing light in the Group I Caulfield Stakes behind Gailo Chop on Saturday to record the fastest last 600m of the race. The five-year-old son of Galileo is already a Group I winner in France over 1400m and was a Group III winner back in July over 2011m in Ireland. He has been a serious firmer in Caulfield Cup markets and it is no wonder why considering his good record off a quick back-up.
GAILO CHOP reigns supreme in the Group 1 @Caulfield Stakes! pic.twitter.com/b4E7Rzx8KT
— Racing.com (@Racing) 14 October 2017
Folkswood – Newmarket based trainer Charlie Appleby claimed his seventh Australian victory in the last 12 months with Folkswood in Sunday’s Cranbourne Cup. A Group I placegetter in Dubai this year, Folkswood toyed with his rivals to score a comfortable win over Berisha and Grey Lion and if last Spring is another to go by he is a horse to follow. Last year Appleby claimed the Geelong and Sandown Cups with Qewy, guided Francis Of Assisi to victories in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Bendigo Cup and had Scottish finish second in the Caulfield Cup. The five-year-old holds an entry for the $3 million Cox Plate but could instead tackle the Group I Emirates Mackinnon (2000m) on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
HE HAS DONE IT! Aboard international raider Folkswood @KPMcEvoy has won the Cranbourne Cup after winning the $10M Everest yesterday! pic.twitter.com/pXQG54Thh6
— Racing.com (@Racing) 15 October 2017
Impending – It was an excellent return by the Stradbroke Handicap winner in the Sydney Stakes to charge home and finish second behind the flying In Her Time. He closed with the fastest last 600m of the race in 32.87. He’s clearly returned in fine form and one that I want to be with through the carnival.
What a tough mare she is!
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 14, 2017
In Her Time digs in for a determined win in the $500k Sydney Stakes at #Randwick. pic.twitter.com/h7w49H1jQh
FORGIVE FILE
Bonneval – She was a victim of circumstances on Saturday, getting back from a wide draw in an on speed dominated race and it didn’t help that she was also galloped on. A winner of six of her past seven starts including three Group Is – it’s easy to forgive and forget.
Royal Symphony – It was close to the run of the day in my opinion. He was held up, buffeted and once he got out the bird had flown but he closed extremely strongly despite losing balance and momentum. With even luck I think he would have been awfully hard to hold out.
