The Shane Nichols-trained Streets Of Avalon looks potential value in Saturday’s Group 1 $500,000 Futurity Stakes (1400m) as he looks to successfully defend his title in the Blue Diamond Stakes Day feature. Streets Of Avalon is paying generous odds to successfully defend his title in the 2021 Futurity Stakes on Blue Diamond Day. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos. Twelve months ago, the Magnus gelding saluted at double-figures third-up in the Futurity Stakes and he comes into the race in even better form this Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival. First-up at The Valley…
Month: February 2021
Queen And Sky Share Oakleigh Plate Honours
It was a tale of two victors as Perth raider Celebrity Queen and unheralded three-year-old Portland Sky dead-heated for first in a desperate drive to the line in the Group One Oakleigh Plate. Close finishes have become a common occurrence at Caulfield in recent weeks and this time judge Paul Egan was unable to split the first two horses home in a high-stakes race. The victory by Celebrity Queen delivered prominent owner Bob Peters, jockey Willie Pike and trainers Grant and Alana Williams another Group One for their collection. On…
Sam Freedman Claims First Group One
Artorius has powered home to upset his more fancied rivals in the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield. The Freedman stable was to the fore for the second time in three years in the Blue Diamond Stakes when Artorius stormed home to win. As was the case in 2019 with Lyre, their Blue Diamond Stakes winner was partnered by Luke Currie and in a ride reminiscent of that victory, Artorius also came from well back to score. The stable narrowly missed a three-peat, finishing second last year with Hanseatic. However, there…
Baker’S Autumn Gets Cooking With Aegon
Wily Kiwi trainer Murray Baker has made a habit of plundering Australia’s major races and he looks set for rich pickings this autumn with budding star Aegon. The three-year-old crossed the Tasman with an unblemished four-start record and a lofty reputation. After demolishing his rivals in Saturday’s Group Two Hobartville Stakes (1400m), his winning streak stands at five and his reputation has soared. The gelding now sits as an outright favourite for the Randwick Guineas, Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby and an equal top pick for the Doncaster Mile. Winning…
Kiwi Mare Is More Than A Probabeel Star
Probabeel, ridden by Damian Lane, wins the Group One Futurity Stakes at Caulfield. Outstanding Kiwi mare Probabeel has rocketed to equal favouritism for the All-Star Mile with a resounding victory in the Futurity Stakes. Probabeel swept down the middle of the track and proved too good for another top mare in Perth star Arcadia Queen, who also came from well back to finish second. TAB fixed odds reacted to the performances of both mares by making them equal $4 favourites for the All-Star Mile, Probabeel firming from $8 and Arcadia…
Waller Getting Slipper Affairs In Order
Home Affairs has added his name to James McDonald’s enviable list of potential Golden Slipper rides, emerging as a strong contender with his victory in the Silver Slipper. The leading jockey is yet to commit to a mount in the $3.5 million race but has ridden a number of the major fancies, including unbeaten colt Stay Inside and Home Affair’s stablemate Shaquero. He had nothing but praise for Home Affairs, a son of top stallion I Am Invincible, who was narrowly run down by Godolphin’s Zethus on debut. “He’s a…
Gatton Top Tips, Best Value Bets & Quaddie | Sunday, 21/02/21
What Gatton Races Where Lockyer Valley Turf Club – 1 Spencer St, Gatton QLD 4343 When Sunday, February 21, 2021 First Race 12:10pm AEST Watch Live Streaming Live at Sportsbet Gatton betting preview – Feburary 21, 2021 Nine races will be run and won at Gatton on Sunday afternoon. The track is a Good 4 and the rail is in the true position. Race 1 will face the starter 12:10pm. Best Bet: Kobang Tony & Madi Sears saddle up their maiden galloper, Kobang. The four-year-old son of Spirit Of Boom…
Zack ‘shackles’ Houdini
West Australian wonder Zack Monelli ‘unlocked’ the secret to ‘sinking’ Victorian staying magician Houdini Boy in a mesmerising Fanta Bale Super Stayers heat (725m) at The Meadows tonight. Under the caretaker Victorian trainership of Lyn Smith at Nambrok, Zack Monelli employed catch-me-if-you-can tactics to cause a minor upset in Heat 3. With a lap to travel, Zack Monelli was 10-12L in front of Houdini Boy, who was intent on pulling off another last-to-first ‘escape’. And he almost did the unimaginable! But on the line, Zack Monelli ($4.10) had 0.23L to…
Tralee Rose has Adelaide Cup at her mercy
Tralee Rose (NZ) (Tavistock) appears the horse to beat in the next month’s Gr.2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) after an emphatic victory in Saturday’s Gr.3 Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) at Morphettville. Prepared by Victorian trainer Symon Wilde, Tralee Rose has now won five of her ten starts, with a further three placings and thrashed her rivals on Saturday, having entered the race on the back of a seven length romp in the Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m). The patiently handled four-year-old has emerged as one of the most promising stayers in Australasia…
Undefeated Aegon stamps authority in Hobartville
High-class three-year-old Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls) proved the New Zealand form was right up to the mark when dominating his Australian rivals in the Gr.2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday. The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained gelding crossed the Tasman earlier this week as the winner of all four of his starts in New Zealand, including victories in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) and Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m). Despite being slow into stride, Aegon relaxed beautifully under Hugh Bowman and pounced on his rivals once…