| What | Geelong Races |
| Where | Geelong Racecourse – 99 Breakwater Rd, Breakwater VIC 3219 |
| When | Wednesday, October 19, 2022 |
| First Race | 12pm AEDT |
|
Visit Ladbrokes |
|
It is Geelong Cup Day with a monstrous 10-race program set to run at the Breakwater track on Wednesday afternoon. The Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) takes centre stage, but the Listed Geelong Classic (2200m) and Listed Black Pearl Stakes (1200m) are suitable co-features for the club’s marquee day of racing. With perfect conditions forecast in the lead up, we expect to be racing on a firmer surface than the Soft 7 currently being offered up. The rail returns to the true position and the meeting gets underway at 12pm AEDT.
Geelong Cup Top Tip: Midnight Blue
The Group 3 Geelong Cup worth $500,000 has become one of the few key form references for the Melbourne Cup, and we’re happy to side with Midnight Blue at a big price. The six-year-old gelding from the Danny O’Brien barn was nothing short of impressive in The Bart Cummings on October 1 when needing to travel wide for half the race before being swamped late and going down by a length. With an easier run in transit, there’s no doubt he goes even closer to winning the race, and despite being ridden upside down on that occasion, we expect Midnight Blue will build on it. He was an impressive winner of the Perth Cup earlier in the year and has been slowly building towards a race like this on his way to the Melbourne Cup. We expect Jye McNeil will try to slot him midfield with cover, and on a firmer deck this time out, Midnight Blue looks the one to be with in Wednesday’s feature. The $27 with online betting sites seems a ludicrous price.
Geelong Cup
Race 8 – 
#2 Midnight Blue (10)
6yo Gelding | T: Danny O’Brien | J: Jye McNeil (57kg)
$27 with Neds
Geelong Classic Best Bet: Grand Pierro
Having been defeated by only three lengths to subsequent Caulfield Classic winner Mr Maestro, we expect Jason Warren’s Grand Pierro will go on with the job in the Geelong Classic. This race has long been a form reference towards the VRC Derby, and Grand Pierro screams out like he will appreciate stepping out to the 2200m and potentially the Derby distance at his next start. From barrier 14, Craig Williams will look to have this son of Pierro settled in a prominent position throughout, and as long as he does not get trapped wide, he looks to have the chops to get this done. His win two starts back over the mile on the Pakenham synthetic came when needing to travel wide without cover, so he should be nice and fit heading into this. At $7.50 with online bookmakers, Grand Pierro looks a great play in the Geelong Classic.
Geelong Classic
Race 7 – 
#3 Grand Pierro (14)
3yo Gelding | T: Jason Warren | J: Craig Williams (57kg)
$7.50 with Neds
Black Pearl Stakes Tip: Juan Diva
The Richard & Will Freedman-trained Juan Diva looks set to resume in the Listed Black Pearl Stakes (1200m), and based on her two trials heading into the race, she looks a clear top tip. Having split Joyful Fortune and Shades Of Rose in a trial at Rosehill on October 4, the six-year-old mare looks to be flying along as she builds on an impressive winter campaign. She was last seen winning the Healy Stakes at Eagle Farm on June 25, and we suspect a similar finishing burst to what she produced that day will have her winning this Listed event. Craig Williams will have her settled in the second half of the field, but with a well-timed sprint, Juan Diva should prove too hard to hold out.
Black Pearl Stakes
Race 9 – 
#2 Juan Diva (13)
6yo Mare | T: Richard & Will Freedman | J: Craig Williams (59kg)
$4 with Neds
Best Bet at Geelong: Minsk Moment
The formidable combination of Chris Waller and James McDonald will look to strike again with Minsk Moment, who was impressive when chasing home Remarque and Clemenceau first-up. The four-year-old was beaten under a length on that day and deserved to finish closer than what he did considering he was held up for a run approaching the final furlong. Once clear he made up substantial ground and was strong through the line to suggest he was worth following at his next start. From barrier two, he draws to gain a gun run in transit under JMac, and with even luck in the home straight, Minsk Moment should have a bit too much class for some of these.
Best Bet
Race 6 – 
#4 Minsk Moment (2)
4yo Horse | T: Chris Waller | J: James McDonald (58.5kg)
$3.30 with Bet365
Best Value Bet at Geelong: Pres De Toi
We will be looking to build a bank in the opening event when the Peter Chow-trained Pres De Toi steps out over 2400m. The eight-year-old mare found it a bit too tough at Hamilton on October 8 in the Heavy conditions, so stepping back onto improving ground should benefit her chances greatly. From barrier one, Jarrod Fry will need a touch of luck in terms of getting off the fence, but if they are afforded that luxury, Pres De Toi will stay all day. When asked for an effort, we expect she will prove too hard to hold out and get Geelong Cup Day off to a flyer.
Best Value
Race 1 – 
#5 Pres De Toi (1)
8yo Mare | T: Peter Chow | J: Jarrod Fry (59.5kg)
$12 with Bet365
Wednesday quaddie picks for Geelong Cup Day
Geelong quadrella selections
Wednesday, October 19, 2022
- 1-2-3-7
- 2-4-5-6-7
- 2-5
- 1-6-10-11
Investment: $160 for 100%
More horse racing news
