The Gold Rush preview & betting strategy | December 10, 2022

The inaugural running of The Gold Rush will highlight the Ascot meeting this Saturday — the last day of The Pinnacles. The new Group 3 race over 1400m will carry $1.5 million in prize money, with the winner taking home $822,000. Many of the runners bring in similar form-lines, with 10 of the 16 coming through the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes on November 26. We expect to see a fairer track this weekend, with the rail going back to the 1m position for the entire circuit.

Online bookmakers have opened their market with the Godolphin-owned Vilana as their $4 favourite, although he has to pass a last-minute vet examination before running on Saturday. Only two more runners are under double figures — Winterbottom Stakes runner-up Kissonallforcheeks ($4.60) and the second of the Godolphin runners, Kementari ($8). The third-placegetter in the Winterbottom Stakes, This’ll Testya, and Resortman are next in the market, both at $12.

The speed map for The Gold Rush should see the Chris & Michael Gangemi-trained Massimo and race favourite Vilana push forward from the two inside barriers, while Beau Rossa, Comfort Me and Hot Zed will want to be on-speed and sit in behind the leaders. From middle to wider barriers, we should see the likes of Kementari, Elite Street, Minsk Moment, Kissonallforcheeks and This’ll Testya worse than midfield, looking to run on.

Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2022 The Gold Rush.

The Daniel Morton-trained Kissonallforcheeks has returned to Western Australia in outstanding form, running second in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes first-up from a freshen, only being beaten by a top-class sprinter, Paulele. After an impressive stint in Victoria when she was with Nick Ryan, this mare ran in Group company at all her five starts, while her last start in Victoria was in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington on October 29. Even though this daughter of Written Tycoon didn’t finish higher than sixth place at her last three starts in Melbourne, she was racing against the best horses that Australia had to offer, while she also drew some awkward barriers, and the wet tracks were no benefit to her. After a month freshen and making the trip from Melbourne to Perth, this girl showed that she had taken no-ill effects from the travel. This five-year-old mare has won four of her five starts when second-up, and now that she strikes The Gold Rush on Saturday second-up, this race sets up perfect for her.

Godolphin will have two runners at the top of the race book in the inaugural running of The Gold Rush. We will be siding with the proven Group 1 winner in Kementari on Saturday. This eight-year-old gelding hasn’t won a race since April 16 of this year, when he won the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes, but he has run seventh in The Everest and third in the Nature Strip Stakes at his last two starts before making the trip over to Perth. Since being in Western Australia, James Cummings and his team have given him a solid trial over 1000m, where he pushed and urged in the final 200m to win the trial, with the stable saying that he needed a good workout as he will be more than a month between runs. This son of Lohnro has a great record at the Ascot 1400m, recording a win and a place in two career starts. From barrier 11, Jamie Kah will have to have try and slot in just worse than midfield or drop out the back, but given this guy’s turn of foot and ability, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

Michael Lane will bring his Group 3 Eurythmic Stakes winner, Resortman, to The Gold Rush this Saturday, coming through the Group 1 Railway Stakes where he ran an honest fourth placing behind Trix Of The Trade at his first attempt at 1600m. At the 1400m, this son of Helmet has won four and finished in the placings in two more of his 10 starts. From barrier 10, this guy should be able to cross and sit behind the leaders, and if he gets there without doing too much work, this galloper will be in this for a long way. Damien Oliver will take the ride on Saturday and with a little bit of “Ollie magic”, he will give this gelding every chance.

The second of the two Godolphin runners and race favourite for The Gold Rush, Vilana, will be making his maiden trip across the Nullarbor, while he will have to deal with barrier one for the first time. If those two queries don’t have you second guessing yourself, then it won’t help that this four-year-old will also undergo a vet check on Friday, after he was found to have a suspected hoof abscess on the near fore. With all of these question marks, we cannot get him as short as he is in the market or in our top 3, however, there is no doubt if he performs at his best, he can give this race a shake.

2022 The Gold Rush selections & best bets

• 14

  KISSONALLFORCHEEKS

• 1

  KEMENTARI

• 2

  RESORTMAN

• 8

  VILANA

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