It’s an outstanding day of racing in both Sydney and Melbourne, with the Victoria Derby being the highlight down south and up north, the Golden Eagle.
Best Bet
The best bet of the day is worth waiting for. Sans Doute has underperformed at her last couple but her straight form – she’s won four from five – is another level to anything she does around a bend, particularly when she gets her preferred dry conditions. Crucially, the glue on shoes come off, suggesting she has overcome her foot issues. Terrific bet to close off the card.
Recommended Price: $5.00
Confidence Level: 4.5/5
More Racing Tips
This is a handy race but thought that despite the wide draw, Supercilious was over the odds in early markets. She stormed home from near last just seven days ago at Moonee Valley and will relish getting out to 1400m on her home track. The pace should be on, look for her flying home late.
Recommended Price: $21
Confidence Level: 3/5
This race has something of a habit of throwing up a left field winner and Press Down has some compelling form away from the main stage. The gelding has won three of his last four starts including a terrific stakes win in Adelaide six weeks ago. If he brings that form to this he is right in it at big odds.
Recommended Price: $10
Confidence Level: 3/5
Artful Persuasion looks an outstanding chance in the $500K Four Pillars Midway. It’s naturally an open race but he comes here with a strong case off the back of his scintillating win at Kembla last weekend, when he only really saw clear going at the 200m but put a big margin on his rivals late. From barrier three, he should get all the favours this week.
Recommended Price: $10
Confidence Level: 3/5
Missing the Golden Rose and top early spring races might just play into the hands of Switzerland who comes here with a lovely sense of timing off a dominant win in the Roman Consul Stakes last start, normally a very good guide to this race. Jmac takes the ride and from a midfield draw has options to go either side of the straight.
Recommended Price: $4.60
Confidence Level: 4/5
The Vase is usually the right form for the Derby and expecting that to be the case here with King of Thunder. The Sydney trained gelding was a bit keen early in the run so having that run under his belt should hopefully take that freshness out of him. From barrier one he draws to do no work and James McDonald can produce him late.
Recommended Price: $5.00
Confidence Level: 3/5
The Japanese raider took home the Golden Eagle last year and if anything their top representative this year, Ascoli Piceno, is even better credentialed, having won at Group 1 level in her homeland and never having finished worse than second in six starts. Just need some luck from the draw to be winning.
Recommended Price: $4.00
Confidence Level: 4/5
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