Howdy, and The TOTE’s Summer Racing Challenge gets underway this Sunday and what an exceptional opportunity this is with over $40,000 in cash and prizes to be won. Week one of the challenge as we head to Tattersall’s Park for the 2012 Hobart Guineas meeting with races five to ten the featured events. And I will take a guess and say that we are playing on a firm racing surface.
Race 5 – Class 1 1400M
Definitely looking for horses with upside in this class 1 contest with All Day Sundae and Strictly Romance the clear on top selections. All Day Sundae has been impressive in all three career starts; 4th behind Faith’n’courage back in November in a strong form race and followed that with a 2nd over the 1200M at Launceston. The form improvement continued when winning impressively last start at Launceston over the six furlongs in strong time. Strictly Romance has only had the one start for a win over the 1100M at Hobart and the times and closing sectionals were very solid. Steps up to the 1400M and will need to cross from a wide gate but the win at the end of December was full of quality. The top weight, Status Seeker has been competitive in strong maiden/class 1 contests. Has a 3rd behind Musique Player and Showing The Faith over the mile at this track and a 3rd at the Launceston 1400M behind Smartie Artie and Visual Effects on his CV; those performances rank him as competitive in this race.
SELECTIONS: 1ST ALL DAY SUNDAE (8), 2ND STRICTLY ROMANCE (11), 3RD STATUS SEEKER (1), 4TH TALENT CODE (3)
Race 6 – Class 2 1400M
Heaven’s Choice looks the one here. Only six career starts with bookend wins at Launceston in January 201, where Triple Asset finished third, and January 2012. Four Victorian runs in between and was considered talented enough to contest the Listed Quezette Stakes at Caulfield last April. A couple of 3rds in fillies 0-68 company at Sandown Lakeside is good enough form for this and with Craig Newitt on board this 3YO Stratum filly will race right on the pace from the inside gate. Largs Lass will get back early but does have strong form over the 1200M and the extra 200M on Sunday should suit. Won her maiden over the Hobart 1200M 20 November and after a disappointing effort as favourite over 1100M she bounced back to form with another six furlong victory late December, accounting for Spy Wears Prado. Double Unique was horrible on the synthetic at Devonport on Boxing Day but she did win her initial two starts in Tasmania when favourite on both occasions; happy to forgive the last start failure and bank on a big improvement back to Hobart.
SELECTIONS: 1ST ***HEAVEN’S CHOICE (5), 2ND LARGS LASS (6), 3RD DOUBLE UNIQUE (4), 4TH SHOWING THE FAITH (2)
Race 7 – Fillies and Mares Handicap 1100M
Top race this. On her best form Triple Asset wins this race as she did record a victory at Group 3 level in the Janz at Morphettville 10 months ago. Followed that with a 4th behind Cute Emily in the Sires Produce in Adelaide but was awful in her last campaign in Melbourne prior to a spell. Four month break between runs and from barrier three with Dwayne Dunn to ride Triple Asset is the obvious top selection.Build A Bridge is an interesting runner; won four on the trot last campaign including a ‘W” over Geegees Blackflash. Obviously at the end of her campaign when 6th at Launceston and the 1100M might be a tad short, but appears well primed for this with two 900M trial wins at Hobart. Buzzing Along has form around Bionic Star and Anelene, including a very narrow victory in the 3YO Cup at Launceston. Dipped her toe in the Melbourne water when 7th of 11 over 1400M at Caulfield after racing on the pace and much better suited back to the 1100M and Tasmanian company.
SELECTIONS: 1ST TRIPLE ASSET (2), 2ND BUILD A BRIDGE (1), 3RD BUZZING ALONG (7), 4TH SORELL MISS (12)
Race 8 – 2012 Hobart Guineas 2100M
A very competitive race for the three year olds which could see a market containing as many as six runners under double figures.
The Anthony Freedman trained Carvaggio will start close to favourite for this $90k race and he is my number one selection. He did contest the Group 2 Stutt Stakes at Moonee Valley and only beaten 5.5 lengths behind Chase The Rainbow and Cute Emily. After a Pakenham failure Carvaggio has found career best form with wins at Ballarat, times 2, and the Sandown Lakeside. Also important to note that the two Ballarat wins were in Showcase class with the extra prize money attracting stronger fields than normal. The Greg Eurell trained filly French Tang strikes me as a galloper that will relish the 2100M of Sunday’s race. Progressive increases with the distance of her races; 2nd at Moonee Valley over the mile when she worked home nicely from the 400M peg, to a 3rd at the Valley again over the 2040M behind Zuma Rock. Finished 2.5 lengths astern of Zuma Rock in that race but does meet him a kg better at the weights for this clash.
Following on from that form line, Zuma Rock has to be competitive and he too will appreciate the distance increase for the Guineas.
SELECTIONS: 1ST CARVAGGIO (1), 2ND FRENCH TANG (13), 3RD ZUMA ROCK (2), 4TH VISUAL EFFECTS (14)
Race 9 – Summer Cup 2100M
Traditional lead up race for the Hobart Cup and if you are a Geegees Blackflash fan you are going to get a price. Tasmania’s top galloper has to carry 60kgs but that is fair enough considering his record and let’s remember that it is a 54kg minimum which means that some average gallopers are within 6kgs of the local champ. The 2010 Tasmanian Derby winner is undefeated this campaign including the Newmarket Handicap 1st up and a very strong win over Too Many Reds last start. On that narrow but tough win he isdefinitely racing like a horse in search of distance at the minute. Norsqui recorded a dour 2800M win at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day and started favourite in the Sandown Cup over the two miles when third. Did beat The Cleaner over the Hobart 2100M back in September but for mine he is going to come up well under his correct odds. Catwen Boy is a horse in form and does race well this track and distance. Emphatic 3.5 lenght winner at Devonport back in December and after a very ordinary performance at that track on Boxing Day, performed at his peak again when second in the Devonport Cup. Catwen Boy does have a 2nd and 3rd in restricted grade over the 2100M at this track. I am tipping the top four in the market but my ratings suggest the race falls away very quickly after that.
SELECTIONS: 1ST ***GEEGEES BLACKFLASH (1), 2ND CATWEN BOY (6), 3RD NORSQUI (2), 4TH THE CLEANER (7)
Race 10 – BM 68 Handicap 1600M
A race with limited chances to finish the program. I have settled on Highland Lassie who did appreciate the step up to the mile when 2ndbehind Luzambo at Launceston. Only a lenght behind Luzambo and does meet him 2kgs better at the weights. Luzambo improved markedly when 1st up from a spell, running 2nd over 1400M at Hobart and of course we know he backed that up with the victory at Launceston. Craig Newitt stays on board, which has to be a positive. Checkaboard Lounge is the travelling companion for the Guineas hopeful Zuma Rock, and is definitely a chance to pay the expenses in this restricted event. Has been consistent on the provincial circuit, including a 2nd at Stawell over 1600M but out of his depth when unplaced at Sandown and Flemington his last two efforts and fair to say that he will be better suited back to this grade.
SELCTIONS: 1ST HIGHLAND LASSIE (3), 2ND LUZAMBO (4), 3RD CHECKABOARD LOUNGE (2), 4TH MAYWYN ON TUESDAY (1)
Cheers and all the very best with your punting strategy in the exciting Summer Racing Challenge.
