I can only be bothered
trying the stakes races… 
Rare Treat Handicap
1st: Get
The Point
2nd: Good Point
At the moment that race should be a walk-over for Get The
Point. Good Point is just racing her days out and if she gets a place once the Final Furlong
entries are in she’ll be lucky, and I’ll be stoked.
[b]Fountain of Youth
Stakes[/b]
1st: Strike It Rich
2nd: As You Wish
3rd: Gotta Go
This is going
to be a top race. It will be interesting to see who is using this as a prep to go into the
$1,000,000 Caulfield Guineas next week, which is really the race that kick starts the
year. I’m liking Strike It Rich. He’s won his last three over shorter distances which may
be a little problem, but he’s got a lot of class. Last attempt at the distance was the
Breeders’ Cup where he finished fourth. As You Wish is running well and has a 8F GIII win
under his belt two starts back. Gotta Go hasn’t won a race yet this year but is going well
and should like the distance. Crimson Lord is the other horse I like in the field, but he
hasn’t really had a chance to race against this sort of field
yet.
Gulfstream Park Breeders’ Cup Handicap
1st: Mission
Bay
2nd: Studly Lady
3rd: Highland Desperado
Unfortunately not the hottest field for a
GI race. Mission Bay loves a bit of distance and is coming off an 11F GIII win last start.
Should be the one to beat. Looking at the rest of the field Studly Lady is the only standout.
She’s beaten one of the top SC girls Clendon Park twice this year. She won 11F GIII last
start. Looks good for this but not sure if she’ll beat Mission Bay home. Highland Desperado
was a shot in the dark for third with not much else in the field. He hasn’t won since he was
3YO and he is 6YO now…
San Marino Handicap
1st: Cuban
Contender
2nd: Drifter’s Prince
3rd: Flawless Victory
Hard race to pick with no
standout performer in the field. Cuban Contender has the best record so far this year so
he’s my top pick. Drifter’s Prince will run a good race. He’s a good competitor and raced
against the best horses last year for some consistent placings. Flawless Victory is my choice
for third.
Santa Maria Handicap
1st: Hollywood Mystery
2nd:
Twilight Embers
3rd: Chief’s Lady
How do you pick this one?! Well Hollywood Mystery won
the big GI for the girls earlier in the year then went out and came fourth against the boys
in the Underwood Stakes. I like her for the win. Twilight Embers is the champion horse of
last year for a lot of people and she’ll run strong. She won 9F GII last start, but the
competition wasn’t the hottest. Chief’s Lady was on Hollywood Mystery’s heels last start
and could upset after a nice rest period. Other horses? Count them all in. Snowflake and
Highland Grace have both had good races this year, but I’ll go with these
girls…
Flight Stakes
1st: Can’t Catch Me
2nd: Black
Magick
3rd: Spinning Hill
Awesome race here! The big 3YO fillies have turned out for this
one by the looks of it! Can’t Catch Me should remain undefeated for the year here. She’s
beaten each of these horses she’s running against. Distance should not be a problem for her.
Black Magick has met Can’t Catch Me once this year and was a beaten third. Should place
second here. She is coming off a strong GI win though. Spinning Hill is a big race girl and
she’s been there in each start this year. Looks good for this with a strong GI win over this
distance last start. Dangers? In The Know has chased Can’t Catch Me home her last two starts
for two seconds. Heiress has been strong this year with solid placings behind the top
girls.
Edward Manifold Stakes
1st: Dixie Double
2nd:
Striking Beauty
3rd:Brilliant Gold
The turf girls race now… Dixie Double looks strong
for this one. She’s won two stakes this year and looks prime for this. But, she might be a
sprinter and I might be bias… Striking Beauty beat Dixie in their last start, and has got
the better of her before. But yeah, go Dixie! Brilliant Gold is having her first turf start
this year and with some strong dirt performances under her belt, she could shake this up.
Dangers? Can’t really find them…
Turnbull Stakes
1st:
Irish Flyer
2nd: Cutlass
3rd: Highland Surprise
Hmm… Dunno bout this one. Think I’m
being bias again… Irish Flyer is the only stakes winner in the field but has been running
pretty crap this year. Cutlass looks good with a GI placing behind a top horse. Highland
Surprise has been pretty consistent this year and should run fourth.
Good luck people!
