It is undoubtedly one of the best days of racing at Warwick Farm all year and we are set for an outstanding card on 2018 Inglis Classic Day on Saturday.
The rail will be in the true position around the entire Warwick Farm course for 2018 Inglis Classic Day and at the time of publish, we are looking at a ‘Good 4’.
Eleven two-year-olds will step out in this year’s Lonhro Plate and of those runners, four are on debut.
Satin Slipper ($3.60), Sanbar ($11) and Make ‘Em Cry ($9) have all made just one appearance at the races so far, but each will be seeking to keep alive an unbeaten streak.
Chris Waller will saddle who horses in Burbank ($14) and Phoneme ($12) and while both face a step up in class into this race, they appear to have plenty of talent.
There is just too much that can happen in this race and I am happy to stay out of it from a betting perspective.
Eight stayers will step out in the second and Chris Waller will saddle have of the field. The leading Sydney trainer frequently dominates races like this, but his best chances in this particular race appear to be Xebec ($4.50) and Chatelard ($5).
Xebec is yet to win a race since arriving in Australia last year, but he is rock-hard fit and will relish stepping out to a mile-and-a-half. The son of Mizzen Mast was caught at the tail of the field in the Liberty International Underwriters BM84 (2000m) on January 20th, but flew home to finish only 1.7 lengths off the winner.
Chatelard has steadily built to the task this time and is primed for a return to winning form here. The Rip Van Winkle gelding finished fifth in the TAB Rewards BM79 (1900m) on January 10th, before boxing on well to finish 3rd in the Liberty International Underwriters BM84 last time. Brenton Avdulla shouldn’t have an issue finding a position on pace in this small field and he will give them something to chase.
Godolphin gelding Beijing Board ($4.20) is seeking a third-consecutive win here, but is yet to be tested at the distance. The son of Dubawi has produced tough performances this time in, but will need plenty of luck again.
Six horses remain in contention for the Inglis Sprint and the result is probably now the ‘surest thing’ of the day following the scratching of Nature Strip.
Multiple Group 1 champion She Will Reign ($1.30) has a big class edge over everything is in this field, is a proven first-up performer and should just win. The daughter of Manhattan Rain capped her two-year-old season with a dominant win in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) and resumed in spring for a classy win in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m). This is a big step back in class from both of those races and she should just be winning.
There is simply no value left for She Will Reign at her current price and subsequently, I am happy to sit back and watch her performance.
This weekend’s Highway Handicap will be contested at the sprint trip of 1200m and has drawn sixteen country horses.
This is an extremely open field and at the time of publish, Try A Lil Harder is the $4.20 favourite. The Statue Of Liberty mare has made only four appearances at the races since debut in 2016, but has posted two dominant wins from as many starts this time and should be right in the finish again on Saturday.
My Tagoson was a strong and consistent performer in these Highway races last time in and is worth consideration at each-way odds of $14/$4.20. The Octagonal gelding comfortably won Highway races over 1400m and a mile respectively, but had clearly had enough by the time he finished ninth in the Highway Consolation race on The Everest Day. He generally comes to hand pretty quickly and has the notable advantage of Robert Thompson in the saddle.
There’s more than ten winning chances in this field, but I am happy to have a small each-way bet on My Tagoson at his current price.
The feature has drawn a slick field of two-year-olds and we could see a genuine Golden Slipper contender come out of the race.
Sanctimonious ($3) carries winning form into the Inglis Classic and is set to jump race favourite. One of several outstanding two-year-old prospects for Tony McEvoy this season, Sanctimonious broke through for a maiden race win via a dominant performance at Moonee Valley last time and looks as though he could go on with the job here.
Ballistica has yet to debut at the races, but she has drawn ideally into this field and has received the greatest share of bets in our Inglis Classic market at the time of publish; firming into $4.40. The Smart Missile filly has dominated two barrier trials in recent weeks and appears to have conditions to suit here.
Plenty could happen in this race, but I am happy to follow the money on Ballistica in this race.
Only eight three-year-olds will step out in this year’s Eskimo Prince Stakes, but the depth of talent confirmed in the race suggests it is going to be one of the best on Inglis Classic Raceday.
Single Bullet ($21) is a bit of a non-winner, but he has been racing well and should be right in the finish once again on Saturday. The Not A Single Doubt colt ran second in the Wyong Magic Millions 3YO & 4YO (1200m) on December 21st, before finishing third in the Wilkes Quality (1100m) last time out.
Goodfella ($9.50) has also been racing well and is worth consideration at each-way odds, while Godolphin colt Kementari will make his first appearance of the Autumn Carnival and has been backed into $3 favouritism. The Lonhro colt has typically required a run to find his best, but on class alone he is right in this.
Siege Of Quebec ($3.60) resumed for a dominant win in the Wilkes Quality and he should prove extremely difficult to beat in this race. The Fastnet Rock colt won each of his first two starts upon debuting in winter last year, before ending his preparation second in the Listed The Rosebud (1100m). He will only improve into this race and is my Best Bet at Warwick Farm on Saturday.
The Breeders’ Classic always attracts a smart and open field of mares and this year’s edition is no exception, as nearly every horse is a live chance.
Egyptian Symbol ($3.50) and Bonny O’reilly ($3.80) have continued to trade favouritism in our Breeders’ Classic market and they are the two runners that punters appear to want.
Egyptian Symbol has been a strong and consistent performer for Bjorn Baker throughout her entire racing career and will step out third-up here. The daughter of Stratum won the Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m) first-up in December and boxed on for third in the Magic Millions Snippets (1200m) last time out on January 13th. With improvement, she’ll be tough to beat.
Bonny O’reilly found terrific form through autumn and winter last year and if she can replicate that, she’ll be tough to beat.
There’s plenty of pace in this race and that could play to the favour of a horse like Faraway Town ($8), who will take a place behind the leaders and look to run on. The daughter of Not A Single Doubt flew home to win a Randwick 1200m race first-up on January 20th and with improvement, can go close here. She represents terrific value in what is an open field.
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Eight horses will step out in the Bowness Stud Mile and it is another open race from a betting perspective.
Show A Star ($2.60) returned to winning form in a 1500m race last time and looms as the horse to beat again. The Excites gelding will look to take up the running in this small field and with only 53.5kgs in tow, will prove difficult to run down.
Supply And Demand ($4.20), More To Gain ($5) and Testashadow ($5.50) and have genuine claims on this race, however I am happy to take the value in this field for Nat King Cu ($9.50). The King Cugat gelding resumed for a tough win at huge odds at Warwick Farm on Australia Day and with natural improvement, can continue the impressive run of form.
Ten horses remain in the field for the final race following the early scratching of Princefamous.
Fickle Folly ($4.20) has continued to receive a steady support of bets in our market and looks likely to jump a warm favourite.
Dal Cielo ($5) is a proven first-up performer and appears to be the value in this field. The Per Incanto gelding was a strong and consistent performer throughout his 2017 autumn preparation and has trialled extremely well in the lead-up to this race.