2019 Ballarat Cup Day Tips & Preview
Former Victorian Bumper Blast can win on Bolton Sprint Day. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos

2019 Ballarat Cup Day Tips & Preview

Feature racing heads to Ballarat for Cup day on Saturday with a quality 10 race card for punters to devour.

The Ballarat Cup will be run over the 2000m and the accepted horses will be looking to put their name alongside previous winners such as Kiwia, Junoob and The Offer.

All of our tips for the entire card can be found here. 

each way
Race 1: Benchmark 78 (1200m) 12:25pm
#3 Lady Of Crebilly

Lady Of Crebilly represents good value in the opening race of the day. The Choisir mare has a good record at the distance and runs well fresh. The $13 available at time of publish in a big field is overs in my opinion.

Race 2: Benchmark 70 (1100m) 12:55pm
#3 Bam's On Fire

Bam’s On Fire is the one to beat in this benchmark 70 race. She ran third behind Gytrash at her last run last prep in June and a repeat of that performance will see her simply winning this race. She races well fresh and although she is being asked to carry the big weight she should prove to good. 

best bet
Race 3: Benchmark 78 Handicap (2600m) 1:30pm
#3 Creedance

I honestly thought Creedance would open up at more like $2.50 for this race and the $4.60 available at time of publish is a ridiculous price! He has only the three wins to his name and his sire Helmet has not produced a lot of stayers but he has been competitive in much tougher races than this in recent times. He is my best of the day. 

Race 4: Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1000m) 2:05pm
#7 La Girl

La Girl from the Hayes stable was very green on debut up the Flemington straight on debut. The Not A Single Doubt filly seemingly took as many steps sideways as she did forwards and she would have finished a lot closer to her stablemate had she knuckled down to the task out hand. i think she will be much better suited around the bend and she will take benefit from having a run under her belt. and a fitness edge on most of these. 

Race 5: Eureka Stockade (1400m) 2:40pm
#1 Can't Be Done & #3 Cassius

Can’t Be Done looks the one to beat His first up run at Flemington was very good and he will appreciate the step up in distance and the good barrier.

I thought Cassius represented good value first up. The Sebring gelding won an open class race as a two year old at Bendigo and he can run a cheeky race at double figures. 

Race 6: Suez McKeller Mile (1600m) 3:20pm
#1 Bumper Blast

Bumper Blast has won his last two races by a combined 8.3 lengths including a dominant win at Flemington in a benchmark 90 last time out. He will be required to carry 60kg in this but it is quite a step back in class. Craig Williams will need to be at his best from the tricky gate and he has a full field of 16 to navigate however he looks the most obvious bet in the race. 

Race 7: Benchmark 84 Handicap (1400m) 4:00pm
#6 Over Exposure

The form coming out of Adelaide has been producing plenty of winners in recent times and Over Exposure brings that to Victoria in this race. He was narrowly denied at Listed and Group 3 level back in May and his first up record is good. 

Race 8: Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) 4:40pm
#5 Dr Drill

There isn’t much of Dr Drill but he is a very consistent performer. Craig Williams got stuck into him early at Cranbourne and the little fella responded really well to win easily in the end. He has drawn the inside for this and he looks the horse to beat considering the weight scale as well. 

Race 9: Magic Millions 3&4 YO Classic (1100m) 5:20pm
#7 King Of Hastings

The Anthony Freedman stable has been low key flying and they look to have a smart one in King Of Hastings. He ran second to Super Seth at Caulfield who then went on to win the Guineas and he was only narrowly denied at The Valley last start. A repeat of those tow performances will see him go close here. 

each way
Race 10: Ballarat Tonks Plate (1200m) 5:55pm
#4 Runson & #11 Superhard

Let’s finish the day with a couple of roughies. Hopefully we have built a bank by now.

Liam Riordan takes the ride on Runson after Stephen Baster’s retirement and I’d love to see him be more aggressive on the horse as I think he does his best racing on the speed. He is going better than his form suggests and will run better than a $31 shot.

Superhard has won seven of his 19 race starts to date and is two from four when first up. He too seems over the odds at $17 at time of publish and is worth a small each way play.