Group 1 racing is over in Victoria for another season, but the high quality action continues at Sandown this Saturday on Easter Cup Day!
Easter Cup Day is one of the late autumn’s time-honoured meetings, and talent-rich editions of the namesake race, and the Victoria Handicap headline the program.
You can find my complete 2023 Easter Cup Day Tips below!
Party For One has returned two nice performances since resuming and is ready to strike on Easter Cup Day.
The Rubick mare finished second, beaten half a length in BM72 company in late January before filling the minors behind Parisal last time out.
She’s been freshened since that effort and looks to have several of these rivals covered for class.
Royal Merchant has returned some eye-catching performances here at Sandown, and I thought that this looks a good opportunity to win on a Saturday.
The Maher & Eustace-trained filly won each of her first two starts back this time, and she has continued to perform well in black type company recently, finishing a head second behind Shuffle Dancer in the Angus Armanasco Stakes last time out.
She’s rock-hard fit and this is a drop in class.
I Am Unstoppable puts his unbeaten record on the line in the Redoute’s Choice Stakes, and I am keen to stick with him.
The I Am Invincible colt showed plenty of promise at the trials prior to debuting and put the writing on the wall with a dominant effort over 1000m at Morphettville a fortnight ago.
With natural improvement, something like this looks well within his means.
This looms as one of the most open races on the program and at publish, we’re faced with $7 the field.
General Firepower takes winning form into the race and does look a key winning chance again.
The Mike Moroney-trained has improved noticeably with each of his three runs back this time, filling the minors in BM64 company before recording a near four-length win at Sale last time out.
Fitter fourth-up, we can have an each way play at the price ($8.50 at publish).
This looks to be another wide open race, but Our Heidi has continued to improve with racing and as the bar has been raised this time in, and I am going to stick with her.
The Mick Price & Mick Kent Jnr-trained has finished worse than second only once in her last five appearances, and she returned to winning form with an eye-catching performance at The Valley on William Reid Night.
She’s rock-hard fit, which gives her an edge over many key rivals, and she’s drawn to receive every chance again from an inside draw.
Muramasa hasn’t shown his best form in two starts back from a spell, but this is a big drop in class, and I thought that he was a touch of overs at around the $18 mark (at publish).
Muramasa enjoyed something of a meteoric rise to prominence during his debut preparation in spring, winning on debut and finishing second in the Neds Classic, before ending his campaign fifth in a Derby.
So far this time, he has contested the CS Hayes Stakes and Australian Guineas, and he has been freshened since the latter.
From the good draw and under Damien Oliver, and I think he can have an impact in something like this, and we can have an each way play at the price.
Clemenceau has returned to the races in typically consistent form this time, and I think he’ll finally get his chance to strike in Saturday’s Victoria Handicap.
The Team Hawkes-trained sprinter finished fifth, beaten less than two lengths in the Maurice McCarten Stakes first up from a spell, and he kept his best work for late to finish the flare of a nostril second in the Star Kingdom Stakes.
Fitter third-up, he should be able to settle in behind another honest pace this week, and I don’t think he’ll get a better opportunity to win some black type.
Early Melbourne Cup fancy White Marlin makes his eagerly awaited return to the races in the Easter Cup, and anything close to the form that he should last spring would be good enough to win.
White Marlin has made five career appearances in Ireland and Australia, and he is yet to taste anything but success.
A recent trial suggested he’s returned the same way, and I can’t wait to see him going around.
Not an easy way to end the day from a betting perspective, but I do think that Daytona Bay has genuine claims.
The Peter Moody-trained gelding was outstanding last time in, and while he is yet to strike in three starts back this time, there is no doubt that he has stripped fitter and improved.
The drop in class suits, as should getting out to the mile.