Races

Chris Nelson’s Saturday Gold Coast Preview

Posted on | Posted by Chris Nelson

RACE 1

It’s Magic Millions time on the Gold Coast with successive Saturdays to look forward to. We kick off with a cracking race day tomorrow which is the perfect lead up to next week’s 2 & 3yo features. Track should be in the good range, bring it on! Confident we can land the winner in this opening race however everybody else will be thinking the same & getting a decent price will be the hard part. The horse is (1) ITCHINTOGO who beat all bar Zip Code on debut, that one is well fancied in Magic Millions markets, only other outing was a tough win in the Phelan Ready. Nos.2, 3 & 5 have all trialled well enough to figure in the placings.

Numbers: 1 – 3 – 2 – 5

Suggested Bet: ITCHINTOGO TO WIN.

RACE 2

Here’s a very interesting race which will see the winner fully qualify for next week’s 2yo Classic. The Waterhouse/Bott team provide the two favourites (1) SHIKI & (2) BY CHOICE. The former has to be a risk at 1100m should there be early pressure, the latter jumps from near enough to the outside gate, concerning factors in my opinion. I found it a near impossible task as I can find negatives for basically all runners which is always disappointing. (5) LEAVES OF LORIEN backs up from a third last week behind Warwoven, might be overs here & worth a very small ‘throw at the stumps’.

Numbers: 5 – 1 – 2 – 3

Suggested Bet: LEAVES OF LORIEN EACH-WAY (very small bet).

RACE 3

The Magic Millions maiden is always a very competitive affair. Looking through the form we have plenty with a 2 of 3 next to their name suggesting there’s a lot of runners very close to breaking through. I’ll back a couple should the markets allow & they are (12) CRASH THE PARTY & (10) SPANISH TREASURE who both put in very good runs at their latest starts. For tipping purposes I’ll lean to the former who clearly draws the better gate & should get a good steer from Craig Williams. (10) SPANISH TREASURE comes out of the Gold Edition won by Grafterburners, very strong form line, just needs that ounce of luck early. Throw the very rough (5) FORGING AHEAD into wide exotics.

Numbers: 12 – 10 – 16 – 5

Suggested Bet: CRASH THE PARTY & SPANISH TREASURE TO WIN.

RACE 4

(8) SCRIPTED certainly caught the eye first up off a very long break charging home to beat all bar the since won again YOYO YEEZY. Second up she was again strong to the line after sitting deep throughout just missing the winner late. On paper the likely tempo doesn’t look overly suitable here however she’s good enough to overcome that. (4) YES LULU bounced back from her cardiac arrythmia two back to almost get the cash last week, can figure in the finish once again. (6) MAMUSHKA maps to lead & clearly at that, if allowed to dictate might take running down.

Numbers: 8 – 4 – 6 – 11

Suggested Bet: SCRIPTED TO WIN.

RACE 5

One factor which looks fairly certain in this race is a strong tempo. The likely favourite Now Is The Hour is quick & unfortunately drawn wide, will it be ‘handlebars down’ from Angela Jones trying to cross many other pacy types drawn to her inside? If that ends up being the case the race could be set up for a backmarker. (14) ABENDER may be that backmarker & at the big odds it’s worth a few dollars each-way to find out, strong to the line last start should have finished closer & if they are running home down the outside look for him late. (1) AXUIS holds a good record, might need a little luck early however in the mix. I’ll leave (5) NOW IS THE HOUR in the placings however that barrier is of definite concern.   

Numbers: 14 – 1 – 5 – 2

Suggested Bet: ABENDER EACH-WAY (very small bet).

RACE 6

The Sunlight Consolation looks an interesting race. Should there be money for the resuming (8) MISS FREELOVE I’ll be following it in. Yet to win at two fresh attempts to date she has finished in the placings, her lead up trial she sat back before running home nicely under no serious pressure. She could need the run, she could not, market will hopefully tell us. (2) TORQUE TO BE SURE ran into all sorts of trouble when we last saw him back in early December, he looked to be running into the finish at the time. Gap between runs is concerning, another market watch however I will have a saver at the double-figure odds. (11) FORGOTTEN SPIRIT was very good last start however the wide gate is a concern.

Numbers: 8 – 2 – 11 – 4

Suggested Bet: Follow any market support for MISS FREELOVE/saver TORQUE TO BE SURE.

RACE 7

(10) MISS JOELENE is looking to make it consecutive Waves as she won this race last year & I’d suspect she’s going just as well if not better this time around. Strong winner two back she then produced a huge finish to beat all bar the winner last start in a race not run to suit at all. The additional 200m hopefully offsets the possible lack of tempo. (13) SNITZANOVA was a complete forgive last start when back & wide, previous run she beat all bar the top tip. (1) PORT LOCKROY is capable of showing up from the good gate.

Numbers: 10 – 13 – 1 – 6

Suggested Bet: MISS JOELENE TO WIN.

RACE 8

Team Munce trained (1) PAYLINE ran down (2) GOLDEN BOOM in this race last year & here they are again at the top of the market. There does look to be very good speed in the race & GOLDEN BOOM has been done no favours drawing near to the extreme outside gate. He likely ends up posted in a speed battle whereas the perfectly drawn (1) PAYLINE will be parked off speed enjoying a cosy run. With a gap in the straight he’s going to be very hard to keep out. (3) KING KAPA could improve sharply at odds, worth including in exotics.  

Numbers: 1 – 2 – 3 – 6

Suggested Bet: PAYLINE TO WIN.

RACE 9

The feature is the 3-million-dollar Sunlight which brings together a crack field of 3yo’s. With the speedy Swordplay & Ice Kool drawn widely plus other pace coming through underneath this should be run very quickly. (2) GRAFTERBURNERS won’t be interested in that early speed & from his ideal draw J. Mac will let him find his feet early, unbeaten this prep racing in the best form of his life he’s going to be bursting through late. Maiden galloper (11) SYLPH is another who can let the speed go from a good gate whilst (6) SAVVY HALLIE resumes with some strong winter/spring form behind her, market? I’m a big (5) ICE KOOL fan however that wide gate is a big concern.

Numbers: 2 – 11 – 6 – 5

Suggested Bet: GRAFTERBURNERS TO WIN.

RACE 10

The front running (3) READY TO SCHIPP should lead this final race & will give a big sight. However, I’m with the Gollan trained (9) BOSSED UP who had his first go at 1200m last start when running home well between runners late. He’s got no weight & a soft draw in this race, should he be close enough he’s a big chance of getting over the top late. Stablemate (8) JOHN RAMBO is very hard to catch however there’s one given with him, he’ll be charging home late. Another Gollan runner (5) BOOMTOWN BOSS shouldn’t be overlooked.

Numbers: 9 – 8 – 3 – 5

Suggested Bet: BOSSED UP EACH-WAY.

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