Friday, October 30, 2009

Derby day tips: Bigger, better more satisfying.

Race 1: Banking on good some country lead-up form for my two which is always a little dicey. I get the feeling that The Comedian could be a bit special so I'll lean that way. Just so you don't think I'm really Wayne "Take Avenue each Way" Harris, my second elect is rank outsider Ruse de Guerre.

Race 2: Like 4:00AM outside Rowers, this race always has the smell of desperation and shame. However, two horses that might be a little better than their drunk desperate mates are Hume and Hoorang. Don't be surprised if Light Vision shows them just how mediocre they are, even with his big weight.

Race 3: Run for Naara.

Race 4: Cool, cool race. Also tough. If it was raining I'd put all my $$$ for the day on the Shellscrape/Phelan Ready Quinella and go home. That not being the case, I'm still pretty happy to work around those two. But I'll add in a couple at value in Delago Bolt (whose one run down the straight six was full of merit chasing home Black Caviar) and Marquardt who looks back after a strong run behind Avenue.

Race 5: When peaking (which he seems to be!) Zipping is at his best over this trip and is my top pick here. Beyond that, perhaps the Sydney raiders - Rangirangdoo, Racing to Win and Drumbeats but really a ??? race for me and I'll go super easy.

Race 6: Shamoline Warrior a big chance here and I may just stick with him. Rockferry and Our Heir Apparent the two that could cause it the most problems. At really good value, Our Heir Apparent each way is my pick here.

Race 7: I'll be value shopping here for sure. Glowlamp, Messenger, Zarita and Jolies Shinju.

Race 8: Olonana flies first up and I'll be pounding it. I get this sneaky suspicion that News Alert is up to this level as well so I might add it each way as well.

Race 9: Triple Honour could win this race, maybe?? Perhaps Largo Lad and Occidentalis could run a race at some nice each way value as well.

Captain's Derby Day Tips Me Hearties

Race 1: Kidnapped.

Race 2: This is the still the Saab to me. Black Saab rules! I refuse to call it the Lexus. There's too much Eddie McGuire about Lexus. No, if I call it anything else, it will be the Dalgety as it was known as prior to becoming the Saab. Nothing speaks of desperation like the Saab...as the Professor put it early in the week, "it's a B-grade shitfight". And they are all shit-fighting to sneak into the Cup with feather-weights. And emerging out of the pack from said shitfight: Hume.

Race 3: Run For Naara.

Race 4: Bloody hell, a 3yo race down the Flemington straight...anything could win this and it becomes an absolute lottery if they split. Shellscrape is a favourite of mine and will appreciate any give out of the ground. Headway's last run was super and the straight six might be up her alley, so I'll go with those two and we'll see what happens.

Race 5: Thankfully Sir Slick puts some pace into this race for the backmarkers, i.e. the entire rest of the field. Think Viewed is going well enough to win this, even at a trip which is probably a bit short for him. That said, if you like Viewed for the Cup, hit him today...he'll shorten dramatically if he runs well, with the possibility that Efficient may be out of Cup contention. You never know with Lloyd Williams' spin doctoring.

Race 6: Shamoline Warrior looks to be a fine stayer in the making and he's hard to go past. Monaco Consul's finishing burst in the Spring Champion makes him the logical danger; but is he simply another Moroney mudlark? Thinking one of those two will win unless they crunch up a couple of sedatives into Onemorenomore's feed. If he could only relax...Smash Shamoline Warrior or Monaco Consul.

Race 7: I'm going to look away form the obvious here and go with Zarita for a bit of value. She loves this track and in particular, this trip. These fillies and mares races like the Myer Classic and Coolmore aren't always kind to the favourites. Neroli is at around $8.50. Glowlamp is at $61. Glowlamp beat Neroli last start. Do the maths. Zarita and Glowlamp each way.

Race 8: Another lottery sprint with First Command a desErving favourite but am going to go with Turffontein who's in super form this prep, and Olonana who can fly 1st up.

Race 9: McClintock.

DON'T FORGET OUR MELBOURNE CUP PREVIEW, WILL BE UP MONDAY!!!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

The Captain taking things into his own hands

Now Captain I know how serious you take your racing but I never thought I would see you attempt to do this!

WHAB Community Announcement

WHAB and Mr T have joined forces for a very special community announcement

Monday, October 26, 2009

Continuing Cox Plate Surliness/Greatest Melbourne Cup Preview Ever

Yes, I'm still surly after the Cox Plate. I hate it when 3.y.o's win the Cox Plate, because I am never on them. You can't line up their form with the other runners. They have 49.5kg's, even less for fillies. They are complete unknowns and occasionally one of them proves to be the real deal, but you had no way of telling this because said horse didn't even run a place in the Guineas. In hindsight, his run in the Guineas was pretty good, after making his move from the carpark; but still, it was the Guineas and he ran 5 lengths 5th. So yeah, I've been a surly bastard this week and I ain't apologising for it. Watching Shane Watson bowl the most fucked over in the history of one day cricket, to almost lose us the first one-dayer in India didn't exactly help my mood.

But life at WHAB goes on. We'll be busy this week preparing a Derby Day post, all the while working on the Greatest Melbourne Cup Preview Ever. Friday: Derby Day Preview. Monday: Greatest Melbourne Cup Preview Ever featuring the return of JB. Mark it.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

COX PLATE Preview

1. EL SEGUNDO (13) 59 Luke Nolen $15

Captain: He loves the Valley and won this race in commanding fashion in 2007 after a close segundo in 2006. In both those preparations, his form wavered somewhat in his run(s) prior to the Cox Plate. I'm guessing the same thing is going on here though it's appeared a little more alarming. The word is he got struck in the eye by a horseshoe, or as Rabs Warren might put it, "an iron bar of some description" in the Turnbull. If that's the case, then it was probably a pretty good effort. Just can't rule a line through him, I expect Little to have him sharper for this at his favourite track/distance.

Professor: I landed a big bet on this guy in the 2007 version of this race so there's some history and love here. It starts at the top. Starting from the top the theme that I'm going to hammer here is that there are a number of live chances in this one - whilst there isn't a Northerly in this bunch - the Cox is actually pretty deep. It started it's prep looking in the form of its career and has tapered off a little since but on its day it can win this.

2. ZIPPING (2) 59 Steven Arnold $17

Captain: Lloyd Williams has been talking ol' Zipping up a bit in the press so we can't take him too lightly. All I'll say is that last year was one of the weakest, if not the weakest Cox Plate field in history, and he couldn't run down Maldivian who was out of form at the time.

Professor: Pity I can't find an early Mackinnon market because that's its race for me. Probably not going well enough to trouble them this time, though the Williams horses have a way of popping up when you least expect them at this time of year so I won't say no, I just won't be betting on this.

3. VISION AND POWER (4) 59 Hugh Bowman $15

Captain: On his Doncaster winning form, he can win this. Takes forever to come into form but think he's there now. I like V & P because he reminds me of two of my heroes, T & P. "Say Terrance"..."yes Phillip"..."would you like a monkey claw?!". Sometimes racing makes sense like this. Anyways, I reckon he'll run well, not sure if he'll be winning, but he'll be somewhere thereaboots bud-dy.

Professor: Absolute knockout horse in this. Has taken a long time to get any sort of race fitness in this prep but should be at the top of its game here. Nice run in the Turnbull and even if it doesn't rain probably deserves to be at about $10 rather than the juicy $18s you can and should be snapping up right now. The monkey claw is smelly.

4. NOM DE JEU (5) 59 Michael Rodd $71

Captain: Been a little disappointing this prep but has the big plus of the cunning Rodd on board. Would never think that he is a better chance to win a Cox Plate than a Caulfield Cup. But Rodd has got plenty of roughies home before...

Professor: Doesn't look to be going well enough this prep. I'll be looking for a sign that it can figure in the Melbourne Cup but that's the only interest for me here.

5. SCENIC SHOT (6) 59 Shane Scriven $14

Captain: There's nothing like dropping a few big notes on this fella during the Brisbane Winter Carnival; it's money in the bank. $5 on the Shot to win the Doomben Cup? Yes please. $5 on the Shot to win the Brisbane Cup? Yes please, and some. He'll probably head back to the Farm next year and take out another Brisbane Cup with 65kg. I would have really liked to have seen him in the Caulfield Cup with not much weight, think he could have parked somewhere in that leading bunch and might have given it a shake. His Turnbull run was very good and on that, he's got to be some chance.

Professor: I would have smashed this in the Caulfield Cup based on its lead up work in the Turnbull. Didn't go for that race. Isn't entered in the Melbourne Cup. Those were the two I thought it could win. This is kind of a hollow feeling for me. When your favourite horse has his first tilt at Spring glory in an unsuitable race it's a lot like sitting through a rubbish comedy festival waiting for the Doug Anthony All Stars reunion only to see them play throw your arms around me instead of I fuck dogs. 2040 at Moonee Valley seems unsuitable but D Morton is Australian racings most unappreciated genius and if this was the target, fucked if I won't back it. Then I read today about it being the target of a massive bet and I know I'm seeing what I should be. Of the true stayers in this race, I'd take this above Speed Gifted or Zipping any day.

6. BLACK PIRANHA (8) 59 Tye Angland $16

Captain: A long and arduous Autumn/Winter campaign has this guy crying out for the paddock methinks. You look at it's form through the Easter Carnival in Sydney, through to the Stradbroke and there is just no comparison to what he's showing at the moment. $16 doesn't represent any great value to me, particularly when he's untried at the trip.

Professor: Captain and I are split on this horse. I think it's cherry ripe here and represents some fine value at the $16 mark. The Captain thinks it hasn't come back. I think it's gut busting run with 60 kg first up has taken a while to wear off and I'll be thinking long and hard (hee hee) about this one on race day. Got to say the Toorak run was unlucky and with a decent passage he wins that race easily.

7. SIR SLICK (11) 59 Michelle Payne *Write Your Own Ticket*

Captain: Some people have too much money on their hands. The connections of this horse have squandered hundreds of thousands of dollars in acceptance fees for races that he has absolutely no chance of winning. They could have taken some orphans around the world in a hot air balloon, visited starving kids in Africa or built a Centre For Kids Who Can't Read Good; but no, they said fuck you to the unfortunate kids of the world, we want to lead the Cox Plate for 1200m.

Professor: They'll call just about anyone Sir these days. Likely to run a 2:01 according to his bat-shit crazy owner who I'm sure sells discount Persian rugs as his day job.

8. ROAD TO ROCK (1) 59 Glyn Schofield $26

Captain: Sounds more like an AC/DC album title than a Cox Plate runner. But seriously, this is the first time ever where I could respect A J Cummings for talking up a stable roughie. His form is pretty good and his name is not Red Lord or Zavite in a Caulfield Cup. He has run some very solid races in Group 1 WFA company. He's also had a few good looks at the Valley track. Roughie of choice for bogans here. "For Road about to Rock........

Fire! We salute you!".

Professor: At $41 in early markets. Yes please. Forget it ran in the Epsom where it clearly couldn't swim. Yep. I'm on this one each way.

9. SPEED GIFTED (12) 59 Dwayne Dunn $10

Captain: Should have run in the Caulfield Cup. Yeah, we're stilled pissed.

Professor: Should have run in the Caulfield Cup. Yeah, we're stilled pissed.

10. WHOBEGOTYOU (10) 57.5 Damien Oliver $3

Captain: Loves the Valley. Neigh, is a monster at the Valley. Loves the trip. Barring bad luck, a sloppy ride, or a Savabeel-esque finish from Manhattan Rain, he wins. But this is racing. Naturalism was the shortest price Cox Plate favourite that I can remember in 1992; he fell. That said, WBGY drifting out to $3 is enough to start getting me tempted for a massive plunge...

Professor: Deserved favourite but opening at $2.70, came up too short in a race of this quality. There are any number of sources for you to read a puff piece about this horse so I'll leave it at that.

11. HEART OF DREAMS (3) 57.5 Craig Newitt $5.50

Captain: Just as Road To Rock sounds like an Acca Dacca anthem, Heart Of Dreams sounds like it could have been a gay cowboy ballad for these guys:

"Just like eeeevery gay cowboy, sings a saaad, sad song..."

I'm not that interested. He's no value here, $5.50 second favourite at WBGY's favourite track? He'll run well but ultimately, WBGY is the better horse, particularly at the Valley.

Professor: Early winner of the 2009 WHAB battle of the words but I won't be having it in the Cox.

12. ROCK KINGDOM (9) 57.5 Nash Rawiller $17

Captain: Gai paid the $130,000 late entry fee at the urgings of husband Robbie (see Fine Cotton Affair). So "Rock Kingdom" might not actually be Rock Kingdom here, but instead a secret super-clone of Northerly...watch betting...seriously though, his form is alright but he just doesn't do it for me. Watch betting...

Professor: Not for me. Won a terrible Epsom in the middle of a flash flood and that's the best it's gone so not for me.

13. MANHATTAN RAIN (14) 49.5 Craig Williams $21

Captain: Maybe. Not sure he's the best 3.y.o to contest the Cox but 49.5kg and sound form says maybe. Outside gate could be the biggest problem, but if he can track Sir Slick into the race for the first 1200m and then avoid the speedbump that was Sir Slick, then maybe he could just do it.

Professor: I'm not usually a fan of the three-year-olds in this race but this is the kind of horse that I might make an exception for. As Gai constantly reminds us, this is a three year old in a five year olds body. It's chubby. Ah Gai, if I was fifty years older. It was raining. Not normal rain. Chubby Rain.

14. SO YOU THINK (7) 49.5 Glen Boss $12

Captain: Bart is not so smug here, in fact I believe he has said that he'd be surprised if this wins. Had an excursion to the outside fence at his first gallop at the Valley earlier in the week, and on that alone, I'll pass. $12?! Are you serious? On what basis? His Guineas run? Fuck me.

Professor: Boss/Cummings. I hear Adolf Hitler is the strapper for this one so the true axis of evil is involved. The likelihood of me giving a balanced view on this is minimal but I'm sure it will have fans. According to the paper of record, Glen Boss is still getting the Sydney daggers out of his back and Bart Cummings is smarter than Jesus. So You Think I want to throw up if it wins?

PROFESSOR: I'm not going to give a top four, more a value four here. I think if you are a value punter you'd want to work around 1-3-5-6-8 & 13. That's all I've got. I'll nominate Black Piranha as my top value bet for this one from Vision and Power and Chubby Rain. Scenic Shot for sentimental reasons and Road to Rock the out and out roughie that has to be worth a little bit of each way currency. This may all get thrown out the window if in the mounting yard I see a twinkle in old El Segundo's eye.

CAPTAIN: Just can't go past Whobegotyou. I'm not going to do that thing where you're sure a certain horse is going to win and talk yourself into other "value" runners, because at the end of the day, "value" means nothing if it doesn't win.

1. Whobegotyou
2. Speed Gifted
3. El Segundo

Working around those with Scenic Shot, Road To Rock and V & P.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Caulfield Cup Post-Mortem/Cox Plate Preview Friday

The first point to make post-2009 Caulfield Cup is that along the rails was the place to be. In earlier races, horses that hit the lead were angling back towards the fence when clear. So that's where we take our hat off to Brad Rawiller; he stayed as close to the fence as he could, then when he saw the opening along the rails, well, he didn't need a second invitation. It also helped him being on a horse who is far better than anyone not named Bart Cummings thought he'd be. When you're the first horse to win a Melbourne Cup, then return the following year to win a Caulfield Cup since the great Rising Fast (1954/55!), then you're really something. To give you some perspective and scope on what Viewed has done here, and the horse he has emulated:

RISING FAST

If not for a philosophical and diplomatic attitude, Rising Fast would have won a second Melbourne Cup with a mammoth 63.5kg. Owner Leicester Spring Russell, decided that interference in the '55 Melbourne Cup could go down in history as a "racing incident"...had a '55 version of Shane Dye been in his ear, there would have been a certain protest, a lot of whingeing in a funny as fuck, small Kiwi-man accent, and no doubt a second Melbourne Cup to go with two Caulfield Cups and a Cox Plate. The jockey of the the winning horse was subsequently suspended for 2 months for his part in the "racing incident". Rising Fast's Melbourne Cup win was with 59.5kg, a feat not matched or bettered since. Wow. He goes down in history as one of the greatest racehorses to ever walk the planet.

I was able to come out of last week's Caulfield Cup with a small profit thanks to Viewed and Roman Emperor. But more importantly, over the course of the day, I qualified for the final of Australia's Top Punter on November 14. I won't go on about it too much. It's not my style. No, really, enough said. After we posted our Caulfield Cup preview, the Professor couldn't stop going on and on about Viewed. He even made me republish some of that post to talk up Bart's cunning plan RE: Viewed. He sent me an e-mail Saturday morning telling me all about Viewed. After a thousand beers at Randwick though, how much do you think the Professor had on Viewed?!

With the Caulfield Cup run and won, well it must be COX PLATE TIME! As per every major Group 1, check back Friday for our Cox Plate Preview.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Caulfield Cup Preview

The best thing about the Caulfield Cup is obviously the international talent:

Francesca Cumani...

But fancy fillies aside, the question needs to be asked: "what about the punters Lee Freedman?". The Professor and I have been robbed of a shot at big $$$ after taking Speed Gifted at juicy odds in June/July. A heads up spruiking has turned into a total ass-punching. Thanks Lee. You better deliver that Melbourne Cup (also smashed Speed Gifted to win that too, at $41 I do believe!) with this Cox Plate/M. Cup masterplan of yours. Anyway, the cunning punters (JB aside, he is busy penning a he-she joke book, should hit all good bookstores in time for Christmas) here at WHAB have hit a few others at overs so without futher ado, as promised, your Caulfield Cup preview.

1. VIEWED (15) 57 Brad Rawiller $14

Captain: The reigning Melbourne Cup winner has been ticking over nicely and despite the handicap conditions is a live chance here. He won the Melbourne Cup last year with highly dubious form, so if his form this campaign is strong, a little piece of the Viewed/Viewed Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double at around the $120 mark will hold you in good stead, lest the Cups King clean up again. If you were one of the three people throughout the whole of Australia who actually bet on him in last year's M. Cup, you can dust off those winnings and load up at $14 here. Personally, with the 57, and being one of those who'll get right back, possibly striking trouble, I'm inclined to add him to multiples rather than plonk on the nose.

Professor: His run home in the Turnbull really caught the eye and he’s close enough to my top pick based on that.

2. KIRKLEES (7) 56 Kerrin McEvoy $9

Captain: Unfortunately after last year's Caulfield Cup debacle, we have to fully respect Godolphin and their mountains of expensive horse flesh. It sucks, I know, but All The Good won and won well a year ago, making us all eat our losing tickets, lest we go hungry and shirtless on Caulfield Cup night. I will not be getting on this guy, he doesn't excite me, but that's not to say I'm safe from a hearty meal of losing tickets with a side of 7-11 tomato sauce on Saturday night.

Professor: Watched this one in the Sheema Classic from Dubai in Arabic. Dirka Dirka Purple Moon Dirka Dirka Dirka and Dirka Dirka Kirk-Dirka-Lees didn’t fire a shot. I’m Dirka elsewhere.

3. C'EST LA GUERRE (13) 55.5 Steven Arnold $17

Captain: Not really doing anything spectacular this prep but getting out to a suitable trip and becomes an altogether different proposition if we get a wet track. My advice on a dry track is to leave him out here, watch him get home for a tidy 5th-10th and make your Melbourne Cup call on that. On a slow or heavy track, you'd better get on because this guy will be paddling down the outside in laser suit and flippers.

Professor: The Turnbull run was probably better than it looked. And this is a horse that really needs 2400+ to show anything. I’ll watch the boards at Randwick and if it gets out to silly odds, I’ll happily drop a few dollars on this but it’ll really need to double the current price of $17.

4. CIMA DE TRIOMPHE (11) 55.5 Damien Oliver $7.50

Captain: Ah Francesca...what a breath of fresh air every Spring. Anyhow, Francesca's mother Sarah Cumani says that Kirklees is the only danger to this fella because "I don't really know anything about the Australian horses"...Kirklees aside, this guy has raced in some pretty highly rated races, including the Arlington Million in the U.S, so you've got to think that he's really the only logical danger to Kirklees. You've got to respect a Cumani trained horse here. Purple Moon, Mad Rush, Bauer...the guy doesn't bring duds over. CDT should run well and if he brings his A-game to Caulfield tomorrow, he might just be able to roll Kirklees...

Professor: I respect the Cumani horses. But I look at the guide and I watch the races on Youtube and I really haven’t seen it do anything to justify it’s current $7.50 quote. I wouldn’t ridicule you if this was your top pick because I respect the Cumani horses and the Arlington Million probably shouldn’t be confused with the SAAB.

5. FIUMICINO (20) 55.5 Dwayne Dunn $51

Captain: He had his favoured heavy track conditions in the Metropolitan, plugged home for 3rd, and while he'll be a bit fitter for the run, I can't entertain the idea of him winning this. Even on a heavy track, he'll need a jet-ski to be winning.

Professor: No.

6. MASTER O'REILLY (18) 55 Vlad Duric $15

Captain: Like a fine wine, Master O just gets better with age. Three runs this time in, each as pleasing as the other. Is no doubt a much better horse than when he actually won this race. Then, he had no weight and no Sydney and international horses to contend with due to Equine Influenza. Now, he has both to contend with. But, like a fine wine...Got him at $21 about ten minutes before the Yalumba last week, where he ran home nicely, that'll do me nicely.

Professor: Funny that the Captain mentions fine wine with this guy, because his best run this prep was in the Yalumba: makers of some god awful stuff. Good omen? Bad omen? Not sure but he looks on course for a really big run here.

7. ROMAN EMPEROR (5) 54 Hugh Bowman $19

Captain: Won the AJC Derby even though Predatory Pricer's name should have been the one engraved on the trophy. Even so, he's a pretty handy stayer and I'd be on this before Allez Wonder, that's for sure. His form is sound enough for this race, I prefer others on the "you can't back them all" rule but am adding him to multiples. A pineapple says it beats home Allez Wonder...any takers?

Professor: A live one at odds. But is $19 long enough? Not for me at this stage but I’m yet to rule a line through it.

8. SARRERA (10) 54 Nicholas Hall $51

Captain: Another runner who'd like a quagmire to trundle through tomorrow. He's now a 9.y.o. and since a purple patch in the autumn/winter of last year, he's not really caught the eye on a consistent basis. It's his lucky day, I'll leave him out without being too unkind.

Professor: I’ve ruled a line here. If I had access to one, I’d rule a line through this one with an industrial strength line making machine. Preferably one made by Germans. They know how to rule a line.

9. PREDATORY PRICER (16) 53.5 Steven King $8.50

Captain: This is a serious racehorse (a little brother to Takeover Target no less), though he still does a few things wrong in his races sometimes. He is one of my two big Spring spruikings. I had a nibble on him at $71 to win the Caulfield Cup when the market opened, and for most of this Carnival, it looked like he'd run in the Cox Plate only. Thank fuck he's running in both! Did I tell you the one about the Pricer in the AJC Derby? On that run, he's right in this. On his form he's right in this. Gate 16 not ideal, but you stick with your favourites; ain't that right Professor?!

Professor: I can’t say no to it based on it’s Derby run and the fact that it’s held it’s form so well. I worry that it might be a little more brilliant this time in but as it gets out into the double figure zone I get more inclined to include it.

10. RED RULER (14) 53.5 Danny Nikolic $15

Captain: Ran a nice race in the Turnbull but meets the Pricer 2kgs worse for not beating him then. I'm not sold on him at 2400m either. So that's a no from me to this communist bastard.

Professor: My second pick. In a perfect world, this one grabs the box seat and grinds them down from the 300 or so. It probably doesn’t have the brilliance to go toe to toe with some of the others, but with a smart ride (who better than Nikolic for this?) then it can steal this race.

11. ZAVITE (8) 53 Mark Zahra $51

Captain: Try the SAAB in a couple of weeks buddy. You guys are mad if you don't smash this to run a place in the SAAB.

Professor: Respectfully, no. Probably needs to be going better, another 800 metres and a weaker field.

12. HARRIS TWEED (2) 52.5 Craig Newitt $31

Captain: Sometimes after a Derby campaign, horses don't come back so well at the start of their 4.y.o. season and that's the basket I'm throwing this guy into. The Professor tells me that he was slopped up in the Kelt, but Youtube replays are grainy, the NZ camera angles unhelpful, and the innocuous looking 8.9L 14th/16 still stares back at me from the form guide.

Professor: The only bona fide roughy I could slap a few dollars on. The first two runs were honest returns for a stayer and they walked in the Kelt. And when I say walked, I’m not talking about gay Olympic style walking. Harris Tweed responded by racing up to the front and then there was nothing left for the final 200. Should be fitter and if so it will be a rough hope.

13. LIGHT VISION (19) 52.5 Luke Nolen $21

Captain: A great roughie here. Runs the trip out pretty strongly these days, gets some weight relief here, is honest as they come and will be at the front and staying out of trouble. If you are looking for value, here it is at $21.

Professor: I’d say that it’s more than likely that this guy will box his way into fifth or sixth in front of many more fancied runners (Cough Kirklees). Fifth doesn’t pay so no bet for me but this will run one hell of a race as always.

14. DAFFODIL (4) 51.5 Chris Munce $8.50

Captain: The Professor has a massive boner for Daffodil. Think of your favourite porno vid...that's the same erection that the Professor gets watching replays of Daffodil winning the AJC Oaks. Fair enough I'd say; she is a definite threat if she can reproduce that explosive finish...hehehe...explosive finish!

Professor: Ridiculously good in the AJC Oaks. If it reproduces that kind of run here, then I’ll be lining up from the 300 metre mark again. The boys know about my boner for this horse. In the Bjelke-Peterson days in QLD a man could marry a horse and there’s nothing wrong with that. The story of me elbowing patrons out of the way in the Randwick skybox shouting “Go the Daff” like a blowhard is well known. Whatever. The Kelt run was okay. It didn’t really get out until the 100 metre mark there and when it did it screamed “Give me 2400 metres, guy.”

15. READY TO LIFT (12) 51.5 Glen Boss $41

Captain: Not the worst, but I dare say we won't see ol' Bossy whooping it up in the winner's circle tomorrow. Won't go on too much more because after last year with Viewed, I'm shit-scared of knocking Brisbane Cup form.

Professor: Do you have a mediocre stayer and want to get involved in Australia’s premiere 2400 metre race? Keep Boxing Day free and you too can take on the mighty Zazabeau for your saloon passage to the Caulfield Cup. Zazabeau.

16. RED LORD (3) 51.5 Glyn Schofield $31

Captain: It's getting late, and thinking too much about Red Lord's chances in the Caulfield Cup is only going to deprive me of sleep. I'll sleep tight knowing that when push came to shove in the Turnbull, his lead up race, this guy got the hell outta there.

Professor: Probably not up to this but its run in the Naturalism was pretty nice.

17. VIGOR (22) 51 Corey Brown $9.50

Captain: I have seen some overrated horses in my time and this fella is right up there. Whilst Predatory Pricer has been mixing it with the Big Grey, Heart Of Dreams and Whobegotyou, and also has one of the best 3rds you'll ever see in the AJC Derby, and Master O and Viewed have done everything you'd want to see from Cups campaigners, this guy won at a mile, ran okay at 1800m, and then had a good old-fashioned flop-a-roo to lead into this at 2000m. Jockeys have been climbing over each other to get on board but I just can't see why. How he was ever at $7 equal favourite is absolutely beyond me, light weight and all. And now with gate 22 he's still at $9.50? I've been a doubter in terms of the Caulfield Cup since he won the Makybe Diva Stks, and I couldn't touch him at $9.50, even if you held a gun to my head...sometimes you've got to be a man of principal...I'll take the bullet for the team...

Professor: Someone dropped a squillion dollars on this after it won the Makybe Diva and has probably dropped the same again on counselling since. If it blows out to $20 on race day, this will probably have too much “Efficient 2007” about it for words and I’ll have no choice but to pound it. Otherwise, a little overrated I think.

18. ALLEZ WONDER (6) 50 Michelle Payne $12

Captain: You win a Toorak, you're not entitled to be $12 for the Caulfield Cup on suspicion. The Toorak and the Emirates are complete rubbish Group 1's. They are Group 2's at the very best. More like Group 3's. If this wins, we'll have to now respect the Toorak form, and life's so much easier when we can totally write it off. The Toorak is 1600m anyway. The Caulfield Cup is 2400m. And her last run at 2400m was an ignominious 15th. At the 2500m of the VRC Oaks, she finished 3rd in a weak field that was smashed accordingly by Samantha Miss. Distant 2nd that day? Miss Scarlatti...Pass, pass and pass.

Professor: Just when I thought some sanity was returning to proceedings following the drift out to $15 yesterday, it's been pumped into $12. If you are prepared to tell me that this is a better chance than Viewed, Master O and Red Ruler then wow, buddy. And if you are under the spell of the "Cups King" - and I won't fault you if you are- then look at the topweight, a Melbourne Cup winner who is probably going better than he was at this time last year and paying $14. And then you realise why Bart was so smug when he snuck Allez Wonder into the field. Whose horse benefits if a miler comes out and sets a cracking pace ? Why Bart's horse: Viewed. If you want to bet on AW doing anything, it's playing the role of Sandmason and going round the home turn 6 lengths in front, if it can go that long. The smug old bastard might have done it again.

CAPTAIN'S SELECTIONS

1. Predatory Pricer
2. Master O'Reilly
3. Light Vision

Working around those three with Viewed and Roman Emperor. Daffodil as well if she gets out from the shortish $8.50 at present.

PROFESSOR'S FINAL DAFFODIL LOVE-IN


I’ve had a top pick in this race since April and that’s Daffodil and she’s given me no reason to get off. Red Ruler, Viewed and Master O Reilly have given everyindication that they’ll be there at the finish as well. Predatory Pricer is thebig danger to Daffodil and should be kept very safe. The only roughie thatreally intrigues me is Harris Tweed but it’s a dollar or two kind of roughie.

Numbers: 14 Daffodil -10 Red Ruler -9 Predatory Pricer -6 Master O'Reilly

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

It's the final countdown

To our Caulfield Cup preview.
Come back Friday!

Dazed and Confused

A couple of A-League games on Friday, another frustrating day of racing, a solid effort by the Socceroos against the Dutch, and then.....nothing. No live sport of any watchable description after 8.30 p.m Saturday night. No NRL, AFL, EPL, A-League, Rugby or cricket. Suddenly, staying in seemed like a really bad decision. I was completely lost and even went to bed around midnight, probably the earliest I've been to bed on a weekend night since I was 12. Confusion aside now, we have begun work on our Caulfield Cup Preview which will be up Friday morning. On an unrelated note, ItMakesMeASadPanda were eventually crowned Fantasy NRL Champions in the Touched By An Eagle League after a sneaky, yet ultimately futile attempt by JB to steal the title. Go PANDAS!!! But enough about the victorious Pandas already, check out our Caulfield Cup guide on Friday.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Don't you forget about me.


Re-visiting one of the Professor's old posts felt like the right thing to do after the big grey's powerhouse win in the Turnbull Stks on Saturday. Sing it like you mean it people!

Hey, hey, hey ,hey
Ohhh...
Won't you come see about me?
I'll be alone, dancing you know it baby

Tell me your troubles and doubts
Giving me everything inside and out and
Love's strange so real in the dark
Think of the tender things that we were working on

Slow change may pull us apart
When the light gets into your heart, baby

Don't You Forget About Me
Don't Don't Don't Don't
Don't You Forget About Me

Will you stand above me?
Look my way, never love me
Rain keeps falling, rain keeps falling
Down, down, down

Will you recognise me?
Call my name or walk on by
Rain keeps falling, rain keeps falling
Down, down, down, down

Hey, hey, hey, hey
Ohhhh.....

Don't you try to pretend
It's my feeling we'll win in the end
I won't harm you or touch your defenses
Vanity and security

Don't you forget about me
I'll be alone, dancing you know it baby
Going to take you apart
I'll put us back together at heart, baby

Don't You Forget About Me
Don't Don't Don't Don't
Don't You Forget About Me

As you walk on by
Will you call my name?
As you walk on by
Will you call my name?
When you walk away

Or will you walk away?
Will you walk on by?
Come on - call my name
Will you all my name?

I say :
La la la...

Saturday, October 3, 2009

NRL Grand Final Preview

One thing is for certain; the Parra most certainly Matta. If not tomorrow, then next year, with the most promising young halves and backline in the NRL, the addition of more monster forwards in Poore and Shackleton, and with the best player in the world. They have been boosted in this game by the miraculous recovery of captain Nathan Cayless, cramming four weeks worth of rehab into one. There are many scenarios I can see possibly unfolding; they don't include the scenario that has been spruiked to me all week by people who obviously don't actually watch the NRL but instead get their "league knowledge" from sources such as the Brisbane Courier Mail. "Storm by 30 because they've got the Grand Final experience" said one punter. "Storm in a whitewash because they've got too much experience" said my dry cleaner. Another acquintance assured me that the "Storm will win by plenty, maybe even 30 or 40; they've just got too many big game players, too much experience". Sorry guys, that's just sloppy. I will confidently predict that the Storm will not win this by 30+. Manly and Brisbane were woeful in their thrashings at the hands of the Storm but I wouldn't be expecting the same from a creative and exuberant Eels line-up. I have no idea who's going to actually win, and in all honesty, that's the way I like my Grand Finals. Obviously the Storm do have big time game-breakers in Inglis and Slater but that doesn't mean they run away with this. On the contrary, I predict this will be a 1-12 margin on the back of the defense from both sides. Another friend told me earlier in the week that "the Storm will completely shut down Hayne". How exactly they would do that, only my esteemed friend knows. The guy is the complete package and if the Storm shut him down in one area, he'll inject himself more in another. Hayne is a smart player like this. Ultimately, as stacked full of superstars as these backlines are, it comes down to the battle up front, and a fearsome one it promises to be. Fui Fui, ol' "Gammy-Leg" Cayless, "Coin-Slot" Hindmarsh, the under-rated Lowrie, and a rejuvenated Galuvao (Nuh-la-vow) up against "I used to be soft like Jason Ryles but then I knocked out Steve Price!" White, Blair, Lima, Hoffman and "I don't get knocked out that often" Johnson. Looking forward to all of that, hopefully some big hits, plenty of feeling, maybe some knuckle and a bit of blood, yeah that'd be nice with a half a carto under the belt. Look for the Eels to bring some heat on former team-mate Finch, for Finch to get stroppy, only to hide behind White when the going gets rough. The Storm would want to play some footy in this; at times they are guilty of being too conservative, just trucking it up the middle and waiting for their opponents to make a mistake. They will not be able to do this against the Eels; Parra have too many points in them. Most of my family will be cheering on the Storm, as my old man is mates with old man Cronk. My missus is a Storm "fan" and now they have made the Grand Final she might even watch a match. I am actually looking forward to a GF that I don't have serious cash riding on. Trying to enjoy the big one whilst having heart palpatations is difficult. But mostly I'm looking forward to chicken and honey barbecue rissoles...mmm....I am not really going for either side, for once I'm actually just going to watch a game as a purist. Maybe I'm getting old...

Should be a cracker, taking "Coin Slot" for the Clive Churchill medal at $8 and also Johnson at the rough odds of $34. Oh, and Lowrie at $34, just 'cause I like the cut of his jib. Will Chambers at $13 for first try-scorer and also Daniel Mortimer at $16.

And that is all folks for season 2009.....thank you very much, you've all been great.....sigh.....

Friday, October 2, 2009

NRL Grand Final Preview!

This is obviously not it...it would be much longer if it were the real NRL Grand Final Preview. The authentic version will be posted sometime tomorrow afternoon after I have visited Dan Murphy's and my local butcher for chicken & honey barbecue rissoles (oh fuck yeah, I am going to murder me some of those) in preparation for Sunday. Will the Parra Matta? Or will Brett Finch be parting his cheeks in the direction of Daniel Anderson and the Eels? All will be revealed...

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Lime Green, lime green...

Another day, another chance to go head to head with your WHAB peeps in a man-on-man test of horse knowledge.

Join our herald sun star stable league and WIN CASH!

Not from us, but from Herald Sun if you somehow beat us (and others).

Code is 142442, the league is the WHAB all Stars.

And best of all, you get to design your own silks. I've always wanted lime green, lime green and tangerine silks as an offering to the cure.