The following is a survey of Australian racing tips for Saturday, July 11. The focus is on the group and listed races at Belmont, Caulfield, Rosehill and Sunshine Coast. Selected races at Gawler are also covered. More tips and previews will be added as they become available.
Promotions
View bookmaker racing promotions (not available to NSW or WA residents)
Best bets
Caulfield Race 7, No. 2 Viridine
Rosehill Race 7, No. 8 Noble Boy and No. 4 Trumbull
Sunshine Coast Race 7, No. 1 Star Of Michelin
Sunshine Coast Race 8, No. 6 Soxagon
Belmont
Race 8: Samizdat
Race 8:
ESSENTIAL SPICE (8) Having second run back from a spell. Came on strongly to finish 2nd last start at this venue and likely to race off the speed. One of the better chances. SAMIZDAT (6) Races well fresh winning 3 from 4 attempts. Showed promise when winning two runs back at Ascot and drops back to a suitable grade. Placed 3rd in a barrier trial at this course on Mar 31st. Can get the job done. MISTY METAL (2) Nice show when finishing 2nd three runs back at Ascot but first run back after spell. Should muster plenty of early speed. Success in a barrier trial at this venue on Jun 22nd. Is in good order and can run well. MERVYN (10) Back from spell. Scored a victory three runs back at Ascot. Solid place bet prospects.
Sportsbet – Race Comments and Selections:
Race 8:
Really competitive Beaufine Stakes, but would be surprised if the winner doesn’t come from MISTY METAL, ESSENTIAL SPICE and SAMIZDAT. Have locked in the brilliant Misty Metal on top first up, having clearly been set for this race and looking ominous in her lead-up trials. Absolutely flies fresh, has a terrific winning record and it’ll take a decent horse to knock her off. Essential Spice suffered a shock first-up defeat, but strips fitter and looks really suited dropping 4kg from this draw. Samizdat is a top-end talent. If he’s allowed to wind up, he can run right over the top of them late. ELECTRIC LIGHT ran second in this race last year and could be the knockout.
Selections: 2. Misty Metal (top tip), 8. Essential Spice, 6. Samizdat, 1. Electric Light
Caulfield
Race 7:
VIRIDINE (2) Solid win last run at Randwick and carrying less weight this time. Likely to race off the speed. Expect a bold showing and looks the winner. JUNGLE EDGE (1) Winner three runs back at Morphettville. Shows good early pace. Ticks plenty of boxes and looks like value. I AM SOMEONE (6) Really dug deep when winning two runs back at Flemington and backs up quickly today. Expecting to settle just off the pace. Contender. TAVISAN (7) Game effort to win three runs back at this venue and displays good tactical speed. Can be competitive.
Race 7: Viridine
Sportsbet – Race Comments and Selections:
Race 7:
SPEED: 1, 7, 3, 4. VIRIDINE chased a G1 horse at Randwick then went to 1200m with 61kg last time and was too strong. Back 100m but ran a very good fourth here to Trekking in a G2 Schillaci his one go this track, at 1100m. He is well suited at WFA. JUNGLE EDGE wants the predicted rain to fall, all his 18 wins have been on wet tracks. He beat Viridine 4L in McKay Stakes in May. INTUITION ran on well fresh behind I AM SOMEONE, 4th was Lord Von Costa, who won last week. I Am Someone raced keen and faded in that race. ASHLOR is back to best. TAVISAN is better suited here. GREY SHADOW a hope
Selections: 2. Viridine (top tip), 1. Jungle Edge, 6. I Am Someone, 5. Intuition
Gawler
Race 5 – 5 – Sign Of Ussuri – BEST BET
Race 7 – 11 – Octane
Rosehill
Race 7: Noble Boy
Race 7:
TRUMBULL (4) Got the prize when winning last start here but goes up in weight. One of the top hopes. NOBLE BOY (8) Rattled home nicely into 3rd last start around here and dropping weight today. Major hope. ORDER AGAIN (3) Came on strongly when 2nd last time at the track. Should get going late. Genuine winning chance. DEAL MAKER (7) Chimed in with a win two runs back at Randwick. Strong hope.
Race 7: Noble Boy
Sportsbet – Race Comments and Selections:
Race 7:
The highlight of the day is a bit of a lacklustre Listed affair with sketchy speed and several horses needing to find form. As has been the case so often for so long, the Waterhouse/Bott stable is called on to provide the speed. Resumer TAIKOMOCHI is proven to 2400m but could lead up, otherwise READY TO PROPHET crosses right over. Perhaps the result revolves around whether TRUMBULL jumps away cleanly. He did so last start and beat a handful of these after trailing up perfectly. He has never managed to jump properly twice in a row during the same prep so be warned. NOBLE BOY also entered for QLD but this is a nice race for him with just 54 on the back. Trialled since his latest. If he’s absent I could even entertain SAMBRO (yes yes, I know) as he has the chance to set up a treat today.
Selections: 8. Noble Boy (top tip), 6. Sambro, 4. Trumbull, 3. Order Again
Unibet – From the Trader’s Desk:
Race 2 #10 Fulmina – BEST BET
Race 4 #7 Steel Diamond – VALUE BET
Race 6 #1 Bandersnatch – LAY BET
Race 7 #4 Trumbull
Sunshine Coast
Race 7: Vendidit each way
Race 8: Soxagon
Race 7:
STAR OF MICHELIN (1) Showed promise when winning last start at Eagle Farm and should get going late. Respect in this company. WAPITI (3) Game effort to win three runs back at Gold Coast but facing a stronger grade today. Can feature. KNIGHT MARINER (7) Fought on gamely when winning last time at Ipswich and likely to race off the speed. Flawless this preparation with 2 wins from 2 runs. Ticks plenty of boxes and looks like value. MAOZI (12) Got the cash when winning three runs back at Gold Coast but rising in class. Expected to be flashing home. Solid claims.
Race 8:
SOXAGON (6) Chimed in with a win last start at Doomben and will benefit with the weight drop. Going well this preparation winning 3 from as many attempts. Will take some beating today. DEEP IMAGE (1) Set a strong tempo when 3rd two runs back at Eagle Farm but rises in weight. Right in this. KRONE (11) Flashed home late into 2nd last start at Doomben and dropping weight today. Finishes off strongly. Respect against this field. SPECIAL MISSILE (4) Ended up 2.3l behind the winner at Rosehill last start on a heavy track but should come to hand quickly. No shock to see a win.
Race 7: Star Of Michelin
Race 7:
The hardest part of this race is finding a leader. Maybe one or two of these would usually map in the first four in a normal race. Something has to change tactics but it’s a guess who? STAR OF MICHELIN is well above average. Looked a good thing last week and he got the cash against the older horses with 60kg in a bm75. Out to a mile on the big track is perfect and if Smith can land just worse than midfield he can be a little more patient than last week. WAPITI may decide to take up and he’s in great form. He got the sweetest run of all time last start and just beaten by a better horse on the day. He’s rock hard fit and could easily steal a 2-3L break on the corner and that’s every chance to be a winning break. SMART METEOR is a good horse who has just been going through the motions and the stable have hit a flat spot. His best would measure up well. STARLA was good last start after getting a great run in transit. Looking for a hat trick of wins. MAOZI is flying for the Edmonds camp. Blinkers come off here and the race shape just didn’t suit last start.
Selections: 1. Star Of Michelin, 3. Wapiti, 12. Maozi, 2. Smart Meteor
Race 8:
SOXAGON just keeps on drawing well and he has the ability to box seat every time he does draw well. He handles all conditions and gets a nice run again. This is the hardest race he has been in and deserves a crack at them. KRONE has been super her last few runs for Gollan. She looked the winner in the G3 last start and only nailed very late. The start before that she went back to last and rattled late to only be beaten 1.3L in a G2. Good formlines and she handles all conditions. DEEP IMAGE is the class runner and has the 59kg because of that. He’d been in good form before being trapped wide in the G1 Stradbroke. Forget that run and if he bounces back in a big way it wouldn’t surprise. The market might tell a story in the last 10 minutes of betting here.
Selections: 11. Krone, 6. Soxagon, 3. River Racer, 1. Deep Image
Sportsbet – Race Comments and Selections:
Race 7:
First of our features is the Group 3 WInx Guineas & on the map we have no clear leader which is worrying as main chances (1, 7 & 12) all get back in their races. The most likely to settle close up are nos.3, 8 & 11, the early part of the race will likely decide the result. STAR OF MICHELIN is the best performed horse in the race (to date) & although the race shape & 7 day back up are question marks he did get the job done fairly easily last week. MAOZI is looking for this trip & has handled wet ground just fine to date. Step up in grade for KNIGHT MARINER however very impressive this prep.
Selections: 1. Star Of Michelin (top tip), 12. Maozi, 7. Knight Mariner, 3. Wapiti
Race 8:
Not a great deal of speed on the map with Deep Image likely to stride across & take up the front, every chance he brings Special Missile over with him. Parked right behind will be SOXAGON who just looks to gain the run of the race & is in winning form having scored at Doomben last time out when again enjoying the box seat run. He’s handled soft ground well to date yet to see anything worse. RIVER RACER can improve sharply on wet ground, she loves this track & her dominant win in this race last year was the last time she raced on a wet surface. KRONE is busting to win a race, handles wet.
Selections: 6. Soxagon (best of the day), 3. River Racer, 11. Krone, 5. Right Or Wrong