Thoroughbred horse racing has many different hats. It’s the playground of the very rich (especially Arab Sheiks) who have more money than they know what to do with. It’s an industry that employs countless people worldwide and it still remains one of the biggest forms of gaming worldwide.
The Asian horse racing industry is a thriving one. Hong Kong, Singapore and Macau lead the way and China is hot on their heels. The most established horse racing industry and arguably one of the best in the world exists in Australia and betting on Australian racing is becoming more and more prevalent in Asia, the USA and Great Britain. Australia’s Spring Carnival is an eclectic mash of color, fashion, food and socializing which many would argue supersedes the racing itself.
The Spring Carnival runs throughout October and early November with The Melbourne Cup (run on the first Tuesday in November) the shining jewel in the crown. Let’s take a look at some of the big races and my early selections.
Caulfield Cup
This is the biggest lead-up race to the Melbourne Cup and the winner will shorten considerably for “the race that stops the nation”. To be honest this is a great day of racing but not my favorite race of the year.
Like many of the big races, it’s tough to pick a clear winner this year. I am going to take on the favorite Hawkspur ($4.50) and look for some real value. I would work around Royal Descent ($8), Silent Achiever ($9) and I also like Fawkner ($14) at very juicy odds. If there is plenty of pace and Fawkner can get a nice position in the running, expect a bold finish.
Cox Plate
This is Australia’s premier weight for age race. Many say that the winner of this race is heralded as the best racehorse in the country. It is a middle distance race with a short straight and the race is steeped in history. This year it looks like being a race in three. Atlantic Jewel ($2.40) Fiorente ($5.50) and It’s A Dundeel ($6.00) are the chances.
It’s A Dundeel is under an injury cloud, Atlantic Jewel is probably the best horse in the country but is very short which leaves me very much in the camp of Fiorente. Fiorente was nothing short of fantastic when he stormed home for third in his last outing in a fantastic Cox Plate lead up. If they go quick up front, look for Fiorente to mow them down on the line. The problem would be if they canter up front but that would be unlikely in this race which is normally run at a fast tempo from the jump. I really like Fiorente in this race and I think each way he represents incredible value.
VRC Derby
Along with the AJC Derby in Sydney in autumn, this is the premier three-year-old race of the year. It’s not a bad line up this year and this is the feature race on what many consider the best race card of the year (the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup).
To say this race is very open is an understatement. Complacent and Criterion are both at around $7 and I am probably going to back both and pray.
Melbourne Cup
Commonly referred to as “the race that stops the nation”, The Melbourne Cup is run over two miles (3200 meters) and is probably the most heralded race on the world’s racing calendar. It not only captivates the racing public, it captivates all levels of the Australian community.
Get your crystal ball out because this is one hell of a hard race to pick and usually at least half of the 24 runners have a legitimate chance of winning the race. After all, it’s a handicap race and the aim is to make it hard to win. Fiorente ($7) is my tip for the Cox Plate but he is currently favorite for the Melbourne Cup as well. It’s hard to know what race Fiorente is being primed for but it’s not beyond the very best like Saintly, Might and Power and Makybe Diva to win them both. I would be surprised to see him win them both in a tough year but if he finishes very strong late in the Cox Plate then watch out.
The overseas contingency should never be overlooked but it is impossible to line up their form. The best of the rest of locals might be Fawkner ($30). It really depends on how he goes in the Caulfield Cup but a strong finish to the race (like he showed in the Metropolitan) will see his odds drastically shorten.
VRC Oaks
This race is run two days after the Melbourne Cup on “ladies day”. It is the second last Group 1 of the Carnival. It’s always an interesting race and often throws up some strange results.
If you thought the Derby was hard then this is damn near impossible. I am going to go for Scratchy Bottom ($13). This is a strange name for a filly but the connections must have a dark sense of humor and for that alone I will be cheering for an itchy behind come race start.
Good luck and good punting – and I would recommend you get on early. There is nothing better than backing a winner a few weeks from the start of the race because you can tell all your mates you knew the winner a year ago!
