EXPERT RACING TIPS: CORAL ECLIPSE STAKES DAY
CORAL ECLIPSE STAKES DAY AT SANDOWN PARK
There is light rain forecast which may change things later in the card and favour those off the pace
1. Spanish Blaze
5. Pitney
2. Swindon
4. Storm Star
Betting Strategy
BACK: #1 Spanish Blaze (WIN) for 3 units (Rated at $2.50)
Two solid wins here means Spanish Blaze has earned favouritism. Not up too high in the weights either that this race is within reach. Has a tricky gate to navigate but should sit one-out, one-back and be produced without traffic issues. Rain wouldn’t hurt chances either, and as he hangs left this track suits.
BACK: 5. Pitney (WIN) for 2 units (Rated at $3.00)
Pitney didn’t get the rub of the green at Chester when storming home to get 2nd. Chester is one of those tracks where you need to be drawn low to have a chance and coming wide is a rarity but to only be beaten a neck is an impressive run.
Billy Loughnane is flying and a much more economical run behind the speed drawn low could be enough to record a deserved win here.
4. Equality
5. Live In The Dream
6. Twilight Calls
3. Desperate Hero
Betting Strategy
BACK: 4. Equality (WIN) for 1 unit (Rated at $5.00)
Not overly keen on this race but Equality is overpriced based off his credentials and winning this race last year. Happy to chance he can bounce back on a track he likes.
1. Cicero’s Gift
4. Perotto
8. Two Tempting
6. Dual Identity
Betting Strategy
BACK: 1. Cicero’s Gift (WIN) for 2 units (Rated at $5.00)
Cicero’s Gift has a fair space on these in terms of ability. He was last seen when it all went wrong in the St James’s Palace 12 months ago. He’s been off since, and returns now with a point to prove having missed out on a lucrative relocation to Hong Kong. The price here is based purely on the question marks of him having retained his ability and his first-up fitness, but I trust Charlie Hills’ ability to ready his horses first up having proven his methods when working in Australia.
If he looks well and there is a confident push, he will shorten drastically.
4. Indelible
6. Soprano
2. Clove Hitch
5. Regal Jubilee
Betting Strategy
BACK: 4. Indelible (WIN) for 3 units (Rated at $2.50)
Indelible traded short in the Sandringham in a field of 30, and she was the best of her group on the far side. The way the race unfolded means she had little chance of winning and was a very well backed commodity despite her draw.
She comes here meeting Soprano again in fairer terms and might well be able to turn the tables, and the market will surely come for her.
BACK: 6. Soprano (WIN) for 3 units (Rated at $2.75)
Soprano had far too much class tackling the stiff mile at Ascot and accounting for the field of 30. She ran a good race here last year and looks to have improved despite not growing much in size. I think Soprano and Indelible are a long way clear of the rest of the field and happy to Dutch both for the result here. Soprano thrashed Cat Ninja who beat Clove Hitch, yet Clove Hitch and Soprano are the same price here (at time of writing)
4. City Of Troy
5. Dancing Gemini
7. Jayarebe
1. Al Riffa
Betting Strategy
Leaning towards Dancing Gemini to run 2nd if wet, Jayarebe if dry.
3. Blake
4. Von Baer
1. Sun God
2. Break The Bank
Betting Strategy
No interest here. Rate Blake as a horse, just don’t like this race.
15. Dambuster
10. Persica
14. Balmacara
6. Truthful
Betting Strategy
BACK: 15. Dambuster (WIN) for 2 units (Rated at $3.00)
Dambuster is right in contention for this at the bottom of the weights. Handles soft ground if the rain comes and should be right there at the finish getting weight off main rivals. Was pitched in the deep end of an unsuitable Group 3 at Newmarket, and this is much easier.
