Horse Racing

Lucia Valentina (outside) tops the Caulfield Cup betting markets while Brambles (inside) has made the final field after scratchings. Photo (c) Race Horse Photos Australia

There are horse racing meetings all over the country this weekend, but the feature event is without doubt the Group 1 Caulfield Cup in Melbourne; playing host to 18 leading stayers battling it out in the world’s richest handicap race over 2400m

A capacity field of 18 runners plus four emergencies was confirmed for the Caulfield Cup on Wednesday, however several niggling issues and sickness over a tumultuous 24 hours has seen a total of four leading chances scratched from the final field, arguably highlighted by Japanese sensation Bande.

Contesting a form line similar to that of Japanese superstar Delta Blues in the lead-up to his memorable victory in the 2006 Melbourne Cup, Bande received the greatest share of attention from punters for success in the Caulfield Cup and was clear market mover at the time of his scratching.

Noted to be harbouring a niggling tendon injury, Bande’s shock removal from the Caulfield Cup final field has blown betting on the featured event wide open, with punters now offered even better value in both win and place markets.

Lucia Valentina has returned to racing in scintillating form this time in, and while opening and maintaining status at the fore of betting markets, has now received the biggest share of wagers following Bande’s removal and has cut into clear favouritism.

Early Melbourne Cup favourite The Offer is offered at particularly generous odds for success in the 2014 Caulfield Cup, while first emergency Brambles has moved in from opening odds of $21 to currently feature at a quote of less-than $10.

The Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1100m) and Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) for mares are also set to run at Caulfield on Saturday, while the Group 3 David Jones Cup (2000m), Group 3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) and Group 3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) cap off a truly impressive day of racing; offering even more opportunities to place a winning bet.

Royal Randwick will play host to Sydney’s major card on Saturday, highlighted by the Group 3 The Nivison, contested by mares over 1200m.

Other Sports

The final Bledisloe test for the year between Australian and New Zealand will be played at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night and is shaping as an extremely interesting betting game.

The All Blacks retained the Bledisloe Cup with a comfortable 51-20 victory at Auckland’s Eden Park in August and currently figure as clear $1.28 favourites to cap the series with a win over the Wallabies ($3.80).

The A-League enters Round 2 this weekend and is highlighted by matches between bitter rivals and week 1 winners Melbourne Victory ($2.75) and Adelaide United ($2.45) and a Sydney derby between FC ($2.55) and the Wanderers ($2.65).

Horse Racing

Rich Enuff is the favourite to win the 2014 Group 1 Caulfield Guineas. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia

The Spring Racing Carnival kicks up another gear this weekend, highlighted by Caulfield Guineas Day in Victoria and Spring Champion Stakes Day at Sydney’s Royal Randwick.

The Caulfield Guineas Day card is understandably headlined by its namesake Group 1 for three-year-olds and will this year feature a particularly talented list of thirteen colts and geldings. Classy colt Rich Enuff has returned to racing in exceptional form this season; taking out each of the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1200m), Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) and Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) in succession. Clear favourite to continue his run through the Caulfield Guineas, Ken Keys’ stable star will have to find an extra gear if to overcome the likes of Group 1 champion over a mile Almalad, Stan Fox Stakes winner Shooting To Win and classy Queenslander Looks Like The Cat.

Boasting a total of ten black type races on Saturday, Caulfield Guineas Day will also play host to three other Group 1 races in the Toorak Handicap (1600m), Thousand Guineas (1600m) and Caulfield Stakes (2000m).

Attracting a field of 15 milers, the Toorak Handicap will see classy mare Commanding Jewel return to the highest level of Australian racing for the first time since taking out the 2012 edition of the Thousand Guineas, but faces stiff opposition via well-trialled runner Speediness, in-form stallion Bull Point and last start Group 1 winner Trust In A Gust.

A less-than capacity field of eleven three-year-old fillies have been confirmed for the Thousand Guineas, highlighted by some of the autumn carnival’s standout two-year-olds. Steadily building to the task over two starts this time in, Go Indy Go displayed a superior turn of foot to win the Group 1 Champagne Stakes over a mile in April but well and truly has her hands will this weekend when lining up against Bring Me The Maid, in-form filly Afleet Esprit and Stakes winner Sabatini.

A key form indicator for the Group 1 Cox Plate, the Caulfield Stakes is shaping as the day’s most exciting and well-contested race, with several leading fancies confirmed for a final competitive hit-out. Peter Moody-trained Dissident has returned to racing in career-best form this time, but undoubtedly faces his biggest test to date in the Caulfield Stakes when racing off with Sacred Falls, Fawkner, Happy Trails and further six Group 1 winners.

The Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) is the main event at Royal Randwick on Saturday and is shaping as an extremely interesting betting race.

Classy three-year-old First Seal won the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at a jog last weekend and is clear favourite for the Spring Champion, but is yet to contest an event over a mile. Godolphin runner Sweynesse is yet to be defeated over four competitive starts and looks like biggest danger after comfortably taking out the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes over 1800m last start. Paul Messara’s in-form three-year-old Panzer Division is also worth consideration at generous odds of $7 for success.

Football

Season 10 of the A-League kicks off on Friday night with a match between leading premiership chances Melbourne Victory and the Western Sydney Wanders. The Victory have been impressive in recent FFA Cup matches and start clear favourites, however the Wanderers arguably offer punters the best value for money having also displayed exceptional form in reach the Asian Champions League Grand Final over recent weeks.

Other notable matches in week 1 of the A-League include an F3 Derby between the Central Coast Mariners and Newcastle Jets, Sydney FC vs David Villa and Melbourne City and current champions Brisbane Roar hosting Adelaide United.

Other Sports

Pakistan hosts Australia in the 2nd of their three game ODI series in the UAE in Friday night, and are aiming to get their campaign back on track after a demoralising loss in Game 1. The Aussies are clear favourites to seal the series in Game 2 and offer great value particularly in batting and scoring markets.