BEST BETS
STADIUM OF LIGHT (Race 6)
SIX FOOT SONG (Race 7)
VALUE
WETAKEMANHATTAN (Race 3)
OUTPOST (Race 10)
RACE 1 - 11:56AM Croser Three-Year-Old Maiden Plate (Heat of TAB Rebel Raider Series) (1050 METRES)
COLD CASE ran well on debut when 3rd behind Declared. He draws but is the one the early money has come for and gets his chance to break through. ZUFASTA was a big drifter but ran very well when 2nd in the Declared race. He maps well and should be in the finish again. CAPTAIN JOOLIAN has trialled nicely ahead of his debut and draws a nice gate. WALLY WEST had very good market support first-up from a spell when 6th behind Declared and must be respected. BRINCLE showed speed on debut and draws a good barrier. SPANISH STROLL hasn’t done a lot in two Victorian outings but can improve.
SELECTIONS: 3 COLD CASE, 8 Zufasta, 2 Captain Joolian, 7 Wally West
PLAY: Watching on.
RACE 2 - 12:31PM Pimms Maiden Plate (1200 METRES)
SECOND TO NUN was good on debut closing late behind Lucky Fortuna. She should have taken plenty out of that run and maps to get a nice run here. FORTIS IN ARMIS is on debut for the Michael Hickmott stable, he’s been to the trials four times and gets an inside gate for his debut. IMPERIAL SEAL is a former NSW galloper who has trialled nicely for his local debut. Stablemate SCORPION KING has trialled well for his return. ASTROMANCER was runner-up behind Lynda’s Legacy at Murray Bridge on debut and then OK behind Declared last time. She’s another who maps well.
SELECTIONS: 14 SECOND TO NUN, 9 Fortis In Armis, 3 Imperial Seal, 13 Astromancer
PLAY: Backing SECOND TO NUN each way.
RACE 3 - 1:06PM David Balfour Handicap (Heat of TAB Skybeau Series) (2000 METRES)
Looks a tricky race with a few horses ready to improve. WETAKEMANHATTAN is one of those. He had 17 months before a couple of runs back, improving last time running 4th behind Sign Of Ussuri in the Coleraine Cup and this looks a nice option for him. SEBONNA is another improver here third-up and out in trip. He was beaten 6 lengths in the Murray Bridge Cup behind Agreeable but looks much better suited. OATH OF OMERTA is another who ran well when resuming only beaten 3 lengths behind Yuri Royale. DIXIE WHISTLER has been going well having finished 2nd at three of her past four starts. MELODY MAN returned to form last time when 3rd behind Silent Command. EXALTED RUTH has been around the mark in similar races. EL GLADIADOR still has plenty of weight after the claim, BUSKER’S BALLAD is another who strips fitter.
SELECTIONS: 3 WETAKEMANHATTAN, 2 Sebonna, 5 Oath Of Omerta, 6 Dixie Whistler
PLAY: Having something on WETAKEMANHATTAN.
RACE 4 - 1:41PM Romeo's Foodhall Handicap (1600 METRES)
BOOLCUNDA KING has upside, and he did a good job from a long way back beaten 2.4 lengths behind Exalted Fire. He should be ready to peak third-up here. EXALTED FIRE has been good since joining the Michael Hickmott stable and was too good for Turfitt last time and gets some weight relief. WICKED ADDICTION is another racing well and was only just reeled in by Yuri Royale two starts back and then OK behind Montepulciano. CHARM SLINGER has been around the mark. DASH IT produced a nice turn of foot to run down rivals last time. OH NO GEORGE is up in class. His Murray Bridge win two starts back was very good when he came from the back and he does look big odds.
SELECTIONS: 4 BOOLCUNDA KING, 1 Exalted Fire, 2 Wicked Addition, 5 Charm Slinga
PLAY: Backing BOOLCUNDA KING.
RACE 5 - 2:16PM Romeo's Foodland Handicap (Heat of TAB Gytrash Series) (1200 METRES)
I AM BENE is a nice mare who was good winning at Caulfield two runs back before she raced up near the speed when 10th in the G2 Let’s Elope last time. She was good in a recent trial here and maps to get a perfect run. MANHATTEN TIMES was only beaten 2.9 lengths behind Struck By last time, but he never looked a threat. His best would go a long way to winning a race like this and he draws a middle gate. RUSHAWAY LAD was a smart winner first-up from a spell. This is harder but he gets in very well. TYPHOON HARMONY has been in the money at all three first-up runs and must be kept safe.
SELECTIONS: 3 I AM BENE, 1 Manhatten Times, 8 Rushaway Lad, 6 Typhoon Harmony
PLAY: Watching on.
RACE 6 - 2:51PM Antonio & Elisabeth Romeo Handicap (Heat of TAB Happy Trails Series) (1500 METRES)
STADIUM OF LIGHT has been favourite at his past three and he looked good finishing over the top of Eminencia last time. He’s a horse on the up and can win again despite a sticky wide gate. TURFITT was a winner her three starts back when she powered past Salt Bay to score. His past couple have been very good, and he looks a danger. DISAGREEABLE MISS ran well behind East Indiaman and she showed talent last time in and looks an improver. SAVILLE got back and was a touch plain behind Chosen Blonde at Gawler last time. His previous form was very good for this. SHORT STORIES gets the blinkers back on and up in trip suits. KAZIO is an improver here on a better track.
SELECTIONS: 8 STADIUM OF LIGHT, 11 Turfitt, 5 Disagreeable Miss, 6 Saville
PLAY: Staying with STADIUM OF LIGHT.
RACE 7 - 3:29PM Grand Syndicates Handicap (1800 METRES)
SIX FOOT SONG was a real eye-catcher two starts back behind Neodium before another solid effort behind Montepulciano. He should get a good run from an inside gate and take some beating. PITRAIN has won two of his past four and was strong beating American Trouble last time. He draws but looks a danger. KALAMON comes off a win back in class but draws well and gets the claim. QUEBECOIS made good ground behind Pitrain last start.
SELECTIONS: 4 SIX FOOT SONG, 5 Pitrain, 1 Kalamon
PLAY: Keen on SIX FOOT SONG.
RACE 8 - 4:07PM Locali by Romeo's Handicap (Heat of TAB Riziz Series) (1050 METRES)
RICH GINA was super impressive last time when she came from the back and wide and held off a fast finishing The Gov. She draws perfectly in a middle gate and can win again. THE GOV was a real eye-catcher in that race ridden cold and she’s a former Kiwi mare who looks to have upside. She maps to get a gun here and looks a threat again. BLERIOT was a winner on the Parks in March and she races well here and fresh. SMOKIN’ VAL draws out but caught the eye behind Rushaway Lad last time and she can be a threat late. JAMES THE GREAT comes off a Pakenham Synthetic win at big odds and draws a nice gate. BRAY STREET BOSS has trialled well and draws a nice gate. He’s also an acceptor at Gawler. FRANCINE has ability and can improve on a better surface here.
SELECTIONS: 10 RICH GINA, 13 The Gov, 7 Bleriot, 3 Smokin’ Val, 8 Quebecois
PLAY: Backing THE GOV each-way.
RACE 9 - 4:55PM Canadian Club Handicap (1200 METRES)
Tricky race. OUTPOST has been good at his past three. He was narrowly beaten by Howl three starts back and hasn’t had a lot go right his past couple and the wide gate can play into his favour. COOL MAGNUM has been racing well winning on the Parks three starts back and comes off a 3rd placing behind Hypercane at Balaklava. SPIN THE REWARD has won 5 of 17 and will be fitter for an OK first-up run behind Rushaway Lad, he gets in well after the claim. PICARGO was a good winner over My Khalifa, who has won since, on the Parks and he looks a big chance again. SASKATOON was a Gawler winner at his SA debut back in April. He’s trialled OK and has the blinkers off from a wide gate. I’M A LEGEND was good behind Rich Gina last start. METRO LEGEND looked very good in a Murray Bridge trial earlier in the week.
SELECTIONS: 14 OUTPOST, 7 Cool Magnum, 1 Spin The Reward, 11 Metro Legend
PLAY: Something each-way on OUTPOST.
RACE 10 - 5:35PM Melbourne Cup Day at Morphettville - Tuesday November 1st Handicap (1200 METRES)
BAMYAN BUDDHA looked back to his best when he covered ground and was too good for Fallow here last time. He draws a middle gate and is going to take some beating again even with the big weight. ULTIMATE VICTORY draws wide but gets in here well with the claim. He was a winner three starts back and getting on the bigger track suits his style. KOMACHI raced up on speed and was solid behind Stadium Of Light last time out. He can give a bold sight from the inside draw. KONG draws out but has been bursting to win a similar race and chased home an in-form Magic Phantom last time. He has a big weight even after the claim and will be in the mix, the looks under the odds.
SELECTIONS: 3 BAMYAN BUDDHA, 5 Ultimate Victory, 6 Komachi, 1 Kong
PLAY: Something on both BAMYAN BUDDHA and ULTIMATE VICTORY each-way.
