3 minute read
It was a big swing and a miss last weekend, but confident we can turn it around at headquarters on Saturday.
Hard to know what the track is going to be, there are many different views floating about, I'll side with a Soft 6, but hopeful of better (forever the optimist).
The rail is out 4m and we again have been served up 10 of the best, four of which are Group 1s.
The first Sydney Cup was held in 1866 with multiple winner Tie The Knot (1998-99) one of only two horses to shoulder more than 56kg to victory in the last 30 years.
The William Haggas trained Young Rascal has won six of 11 starts and did a good job to win in his Australian debut, when too strong late in the N.E. Manion Cup [2400m].
By all reports he had a fair bit of improvement to come and while yet to be seen beyond 2400m, it is hardly going to be a true staying test, though even still, it appears unlikely to bring him undone.
Rated 122+ by Timeform, he already sits at the top end of past winners, both Who Shot Thebarman and The Offer were rated 122 when successful.
Tie The Knot remains the highest rated winner of the Sydney Cup when braining them in 1999, rated 127.
Young Rascal and Mustajeer never raced each other in the UK, but left UK shores rated 122 and 118 respectively.
Young Rascal had won 5/10, Mustajeer had won 4/19, you'd choose Young Rascal every time yet Mustajeer has to give him 1.5kg.
Mustajeer is coming off a new career peak in the Tancred Stakes (120), however firmly in Young Rascal's camp.
Leading jockey Tom Marquand is unbeaten aboard the five-year-old (2/2) and if able to continue his upward spiral, he should prove very hard to beat.
The Maher and Eustace trained Away Game has been the stand-out filly this season and looks very well treated in the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes.
A surprise winner (40-1) of the Magic Millions, she notably beat home subsequent Group 1 winners Farnan and King's Legacy.
She dominated the Widden Stakes, before very game in the Blue Diamond Stakes when forced to sit four wide throughout.
Given four weeks into the Slipper, she again proved very game when finishing second behind Farnan.
The next filly across the line was Hungry Heart a further 2.5L away.
She has run in everything, however her preparation has been carefully managed and while she may lack the upside of a few, they have to take a fair step to get to her level.
Drawn the middle of the line Boss has plenty of options and if able to hold her form, she should prove very hard to beat.
Simon Dinopoulos' Three Tips:
Race 4 #2 Away Game @ $3.60
Race 5 #1 Cosmic Force @ $3.80
Race 7 #2 Young Rascal @ $2.60
