3 minute read
Hard not to get excited about Saturday, we should have an outright Slipper favourite and two of our best sprinters line up, albeit in different races.
The Todman Stakes is clearly one of the main highlights, apart from Artorius, all the best colts in the country take their place.
There is nowhere to hide and we now get to see who will live up to the hype.
Profiteer and Stay Inside are the current equal favourites for the Slipper, but whoever comes out on top in the Todman will likely find themselves on their own at the head of betting.
The barrier draw swings the race in favour of Profiteer, he should lead comfortably from the inside, leaving Stay Inside to either sit outside the lead or try and slot in one off.
No two-year-old has trialled better than Remarque this season, here's hoping he can do it under race pressure on Saturday – what a race!
The final event of the day serves up a Group 3 mares' handicap over the mile, hardly an exciting prospect at first glance, however firmly with Nimalee.
Only lightly raced, the Matthew Smith trained mare returned with a bang last start when far too good on-speed over 1400m.
She returned a new career peak and looks to get all the favours on-speed, the official RNSW Stewards' speedmap has her leading easily.
The step up to the mile is sure to suit and King sticks aboard from the middle draw.
In a capacity field of even mares, 3-1 may seem short enough, however we have with a clear edge off that first up run and have her inside 2-1 – bet up!
In the fourth event, keen to be with Team Hawkes in Mount Popa.
An impressive winner at this course and distance prior to a break, he returned in good order last start when only beaten narrowly behind Shared Ambition.
That form has since been franked in Melbourne and Mount Popa is sure to appreciate the step up to 2000m.
Gets in well at the weights for Berry and hoping he can settle a touch closer from the inside draw.
Does have a bit to find on the bare form, but confident he can make that jump.
First to second up last preparation he improved 10 pounds, anywhere near that level of improvement on Saturday and he is winning.
Simon Dinopoulos' Three Tips:
Race 3 #12 Gstaad @ $9.00
Race 4 #7 Mount Popa @ $2.90
Race 9 #12 Nimalee @ $4.00
