Racing for Boxing Day – 26 December 2008

Saturday racing is pretty ordinary this week, with the good races being run on Boxing Day while everyone has a Public Holiday. Don’t forget the Perth Cup will be run on New Years Day.

Summer Cup – Randwick
The main race of the day is the Group 3 $150,000 Summer Cup over 2400 metres and 14 runners have accepted. The early market has Ready to Lift as favourite at $3.20 ahead of Rainbow Styling at $3.60, followed by Zazabeau at $7.50 and topweight Nuclear Sky at $8. 

Ready To Lift has drawn wide in barrier 11 but looked good winning the 2400 metre Christmas Cup on 13 December. Tullamarine has won his only start at this distance and has been racing well in lower grades. Rainbow Styling was a beaten favourite last start but is well worth another chance. Nuclear Sky is a good horse but gives his rivals 4 kg with his weight of 59kgs.

Jo’s tips: 1. Ready To Lift , 2. Tullamarine, 3. Rainbow Styling

Christmas Stakes – Caulfield
The Listed $100,000 Christmas Stakes over 1200 metres is one of the feature races at Caulfield. The early favourite in the field of 16 is Tasmanian Newmarket winner Scenic Silver at $4.20 who has won 4 of his 7 starts over this distance. Second in the market is El Mandon at $5 followed by Orbit Express at $5.50. The rest are at double figures.

Wangaratta trained Mind Your Head is currently at $14. He had an impressive all the way win at his home track on 16 December over 1000 metres, where he carried 61kg following a long spell.

Jo’s tips: 1. Scenic Silver, 2. Mind Your Head, 3. El Mandon

John Glover Lord Stakes – Caulfield
The Listed $100,000 John Glover Lord Stakes over 1700 metres is another of the feature races at Caulfield and has a field of 12. The early market is fairly open with Ulysses at $4.80 ahead of Raffaello and Amberino both at $6.50.

Ulysses is coming back a little in distance as his last 2 starts have been over 2000 metres. He is in great form with 3 wins and a second from his last 4 starts. Amberino is the only mare in the race and has been racing against her own sex. Raffelo came second by a short half head at Flemington last Saturday over 1600 metres, and should run well. La Rocket came third in the same race by a neck and has done well at both Caulfield starts.

Jo’s tips: 1. La Rocket, 2. Ulysses, 3. Raffaello