Racing Preview – 1 August

Missile Stakes – Rosehill
The first day of the new racing season has an 8 race program at Rosehill with the main race being the weight-for-age Group 3 $125,000 Missile Stakes for three-year-olds and upwards. The 1100 metres race had attracted a field of 12 sprinters but the youngster Rarefied has already been scratched, leaving 11 in the race.

The early market has Dreamscape as favourite at $2.60 after his good first-up win over 1200 metres. Next in the market is Kroner at $3.40, Typhoon Zed at $6, Olonana and Fritz’s Princess both at $11, Teasing at $15 and Gold Trail at $16. Typhoon Zed has an excellent record second-up and connections are hoping to break through the million dollar prizemoney mark. Fritz’s Princess is a difficult mare to follow but can show an excellent turn of speed, and won a 900 metre trial by 6.5 lengths on 20 July.

Jo’s tips: 1. Dreamscape, 2. Typhoon Zed, 3. Fritz’s Princess

Bletchingly Stakes – Caulfield
The Group 3 $125,000 Bletchingly Stakes is a weight-for-age race over 1200 metres. There is a field of 9 and the early favourite is I Am Invincible at $2.30. Next in the market is Bel Mer at $3.30, Orange County at $5.50, Maxisun and Mr Baritone both at $12, Let Go Thommo at $15 and Mind Your Head at $16.

I Am Invincible won narrowly on 18 July after missing the start and is capable of winning again. Orange County was 3rd in that same race after being bumped and should run well again. Bel Mer is the only mare in the race and does well at the track. She also has good first-up statistics and does well at this distance.

Jo’s tips: 1. I Am Invincible, 2. Orange County, 3. Bel Mer

Clean Domain Handicap – Doomben
The $75,000 Clean Domain Handicap is a quality handicap over 1200 metres, and has attracted a field of 11. The short priced favourite in the early market is Albert The Fat at $2.20 following his solid first-up win over this distance at Eagle Farm on 18 July.

Next in the early market is Borshas Mark at $5, Heart Of The Citi at $5.50, Forestreno at $6.50, Nuclear Medicine at $8.50, Sommersea Drive at $10 and Tellasecret at $11. Albert The Fat looked good winning first-up, while Heart Of The Citi ran third in that race and meets him better at the weights and rarely runs a bad race. Borshas Mark does well at this track and distance, and won first up at Grafton on 16 July.

Jo’s tips: 1. Albert The Fat, 2. Heart Of The Citi, 3. Borshas Mark

And seeing as it’s the 1st August, a big Happy Birthday to all the horses!