Racing Preview – Australia Day Weekend

Australia Day Stakes – Ascot on Saturday 24 January
The main race of the day at Ascot is the Listed $75,000 Australia Day Stakes over 1200 metres for three-year-olds and upwards. There are only 6 runners, but it should be a really interesting race.

The topweight Danny Beau has 9 wins from 14 starts, and has won 7 of his 8 starts at this track. The race he didn’t win was won by the outstanding sprinter Takeover Target, so that was no disgrace. Keytomoney won 3 in a row at Ascot in December 2008, while Dante’s Volonte has 7 wins and three placings from his 10 starts here and has won the last 5 in a row.
 
Jo’s tips: 1. Dante’s Volonte, 2. Danny Beau, 3. Keytomoney
 

Hula Chief Handicap – Randwick on Saturday 24 January
Despite the lure of prizemoney to 8th place and a BOBS bonus available, there are only five two-year-olds running in the $70,000 Hula Chief Handicap over 1000 metres. Two of them are having their first start, including the Gai Waterhouse trained Viking Legend who has placed in both of his trials, including one on 9 January behind stablemate Manhattan Rain who is expected to become a very good horse.

Both Real Saga and Sampler have each had one start for impressive wins over the 1000 metre distance, while Gunner Knox has had two starts and finished midfield at both.

Jo’s tips: 1. Sampler, 2. Real Saga, 3. Viking Legend
 

Australia Day Cup – Randwick on Monday 26 January
The feature races at Monday’s Randwick Meeting are the Inglis Classic for two-year-olds, and the Australia Day Cup.

The Listed $100,000 Australia Day Cup over 2400 metres has a field of nine runners. The topweight Tommifrancs will carry 60kg following two good wins in the Frank Underwood Cup on 17 January and the Tatts Cup on 1 January, both over 2000 metres. He is equal favourite at $2.70 in the early market with Macknuckle who has won his last three in a row and has the much lighter weight of 53kg.

Next in the betting are Zavite and Ashraf, both at $7.50, followed by Come On Cugat at $10 and Ausbred King at $12. Ausbred King has finished behind Tommifrancs at his last two starts but meets him better at the weights. 

Jo’s tips: 1. Macknuckle, 2. Tommifrancs, 3. Ausbred King