Racing Preview – Sat 28 Feb

Futurity Stakes – Caulfield
There are nine races at Caulfield and only four of them have more than ten runners. The main race is the weight-for-age Group 1 $500,000 Rokk Ebony Futurity Stakes over 1600 metres. It is the first leg of the Asian Mile Challenge and there are eight runners.

The early market has Alamosa as favourite at $2.70 followed by Light Fantastic at $3.40, Time Matters at $5 and El Segundo and Niconero both at $9. Alamosa came second in the Orr Stakes behind Maldivian at his last start on 8 February, and finished the race strongly. He has an excellent record at this distance with five wins and a second from seven starts. 

Light Fantastic, El Segundo and Niconero were also in the Orr Stakes and finished out of the placings. Light Fantastic rarely runs a bad race and should be placed here. Time Matters has won his last three races in a row and they have all been at Caulfield.

Jo’s tips: 1. Alamosa, 2. Time Matters, 3. Light Fantastic

Silver Slipper Stakes – Rosehill
There are several Group races on the nine event program at Rosehill, and the feature race is the Group 2 $200,000 Franklins Supermarkets Silver Slipper Stakes over 1100 metres. It is a set weight race for two-year-olds and there are nine runners.

The early market has only two runners under double figures. The Gai Waterhouse colt More Joyous is at the very short price of $1.30 while the next horse in the betting is Melito at $7. Moe Joyous won his only start by over 5 lengths on 17 January and also won a Randwick trial on 9 February.

More Joyous is currently favourite for the Golden Slipper, and has drawn well in barrier 2 here.

Jo’s tips: 1. More Joyous, 2. Melito, 3. Italian Beauty

Hobartville Stakes – Rosehill
The Group 2 $200,000 Hobartville Stakes over 1400 metres is one of the classic set-weight races for three-year-olds. There is a full field of 13 plus 4 emergencies.

The first four horses in the early market have drawn the four inside barriers. Youthful Jack (barrier 3) is $3 favourite ahead of Desuetude (barrier 4) at $4, Mic Mac (barrier 2) at $4.80 and Rock Kingdom (barrier 1) at $9.

Mic Mac has won 4 from 4 in Victoria with a last start win at Moonee Valley of 5 lengths. Rock Kingdom has 5 wins from 7 starts and Youthful Jack has won 11 from 15. Other runners include Victoria Derby winner Rebel Raider, Gloaming Stakes winner Predatory Pricer and Spring Champion Stakes winner Sousa.

Jo’s tips: 1. Mic Mac, 2. Rock Kingdom, 3. Youthful Jack