Ballarat Cup – 2020

Track: Good   Weather: Fine

A capacity field of 16 runners plus four emergencies have accepted for the time honored Ballarat Cup.  Mongolian Marshal and Power Scheme are early scratchings.  In a very open betting race local horse Affair To Remember has been well supported in early betting markets and is the current favourite.  Junipal is next in the betting, he bounced back to winning form in the Group Three Sandown Stakes last start.  Paradee ran second to Affair To Remember at Flemington and has been building nicely this preparation.  Kings Will Dream ran third in the Crystal Mile last month.

Odeon is a consistent horse and will get a good run from barrier six for an in form Daniel Moor.  Harlem has a big weight but he has been Group one competitive this preparation and has performed well in the past with big weights.  Al Galayel finished midfield last start but was found to be lame.  He had won three in a row prior to this.  So Si Bon is another with a big weight and is hard to catch but did manage to get his nose down last week on the line to take out the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.  Pacodali was unlucky in the concluding stages last week and has been running better than his form suggests.  Plein Ciel is consistent and always runs an honest race.  The remaining runners are $20-1 or longer.

1. So Si Bon

So Si Bon is backing up after nosing out Power Scheme in the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown last week.  He has a bit against him here with a big weight and he is yet to win at the distance but is drawn to get a soft run from barrier one.

2. Harlem

The rising nine year old has been competitive in a number of Group 1s this preparation.  He has a big weight but thought he was good through the line in the MacKinnon Stakes and may not of been suited by an inside draw.   If Craig Williams can find cover from barrier 13 he can feature in the finish.

3. Kings Will Dream

Kings Will Dream has had a month off since finishing third behind Homesman at Moonee Valley.  He has been racing consistently and has each way claims.

4. Junipal

Junipal is a winner of three races this preparation.  He was well supported last week at Sandown and was able to get over the top of Kenya late after enjoying a good run in transit.  He is well set up to run well again here.

5. Al Galayel

The son of Zoffany has had a month off since pulling up lame after a midfield finish in the Coongy Stakes.  He won three in a row prior to that and is always competitive at this level.  Each way chance.

6. Kiwia

The local has won the past two Ballarat cups.  He hasn’t been going as well this time in as in previous preparations but he does grow a leg on his home track where he is three from three.

7. Pacodali

He looks set be peaking here third up after having little luck over the concluding stages in last weeks Eclipse Stakes.  He is drawn well in barrier four and is one of the each way chances.

8. Inverloch

Inverloch rode the speed in a fast run Bendigo Cup so it may pay to forgive him dropping out.  He is much more suited here dropping back to 2000m and is drawn well to find a spot in the first couple.

9. Plein Ciel

Racing well without winning.  He is always around the mark in listed company and one that should be included for multiples.

10. Affair to Remember

The last start winner of the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes is having a terrific preparation for trainer Dan O’Sullivan.  She likes to get back in her races but looks ideally suited in barrier nine for Mark Zahra to find some cover and unleash down the outside.  She is one of the main chances.

11. Odeon

Odeon looked the winner of the Listed Cup Day Plate but as is often the case found a couple better.  He is another that struggles to win and I am looking elsewhere given he is also losing the services of Jamie Kah.

12. Our Big Mike

Won the Moe Cup two starts ago and then finished down the track in the Kyneton Cup.  This is much harder.

13.   Furrion

Furrion has not been sighted in all four runs this preparation.  There was money around to suggest he would be running well in the Bendigo Cup with the blinkers going on but dropped out after enjoying a good run.

14. Game Keeper

There was a good spruike around for this gelding as a possible Caulfield Cup horse at the start of this preparation but he has failed to live up to those expectations.  $26 in early markets looks the right price.

15. Double You Tee

The blinkers go back on here.  He ran second in this race last year behind Kiwia.  Will be there abouts again.

16. Power Scheme – SCR

17. Irish Flame

Another one of these having a really consistent preparation.  He has finished in the top two at his last four starts.  This is harder though and he has drawn very wide.

18. Mongolian Marshal – SCR

19. Knights Order

Drops back from the 2800m here.  Not sure that is ideal.

20. Paradee

Looked the winner of the Matriarch before Affair To Remember was able to get over the top of her late.  Should be better for having had a start over the 2000m and at peak fitness now.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo’s Tips	Lewis’ Tips
10. Affair To Remember	2. Harlem
4. Junipal	20. Paradee
5. Al Galayel	10. Affair To Remember
3. Kings Will Dream	4. Junipal

Group 1 Railway Stakes 2020 (Ascot 1600m)

Group 2 WA Guineas 2020 (Ascot 1600m)

Listed Kilmore Cup 2020 (Kilmore 1600m) – Sunday 22 November