Tapp-Craig – 2022

Track: Heavy   Weather: Heavy Showers

Thirteen runners have accepted for the $500,000 Tapp-Craig and there have been no early scratchings.

The Godolphin stable headed by James Cummings is looking to take out the inaugural event as he has entered four of the thirteen runners. None of the four runners are in the top four in the betting, with the lowest price being $18.00 for Stylised.

Zou Tiger heads the betting at $2.25 which is well deserved considering his brilliant run in the Golden Rose, where he finished a gallant third. Opal Ridge is on the second line of betting at $4.60 and she is coming through the Heritage Stakes, where she ran a solid second behind Economics.

Hawaii Five Oh rounds out the top three in betting at $8.00. He is coming through the same race as Opal Ridge, where he was third by 3.1 lengths and 1.3 lengths behind Opal Ridge in second.

1. Zou Tiger (9)

Ran a big race in the Golden Rose from a wide gate when finishing third to Jacquinot. Drawn out again which might not be bad and maps to head forward and give them something to run down. There is a slight question mark around his wet track form, and he did get some bias favours last start.

2. Basquiat (13)

Ran okay two back before failing in the Golden Rose. Handles the wet which is a positive but needs to improve dramatically.

3. Ringmaster (7)

Hasn’t gotten close in three starts this preparation, so it’s hard to back him with any confidence.

4. Burgunder (11)

Ran well first-up in a much weaker grade. Will need a nice ride to be in the finish.

5. Sandpaper (6)

Didn’t handle the heavy conditions in his first preparation and just hasn’t run up to usual standard of the stable thus far in his career. Can’t have.

6. Hawaii Five Oh (2)

Finished a distant third in the Heritage Stakes when he had the blinkers on for the first time. He has drawn okay here but will need to improve to be a factor in this contest.

7. Stylised (3)

Won a maiden at Rosehill ten days ago. He is an emergency for another race later today. Might not win this race but does look a place chance.

8. Pericles (12)

Started off his career with a win in a Newcastle maiden by a narrow margin. He is an emergency for another race later today. Drawn poorly here and will need to improve.

9. Badge (5)

Won a maiden at Goulburn, but this looks too tough.

10. Chairman (4)

Entered for a race earlier in the day, he is coming out of a placing in a benchmark 64. He looks to have some talent but he is yet to face a race this tough or ground this wet.

11. Opal Ridge (1)

She won a highway two back before running a big race in the Heritage Stakes. She should have finished closer with the right run and the decisions ultimately cost her at least a length in the run. She handles the wet well but she has never gone beyond 1200m, so this is the big test for her.

12. Dashing Legend (8)

Coming out of a benchmark 68 at Canterbury where she was a nice winner. This looks harder but she should give a good show.

13. Fun Sunday (10)

Can’t have her here.

The following are the top 4 selections for this year’s race.

Josh’s Tips	Jo’s Tips
1 Zou Tiger	11 Opal Ridge
4 Burgunder	1 Zou Tiger
11 Opal Ridge	12 Dashing Legend
12 Dashing Legend	8 Pericles

Result	Horse	Margin
1st	11 Opal Ridge
2nd	8 Pericles	2.36 lengths
3rd	12 Dashing Legend	7.62 lengths
4th	3 Ringmaster	8.06 lengths

The track was rated as Heavy 10.

Scratchings: 1. Zou Tiger, 5. Sandpaper, 7. Stylised, 13. Fun Sunday.