Ratmail - Racing Tips & Analysis, June 26

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Ratmail - Racing Tips & Analysis, June 26

By Corey Rattray-Wood on Fri, 25/06.2010

Gâ€™day punters!

Welcome to this weekâ€™s edition of Ratmail. What a week itâ€™s been in racing with Starspangledbanner flying the Aussie flag at Royal Ascot in the Golden Jubilee by absolutely smashing his rivals. Heâ€™s some kind of freak this horse, and can match it with anyone in the world on his day. Itâ€™s amazing to think his odds just kept getting bigger when he kept winning leading up to the guineas last year... If only we knew then what we know now.

Looking towards this week, Iâ€™ve found 6 horses to have a look at from Eagle Farm and Flemington and Iâ€™m pretty happy with them. But first, letâ€™s take a look back at last weekâ€™s results.

THE REVIEW

Well we only ended up with 3 best bets for the day after the scratching of Lamarr and out of those 3, we found 1 winner. It was enough to keep us ahead however, with Our Lukas performing brilliantly to win his 2^nd consecutive Ipswich Cup. He fought off a really gallant effort from Frozone but proved too strong on the day.

Yaqubi dead set failed to stay the trip of 3200m, getting the perfect ride and relaxing really well in the running. He loomed up around the bend and looked like he was going to challenge for it, but just couldnâ€™t accelerate when the others did.

And as for Mazzacano... Well it was a sad day for jumps fans. This grand 9 year old gelding may have run his last race, with question marks now over his future. He was pulled out of it by Steven Pateman when he just refused to keep going. He may have had enough?

THE PREVIEW

Eagle Farm Race 6 â€“ W. J. Healy Stakes â€“ 1200m

My first best bet comes in the form of FIRST COMMAND (1) at very juicy odds of $4. I tipped this horse to win 1^st-up and he ran a really impressive race finishing 2^nd. Heâ€™s got a stack of potential and gets the extra 200m today which I think suits. Stable jock D. Dunn goes up for the ride which is also a plus. I think this horse is in Group 1 class and our favourite HAY LIST (6) is yet to prove heâ€™s up to that. He was super impressive running a close 2^nd behind Love Conquers All in his first start in Sydney 2 weeks ago but Iâ€™m not sure if that form will be good enough today. Of course DAUNTING LAD (5), winner ahead of First Command last start, is in the race again but surely the old fella canâ€™t pull out 2 upset wins like that in a row?

**Back FIRST COMMAND (1) to win.

Eagle Farm Race 7 â€“ Winter Stakes â€“ 1400m

This race is a Group 1 for fillies and mares and my guts tell me itâ€™s a battle between 2 of our countries best 3 year olds in MELITO (8) and SET FOR FAME (9). Iâ€™m swaying towards Set For Fame however, as this filly returned to the form we know sheâ€™s capable of last time out. She acquires one of the best hoops in the business in Blake Shinn and actually drops half a kilo for the WFA event, whereas many of these rise sharply, including Meltio. That said, Melito has become one of our stars of racing the past couple of months, with this being her 6^th consecutive Group 1 run this preparation â€“ all of which she has run in the top 3. That is an exceptional campaign, and 2 weeks ago she was in a photo finish in Australiaâ€™s premier 1400m handicap event â€“ The Stradbroke. She goes up 4kg today though and I just think itâ€™s been a gruelling campaign and she may not be as sharp for this, but if she is sheâ€™s definitely got the credentials to take it out. Set For Fame, however, is yet to produce her best and can improve heavily on her last performance. Thereâ€™s no doubt itâ€™s going to be a great battle but Set For Fame is my top selection and one of my best bets at around $4.50.

**Back SET FOR FAME (9) to win.

Flemington Race 4 â€“ Hanan Displays Handicap â€“ 1200m

Iâ€™m back on board one of my favourite horses here in BREIFED (3). This bloke has a stack of potential and a devastating turn of foot when he puts it all together but unfortunately that doesnâ€™t happen often enough. I think today may be his day though at very nice each way odds of around $8. Heâ€™s been kept quite fresh for this and gets back to a big track which gives him time to wind up. NO VACANCY (6) is an interesting runner. Heâ€™s had some genuine excuses at all of his failures but his 1 win was really solid. He might run a cheeky race. BROKEN (1) is a deserved favourite. He looked all but home last time only to be nabbed by the super impressive Dubleanny on the line. His team might get a sense of Deja Vu?

**Back BREIFED (3) each way.

Flemington Race 5 â€“ TCL Electronics Plate â€“ 1000m

Iâ€™m going for class here and that leads to one horse, KEANO (1). Danny Oâ€™Brien loves training these Pins horses and this is no exception. Heâ€™s first up today after a brief stint in NZ where he performed OK. Heâ€™ll get a soft enough track which will suit and is proven down the straight, and I think class alone should be enough to get him over the line here. If he performs somewhere near his best heâ€™ll be far too good for this lot, and at odds of around $5 Iâ€™m more than happy to bet on it! DINGANE (11) is probably the most interesting other runner in the field, with Adelaide-based trainer David Jolly electing to bring him to Melbourne, and acquiring Glen Boss for the ride. The stableâ€™s obviously got a bit of an opinion about him and he might run a bit of a cheeky race at odds.

**Back KEANO (1) to win.

Flemington Race 6 â€“ Winter Championship Series Heat 6 â€“ 1420m

Probably my best bet of the day here with DOUBTFUL JACK (15). Heâ€™s currently only a 1^st emergency but in a big field, I suspect heâ€™ll get a run. If he does, I expect him to win. Last time out he absolutely demolished his rivals after making heavy contact and losing ground out of the starting gates. If he can run up to that again today then I have no doubt heâ€™s up to the challenge. There are some very nice horses going around in this race but I doubt any of them could match it with him if he goes as well as last time. He drops to the minimum 53kg after lugging big weights his first 3 runs this prep and looks perfectly placed to take this one home at around $3.20. Next best in my eyes are OUTLANDISH LAD (8) and LEICA LARRIKIN (6), both at a bit of value.

**Back DOUBTFUL JACK (15) to win.

Flemington Race 8 â€“ Australian Lamb Company Handicap â€“ 1630m

Last time out, CHERONBUTCH (4) produced one of those runs youâ€™d have to see to believe. He was in all sorts of trouble in the straight with nowhere to go, only to poke through at the last minute and claim them all. Heâ€™s 3 from 3 so far this prep and has come an extremely long way through the grades. I think heâ€™s got enough class to go on with it here and I think getting to the Flemington track will suit his style of racing. He also gets an extra 230m distance, which will also suit. Heâ€™s primed for the step up in grade today and it looks a nice â€˜Get Out Stakesâ€™ race.

**Back CHERONBUTCH (4) to win.

Thatâ€™s it for this week punters. Good luck over the weekend and weâ€™ll see you next week for another edition of Ratmail.

Ratters.