Warrnambool Day Three Preview
Published: 04 May 2016
Day Three Preview
"Here's seven for Weir if you don't mind. Oh, hang on a minute, don't spend your money! EDGEWOOD 'n Olly along the rails!"
The colourful race-caller Rick McIntosh made head-lines again yesterday with an over-excited call in the last. Darren Weir had won most of the races on the day and clearly Rick thought BETTER LAND was a good thing 200 metres from home.
He wasn't!
After successful days Warrnambool, it's the running of the feature Grand Annual today, worth $300,000 and over a gruelling 5,500 metres.
Grand Annual Steeplechase
- THUBIAAN
- LORD OF THE SONG - scratched
- NISHIAZABU - scratched
- REGINA COELI
- NO SONG NO SUPPER
- VALEDICTION
- EARTHBOUND - scratched
- BOLD ZAMOUR
- MANNERTONE
- DANZADOOZIE
- ARWOC - scratched
- SPYING ON YOU
Four jumpers back up from the 'Brierly' on Tuesday, VALEDICTION (1st), DANZADOOZIE (3rd), THUBIAAN (4th) and REGINA COELI (7th), who is last year's winner of the Grand Annual.
Gai Waterhouse's VALEDICTION is a deserved favourite today after that effort and the one to beat. He was eased up on the line and as an eight-year-old son of Zabeel, has some of the best staying bloodlines in the southern hemisphere. DANZADOOZIE is a threat though, especially considering he's the horse with scope to improve.
With drying conditions that won't suit the mudlark NO SONG NO SUPPER, it could be a case of which horse backs up from Tuesday's run the best.
Bet now on VALEDICTION $2.5 or DANZADOOZIE $6
Assuming Rick has got any voice left to call the race, next up is Race 8 the Listed Warrnambool Cup. Markets have Darren Weir's MASTER ZEPHYR as favourite after sprinting best from the box seat at Terang. The muddy Warrnambool course will be a different propostion all together though.
In an open race, value chances are SURVIVED, BLACK TOMAHAWK and UNGRATEFUL ELLEN, who is worth another chance after getting stuck wide with no cover at Terang. They're all fourth-up and ready to put in a bigr run.
Bet now on SURVIVED $18, BLACK TOMAHAWK $21 and UNGRATEFUL ELLEN $10
Being bold, you could even back against Weir again in Race 10, an event he has five of the twelve runners! Home-track specialist ARTIE'S SHORE is good value to upset the champion trainer after making up ground at Terang last time out.
Bet now on ARTIE'S SHORE at $9.5
--- previews for the last two days shown below ---
Day Two Preview
“Gai Waterhouse, she’s done everything else in racing, she’s gonna win a Brierly now!”
That was the cry from race-caller Rick McIntosh as VALEDICTION strode clear of the field and eased up to win by 4 lengths over KING TRITON, with DANZADOOZIE back in 3rd. It was a bold win that sets him up as a $2.80 favourite now for Thursday’s Grand Annual.
Today the lower fences feature, with the running of the Galleywood Hurdle over two miles.
Galleywood Hurdle 3,200 metres
- WELLS
- KING OF DUDES
- ARCH FIRE
- STAND TO GAIN
- ABOUT THE JOURNEY
- ANGELOLOGY
- GINGERBOY
- DIAMOND JIM
- TUSCAN FIRE
- BIG BEN CHIMES
- SHINY MANNERS
- YOLANDA BE COOL
Bookmakers and racing analysts alike are all focussing on GINGERBOY, at the short quote of $1.70 you’re either with him or against him.
On the plus side the Darren Weir galloper has been untouched in two hurdle wins, most recently at Sandown over 3,300 metres. He cruised up under a hold and dashed right away from wet-tracker ARCH FIRE on a Good 4 surface.
If you’re knocking him, he’s onto a Heavy track today (10 starts for 0 wins and 5 placings in the wet) and was beaten as a $1.80 favourite last time on the track (ran 3rd). He’s also never had to jump under significant pressure, something that could change around the testing Galleywood circuit.
Other hopes include ARCH FIRE in more suitable conditions and top-weight WELLS, who is a well-bred jumper from Galileo with a win over champion jumper Bashboy on the board.
At the odds, they might be the way to go.
Bet now on ARCH FIRE at $5.5 and WELLS at $16
Later in the Race 8, the Wangoom Handicap, it’s back to 1,200 metres for the Listed level sprinters. Darren Weir brings a very strong team of MIRAGE, NOELA’S CHOICE and STELLAR COLLISION. They’re all capable in the wet and will be very hard to beat.
Bet now on MIRAGE at $15 and NOELA’S CHOICE at $11
Day One Preview
The Feature - Race 6 Scotty Stewart Brierly Steeplechase 3,450 metres
- THUBIAAN
- LORD OF THE SONG
- NISHIAZABU
- REGINA COELI
- VALEDICTION
- KING TRITON
- EARTHBOUND
- MANNERTONE
- DANZADOOZIE
- ARWOC
- UNDERGROUNDFIGHTER
The Scotty Stewart Brierly Steeplechase is run today over 3,450 metres, the traditional lead-up to the Grand Annual on Thursday.
Eric Musgrove’s THUBIAAN is back to defend his crown after he won the Brierly by 6 lengths carrying 68kg in 2015. Other horses backing up a year later are KING TRITON (3rd last year), REGINA COELI (4th), VALEDICTION (fell), MANNERTONE (fell), UNDERGROUNDFIGHTER (fell) and NISHIAZABU (fell).
This year in the Brierly, THUBIAAN has a couple of kilograms more as the 70kg top-weight. He’s in flying form this season winning the Great Eastern Steeple at Oakbank by a massive 15 lengths.
Gai Waterhouse’ VALEDICTION is the biggest threat, carrying just 64.5kg after an impressive lead-up run. The bookies have kept Gai’s runner very safe, installing him as favourite after he was heavily-backed from $7 to $5 last year before falling.
They both come up against the up-and-comer in the race DANZADOOZIE, who is only a five-year-old and has shown real progression in his last two efforts, scoring easily last start at Hamilton over ARWOC. Even his run behind Grassini at Warrnambool three starts ago was admirable, the winner a horse with jumping talent of his own.
With all the focus on Musgrove and Waterhouse, local trainer Symon Wilde could be the one to follow. Our Big Value in the race is DANZADOOZIE.
Bet on DANZADOOZI now at $4.4
In Race 7, another local trainer Matthew Williams comes up against the might of Darren Weir. His last start winner TURNITAROUND will be very hard to beat against Weir’s TRY FOUR. They’re both ready to peak third-up.
Bet on TURNITAROUND now at $3
And watch out for Symon Wilde again in Race 9. His galloper ILGATTINO has only had one start at his home track on an unsuitable Heavy 10. It won’t be quite that wet today and he’s sure to be primed fresh for his home-town Carnival.
Bet on ILGATTINO now at $8
Check back in for Day Two and Day Three Previews