The following is a selection of Australian racing tips for Saturday, November 17. The focus is on Sandown. Selected races at Rosehill, Ascot and Morphettville are also covered.
More tips and previews will be added as they become available.
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Best bets of the day
Sandown Race 7, No. 3 Ringerdingding
Sandown Race 8, No. 2 Ventura Storm and No. 4 The Taj Mahal
Ascot
Race 3, No. 8 M’lady – 4 stars
Race 5, No. 3 Dainty Tess – 4.5 stars
Race 7, No. 8 Taxagano – each-way – 4 stars
Morphettville
Race 3, No. 3 Laure Me In – BEST BET – 4.5 stars
Race 6, No. 7 Amberdi – 4 stars
Rosehill
Race 5, No. 6 Firsthand – each-way – 3.5 stars
Race 7, No. 13 Isorich – each-way – 2 stars
Race 8, No. 5 Seasons – BEST BET – 4 stars
Race 9, No. 1 Newsfan – 3.5 stars
Race 7: Back Nictock (8.50) to win.
Unibet – From the Trader’s Desk:
Race 8, #5, Seasons – LAY BET – bet against this horse with Betfair
Race 9, #7, Catesby – VALUE BET
Palmerbet – Horse Racing Tips & Previews:
Race 1: ROHERYN
Race 2: VASSAL
Race 3: I AM CAPITAN
Race 4: TESTASHADOW
Race 5: JUST DREAMING
Race 6: SOUCHEZ
Race 7: ISAURIAN
Race 8: SEASONS
Race 9: SCHUBERT
Sandown
Race 8, No. 3 Libran – each-way 3.5 stars
Race 9, No. 3 Bons Away – 3.5 stars
Race 6:
Back Fifty Stars (2.30) to win.
Race 7:
Tips
1. Zoutori
2. Scottish Rogue
3. Seabrook
4. Ringerdingding
Suggested Bet: Back Zoutori (11.00) to win.
Race 8:
Back Ventura Storm (6.00) to win.
Unibet – From the Trader’s Desk:
Race 6, #8, Fifty Stars – BEST BET
Race 8, #8, Our Libretto
Betfair – Insider Racing Preview:
Race 4: BACK – Bring me Roses for 3 Units
Betfair – Feature Race Reports:
Race 5:
Betting Confidence: High
Back – #5 Chamois Road
Race 6:
Betting Confidence: Medium
Lay – #8 Fifty Stars
Race 7:
Betting Confidence: High
Back – #3 Ringerdingding; #4 Scottish Rogue
Race 8:
Betting Confidence: Medium
Back – #2 Ventura Storm; #4 The Taj Mahal
Race 10:
Betting Confidence: Medium
Back – #14 Angelic Spirit; #7 Spanner Head
Palmerbet – Horse Racing Tips & Previews:
Race 1: TORCHED
Race 2: VENGEUR MASQUE
Race 3: SWEET ROCKETTE
Race 4: TRADESMAN
Race 5: MISSROCK
Race 6: FIFTY STARS
Race 7: LONG LEAF
Race 8: THE TAJ MAHAL
Race 9: BONS AWAY
Race 10: OUR CROWN MISTRESS
Runners are listed in number order, not order of preference.
Race 2: 3 Yogi, 5 Ormito, 6 Azuro, 8 Kellstorm
Race 6: 1 Dollar For Dollar, 4 Holy Snow, 8 Fifty Stars, 9 Fox Hall
Race 7: 2 Good ‘N’ Fast , 3Ringerdingding, 5 Secret Blaze, 12 Seabrook
Race 8: 3 Libran, 4 The Taj Mahal, 7 Dal Harraild, 8 Our Libretto
Race 9: 1 Faatinah, 3 Bons Away, 9 Soothing, 13 Crown Witness
Race 2:
7. Cougar Express (3 stars)
6. Azuro (3 stars)
10. Gold Medals (3 stars)
8. Kellstorm (3 stars)
Race 6:
8. Fifty Stars (5 stars)
3. Sircconi (4 stars)
1. Dollar For Dollar (3 stars)
2. Fastnet Tempest (2 stars)
Race 7:
12. Seabrook (3 stars)
3. Ringerdingding (3 stars)
8. Du To Pass (3 stars)
1. Long Leaf (3 stars)
Race 8:
8. Our Libretto (5 stars)
1. Who Shot Thebarman (4 stars)
2. Ventura Storm (2 stars)
3. Libran (2 stars)
Race 9:
14. Written Choice (3 stars)
9. Soothing (3 stars)
10. Invincible Al (3 stars)
13. Crown Witness (3 stars)
Unibet – Race Comments and Selections:
Race 2:
YOGI (3) Track suits with 3 wins from 4 runs but goes up in weight today. Will be trying to topple them late. Making headway every start and rates strongly here. DOUKHAN (4) Third up today. Rattled home nicely into 2nd two runs back at Randwick. Strong claims. AZURO (6) Brave effort to win two runs back at Caulfield and has a positive draw. Should get going late. Definite winning chance. VENGEUR MASQUE (1) Slipped back to finish 15th last start at Flemington but is dropping in class. Don’t dismiss
Selections: 3 Yogi, 4 Doukhan, 6 Azuro, 1 Vengeur Masque
Race 6:
FIFTY STARS (8) Chimed in with a win last time at Flemington and gets a favourable barrier. Take beating. SIRCCONI (3) Winner two runs back at Caulfield and has plenty of early speed. Key player. DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR (1) Has plenty of early speed. Improved result placing 2nd three runs back at Caulfield and backs up quickly today. Could sneak a place. FASTNET TEMPEST (2) Almost grabbed a win when 2nd two runs back at Sale and back in an easier grade. Will be motoring home late. Capable of better.
Selections: 8 Fifty Stars, 3 Sircconi, 1 Dollar For Dollar, 2 Fastnet Tempest
Race 7:
RINGERDINGDING (3) Was fighting out the finish when winning last time at Flemington and has a great burst of speed late. Is in good order and can run well here. SEABROOK (12) Caught the eye when 3rd two runs back at Caulfield and drops back to a suitable class. Should get going late. Hard to overlook. LONG LEAF (1) Managed to finish 3rd two runs back at Caulfield and has been racing in stronger company. Has a nice turn of foot. Strong each way hope. SECRET BLAZE (5) Snuck in a place when 3rd last time at Flemington but facing a stronger class today. Marginal chance
Selections: 3 Ringerdingding, 12 Seabrook, 1 Long Leaf, 5 Secret Blaze
Race 8:
THE TAJ MAHAL (4) Should appreciate the smaller field. Can go forward and could prove too strong for these. VENTURA STORM (2) Looks well placed against this class. Should appreciate the drop in trip and can have an impact late. LIBRAN (3) Ran on well in the Queen Elizabeth. Can be played on an each-way basis here. DAL HARRAILD (7) Likely to get a soft run from the barrier. One at a bit of odds.
Selections: 4 The Taj Mahal, 2 Ventura Storm, 3 Libran, 7 Dal Harraild
Race 9:
BONS AWAY (3) Nice show placing 2nd last run at Flemington and expected to be flashing home. Has run into the money 3 from 4 attempts this preparation. Serious player. FAATINAH (1) Has early speed and positions nicely. Hit the line strongly when 4th last time at Flemington. Has scope so do not ignore. SPENDING TO WIN (6) Having second run back from a spell. Fought on well to win last start at Caulfield. Can’t be left out of trifectas. GUARD OF HONOUR (7) Was 1.8L from the winner at Moonee Valley last start but hard to fault at the trip. Contender in this event
Selections: 3 Bons Away, 1 Faatinah, 6 Spending To Win, 7 Guard of Honour
Sportsbet – Race Comments and Selections:
Race 2:
YOGI made ground on Melbourne Cup placegetter A Prince OF Arran last time and was not far off Queen Elizabeth Stks winner Jammeh three-back, he gets blinkers back on, unknown 3200m though. VENGEUR MASQUE has the class but he was not strong at 3200m in the great race. DOUKHAN improves here, he was close-up in Andrew Ramsden his latest dry track run. ORMITO and AZURO are chances also.
Selections: 3. Yogi, 4. Doukhan, 6. Azuro, 1. Vengeur Masque
Race 6:
SPEED: 1 may lead 3 with 10,9 close-up. DOLLAR FOR DOLALR won this last year with 54kg, he chased a hot speed last week at Flemington and held on well. He beat home HOLY SNOW in G1 Rupert Clarke Stks but the latter was 2nd-up there and has 2kg swing today. Forgive SIRCCONI last start miss, he beat Dreamforce prior, that’s the horse that beat Dollar For Dollar last week. FIFTY STARS has the upside, he has never missed the quinella. FASTNET TEMPEST and MAN OF HIS WORD are chances also.
Selections: 4. Holy Snow, 1. Dollar For Dollar, 3. Sircconi, 8. Fifty Stars
Race 7:
SPEED: 4 leads, 8 and 9 close up. 5, 1, 11 handy. RINGERDINGDING was enormous against the track bias at MV then out to crazy odds in the Hilton at 1400m and stormed home to nail SCOTTISH ROGUE (who was only second up), whom he now meets 1.5kg better. Winner’s last 600m was 6.3L above average and he ran home 11.56, 0.12 faster than his 400-to-200m split (doubt 1600m an issue!). SEABROOK was close up against elite older mares in Empire Rose and is a G1 winner at 1600m. LONG LEAF is back from G1 class. Forget his miss behind Seabrook at 1600m (wide). GOOD ‘N’ FAST, SECRET BLAZE, ZOUTORI chances.
Selections: 3. Ringerdingding, 12. Seabrook, 1. Long Leaf, 2. Good ‘n’ Fast
Race 8:
SPEED: 4 may lead 2 & 7. THE TAJ MAHAL won this easily last year, he started favourite in the track-record MV Cup but was wide. Of course, VENTURA STORM won that, beating subsequent G1 winner Trap For Fools and LIBRAN. Ignore Ventura Storm’s Melbourne Cup miss, he simply didn’t stay the 3200m. DAL HARRAILD and LORD FANDANGO closed off well in the Herbert Power and were not far off A Prince Of Arran, who then placed in that Melbourne Cup. They both then went to the Bendigo Cup and ran very well, for different reasons. OUR LIBRETTO wants 2400m to my eye.
Selections: 4. The Taj Mahal, 2. Ventura Storm, 7. Dal Harraild, 6. Lord Fandango
Race 9:
Speed good with any of 1,8,11,13,14. THERMAL CURRENT broke a long run of outs at Flemington running over I’LL HAVE A BIT (good return/ she is better 2nd-up and has Santa Ana Lane form) and FAATINAH (good also). BONS AWAY ran home in similar closing splits to Osborne Bulls last time, not many do that! SPENDING TO WIN beat Bons Away in September when they clashed and Eduardo certainly franked that (fast) form. SOOTHING gets away from Caulfield, fancy that is a big plus for her. CROWN WITNESS is off a long break but trialled brilliantly, she is very smart. INVINCIBLE AL has a case also.
Selections: 5. I’ll Have A Bit, 3. Bons Away, 13. Crown Witness, 1. Faatinah
Betfair – Race Analysis & Selections:
Race 2:
Not much in the way of speed here but from out wide Cougar Express can roll forward and Gold Medals can boot up on the inside. YOGI is coming off a couple of tougher races including a solid run in the Lexus Stakes which ended up being a pretty good form race re the Melbourne Cup. Looks well placed here and expected to improve sharply. AZURO has been racing in great form and looks the best of the improvers. Placed over 2800m at Flemington on Cup day and with a light weight again here should go well. KELLSTORM has been racing well and looks suited at the trip and a nice draw. DOUKHAN can improve sharply while VENGEUR MASQUE can atone for the Melbourne Cup run.
1. Yogi (5 stars)
2. Azuro (5 stars)
3. Kellstorm (4 stars)
Race 6:
Pace genuine with Jemadar, Dollar For Dollar, Fox Hall and Sircconi all capable of leading. FIFTY STARS has been going well and looks perfectly p[laced with the light weight here. Runner up first two from a spell then scored at Flemington last time. Drops in weight and draw to be camped just off the speed. Stablemate HOLY SNOW has been freshened since a solid run in the Bairnsdale Cup latest. Rates strongly and can improve here. FASTNET TEMPEST tackled Group 1 class last time and was only a couple of lengths away. Very well placed coming back a couple of notches. DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR is going better than it looks on paper and can run well.
1. Fifty Stars (5 stars)
2. Holy Snow (4 stars)
3. Fastnet Tempest (4 stars)
Race 7:
Not a great deal of speed in the Guineas but from wide out Scottish Rogue can push on while Predecessor and Du To Pass will want to be prominent. Looks a good race for the improving RINGERDINGDING. Charged home for third in Group 3 grade at the Valley two back then was too good for Listed class latest. Drawn for a good run and suited by the big track here. Expected to prove hard to hold out. The only filly in the race looks the main danger. SEABROOK is a classy three-year-old coming off good runs in Group 1 grade last two and not beaten far at either. Can easily measure up here. SECRET BLAZE is ready to win after three runs back and was a luckless third over a mile latest. Another hard to hold out. LONG LEAF rates strongly and drawn for a good run while stablemate GOOD ‘N’ FAST is among the chances on best form.
Race 8:
Not a great deal of speed here with two of the fancied runners Dal Harraild and The Taj Mahal in the firing line early. THE TAJ MAHAL pulled up lame after the Moonee Valley Cup and is worth another chance. Previous form good for this and will be on speed. DAL HARRAILD looks ready to win after boxing on gamely in the Bendigo Cup. Rates well and will go close here. VENTURA STORM won the Moonee Valley Cup then was well held in the Melbourne Cup. Can bounce back in this easier assignment if not gassed now. OUR LIBRETTO won a string of races before a close up run latest. Has the weight relief and the inside draw here. LIBRAN has the ability and looks next best.
1. The Taj Mahal (5 stars)
2. Dal Harraild (5 stars)
3. Ventura Storm (4 stars)
Race 9:
Pace strong with Crown Witness booting up with fresh legs while Faatinah and Written Choice push on from wider out. CROWN WITNESS can run a big race here fresh. Was fourth in the Blue Sapphire a year ago but fitter for two trials including a last start win. Nice weight and will take catching. BONS AWAY has been working up to a win and is overdue. Well placed here and will be winding up strongly in this easier grade. SPENDING TO WIN was an open class winner fresh and will be further improved. Drawn well and will be prominent to the lead throughout. THERMAL CURRENT is racing well and worth including again while I’LL HAVE A BIT is fitter and should be much improved.
1. Crown Witness (5 stars)
2. Bons Away (5 stars)
3. Spending To Win (5 stars)
Race 2:
AZURO Is a consistent Darren Weir-trained gelding with a Caulfield win two back before placing over 2800m at Flemington last start. Gets the gun run in transit from the gate and is as good a chance as any in an open race. ORMITO Is one of Darren Weir’s four runners in the race. Hasn’t done a lot in four runs back from a break however this looks a target race and a sharp improvement wouldn’t surprise. YOGI Hasn’t been able to get into the winner’s stall this preparation but has been racing well including a placing in the Bart Cummings three back. Likely to relish the 3200m and is right in play. KELLSTORM Finished fourth at Flemington last start after a Morphettville win two back and there is nothing to suggest he won’t be in the finish again.
Race 6:
FIFTY STARS Has won five of his seven starts to date and finished runner-up in the other two. Returned to the winner’s list at Flemington last start and has to be the one to beat again with just 54kg on his back launching from an ideal gate. DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR Was beaten in a photo-finish in the Group I Sir Rupert Clarke at Caulfield three runs back and was just over a length from the winner in the Chatham Stakes at Flemington last start. There is nothing to suggest he won’t be in the finish again. HOLY SNOW Will be having his first start for Darren Weir after finishing just over a length from the winner in the Bairnsdale Cup last start. Was Group II placed last preparation and only has to have settled into the new surroundings to be in the finish. FOX HALL Has finished fourth at Geelong and Flemington in his two runs this time in and is ready to do something peaking third-up.
Race 7:
SEABROOK Hasn’t been able to return to the winner’s stall in four runs this preparation but was placed in the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield two back before finishing less than two-lengths from the winner in the Empire Rose last start. This looks her chance to register a win this preparation back to her own age. RINGERDINGDING Has won two of last four and is chasing back to back wins after a victory in the Springtime Stakes over 1400m at Flemington last start. Only has to run out the mile for the first time to be right in the finish. GOOD ‘N’ FAST Had a tough run in the Carbine Club at Flemington last start. Won the Taj Rossi Final earlier in the preparation over the mile and just needs even luck in running to be in the finish. SECRET BLAZE Hit the line strongly when third in the Carbine Club last start and he is ready to win peaking fourth-up.
Race 8:
OUR LIBRETTO Is a former New Zealander who won her first four Australian starts including the Pinker Pinker Plate at Cranbourne two back before finishing just over a length from the winner in the Matriarch at Flemington last start when she didn’t get much room over the latter stages. Only has to run out the 2400m for the first time to be in the finish. THE TAJ MAHAL Won the JRA Cup at Moonee Valley three back and hasn’t had much luck in the Moonee Valley and Caulfield Cups at last two starts. Won this race last year and there is nothing to suggest he cannot go back to back. DAL HARRAILD Is an imported gelding and twice a listed winner before coming to Australia. Improved considerably at his second local start when runner-up in the Bendigo Cup and any further improvement would see him right in the finish. LIBRAN Continues to race well finishing in the placings in the Moonee Valley Cup and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at last two starts and has bright place prospects again.
Race 9:
SOOTHING Won her first two starts this preparation at Rosehill and Caulfield before finishing third in the Alinghi Stakes at Caulfield last start. Back to 1000m looks the only query. FAATINAH Was a Moonee Valley winner resuming four runs back and has been close-up in three subsequent runs including a half-length fourth at Flemington last start. Just needs even luck from the wide gate to be in the finish again. CROWN WITNESS Hasn’t raced in over a year and resumes for a new stable. Has won three from four and would only need to be close to right to be in the finish and that may well be the case based on her latest trial win at Cranbourne. BONS AWAY Is a must for the wider exotics after finishing in the placings last three including a runner-up finish behind Osborne Bulls at Flemington last start.