Saab Quality - Flemington 4/11

[Macca_]

2-11.55 SAAB QUALITY 2500 M
Of $254000 Of $250000 and $4000 trophies. 1st $150000 and trophies of $1500 to owner $1250 to trainer $1250 to jockey, 2nd $45000, 3rd $22500, 4th $11250, 5th $6250, 6th $5000, 7th $5000, 8th $5000. Quality. (GROUP 3). No allowances for apprentices. Field Limit: 18+3 EM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. Horse Trainer Jockey Barr Wgt Pen RTG
1 GRAND ZULU Gwenda Markwell D Beadman 2 58 (106.5)
2 MAYBE BETTER Brian Mayfield-Smith S W Arnold 20 57 (105)
3 ZABEAT (NZ) Donna Logan C Brown 8 57 (105)
4 SARRERA Michael Moroney G Childs 14 56 (103)
5 VANQUISHED Bede Murray K McEvoy 4 56 (103)
6 ICE CHARIOT Ron Maund J Byrne 10 55.5 (102)
7 DEFINING (GB) David Hayes C Williams 12 55 (101)
8 SOULACROIX (GB) Luca Cumani 13 54 (100)
9 CEFALU (CHI) Lee Freedman J Cassidy 19 53.5 (99)
10 ROANOKE Anthony Cummings D Moor 21 52 (95)
11 DRACS BACK Darren Weir B Shinn 1 52 (94)
12 IRAZU Steve Richards D Dunn 3 52 (93)
13 MAGIC INSTINCT (GB) Peter G Moody C Munce 6 52 (92)
14 LOANHEAD (NZ) Peter G Moody G Boss 11 52 (88)
15 LORD ERIN (NZ) Grant Dalziel B Park 16 52 (88)
16 GENEBEL Michael Moroney B J Melham (a) 9 52 (87)
17 ON THE UP John Hawkes D Gauci 15 52 (87)
18 AZNAVOUR (NZ) Danny O'Brien S Baster 17 52 (83)
19E FORCE NINE Cliff Brown 18 52 (83)
20E SPECIAL SCENE Dan O'Sullivan 7 52 (78)
21E GALLANT GURU Lee Freedman C Newitt 5 55 (101)

Form - http://www.rsb.net.au/PUBLISHING/DOWNLOADS/FREEFORM/RD0411FLEM.asp?racenum=02

 

[Macca_]

I was already to get on Maybe Better here but ouch - barrier 20!!!

Backed Vanquished in the Geelong Cup and he was one of the better runs (if not the best bar the winner). From that gate with McEvoy on board it'll be hard to beat.

 

[miccle]

Vanquished definitely looking the goods, and I'll stick my neck out and say that Maybe Better will get over the dodgy barrier draw to still finish around 2nd or 3rd. Sentimental fave for this one is Ice Chariot, but I'm not liking it's chances tooooo much.

 

[Macca_]

Macs Numbers -
5,13,2,8,3,1

Drawn in 4, McEvoy to ride and dropping 1.5kgs from a good run in the Geelong Cup, I'm going to be on Vanquished (5) again. Not sure I rate the Geelong Cup form this year, but his run was good. The start before that in the Metrop he finished off nicely to be beaten 1.8l by Tawqeet and that form certainly stacks up. Plenty of ticks, he'll do me.

Another one from the Metrop form is Magic Instinct (13). Tough barrier that day (16) and beaten 6.6l. Forgive the run. The start before that he finsihed nicely behind Zipping in the Naturalismn for 4th. From barrier 6 and 52kgs to carry, he'll run well in this.

And I can't leave out Maybe Better (2) despite drawing barrier 20. A better draw, I probably would have backed him to win. Massive run in the Coongy last start when once again drawn poorly. Has to repeat that and a bit more though with 57kgs in this. Will run well.

The import Soulacroix (8) is an interesting runner. Reluctant to say it can't win, so throwing it in. If it's on song, it could put these '2nd rate' stayers away.

Zabeat (3) has been consistant with 2 seconds this prep after his second in the Sydney Cup last year. Corey Brown to ride, from gate 7 he may give them something to catch.

And Grand Zulu (1) from the 2 gate with Beadman on board will run his usual honest race. Not sure that will be enough to win this though.

 

[Macca_]

Bah $2.90! Might go me second pick at those odds.

Fixed Odds -

Sportsbet No. Runner Win Place
35805 VANQUISHED 2.90 1.47
35813 MAGIC INSTINCT 5.00 2.00
35821 GALLANT GURU (3E) 7.00 2.50
35811 DRACS BACK 7.00 2.50
35802 MAYBE BETTER 9.00 3.00
35801 GRAND ZULU 9.00 3.00
35808 SOULACROIX 15.00 4.50
35803 ZABEAT 18.00 5.25
35812 IRAZU 18.00 5.25
35810 ROANOKE 26.00 7.25
35804 SARRERA 26.00 7.25
35817 ON THE UP 31.00 8.50
35818 AZNAVOUR 31.00 8.50
35814 LOANHEAD 31.00 8.50
35809 CEFALU 35.00 9.50
35807 DEFINING 35.00 9.50
35806 ICE CHARIOT 35.00 9.50
35816 GENEBEL 41.00 11.00
35819 FORCE NINE (1E) 151.00 38.50
35815 LORD ERIN 201.00 51.00
35820 SPECIAL SCENE (2E) 301.00 76.00

 

[steaming stormer]

Bad barrier for sure, but there was a lot to like about the way Maybe Better won last start. Did it tough and still knew how to win - I'll be sticking with it each way I think

 

[Nuffs]

i'm going with Dracs Back. should get a good cosy run a few back on the rail. looks a very promising stayer in the making, so would like to see him win this and then maybe go to the cup at some odds. i'll have a nibble at the odds

other chances are Vanquished and Grand Zulu in a tough race

 

[Surely]

I'm really warming to maybe better here, got me stumped how he has 1.5kg more than a derby winner though.

 

[Macca_]

Sounded like a good win. Only heard it on the radio.

Not sure how the form will hold up for the Cup though.

Caller indicated Vanquished was held up for a run for a decent part of the straight. Will watch out for the reply tonight.

 

[chili pepper]

Sounded like a good win. Only heard it on the radio.

Not sure how the form will hold up for the Cup though.

Caller indicated Vanquished was held up for a run for a decent part of the straight. Will watch out for the reply tonight.

He was - ordinary ride by McEvoy. If he sticks to rail as the leaders peeled he probably wins - at the very least runs Maybe better very close

 

[Mr Saab]

Saab is quality as far as racing is concerned.
Vanquished and then Ice Chariot

 

[Macca_]

He was - ordinary ride by McEvoy. If he sticks to rail as the leaders peeled he probably wins - at the very least runs Maybe better very close

Cheers mate.

And bugger that :x

 

[steaming stormer]

Maybe Better though won down the middle where nothing made ground and won all day - even more impressive for mine