Last night’s Super Spring Webinar featured Vince Accardi from Daily Sectionals and Rick Williams from Champion Picks. Here are some of the highlights:
Makybe Diva Stakes
Rick: Southern Speed is the horse to beat from Manighar and Mawingo. Southern Speed has race fitness on her side and if they run along at an OK clip as expected, Williams can keep her out of trouble and get clear running in the straight.
Vince: Not so sure about Southern Speed. Her two performances this campaign have not been particularly strong and she would need to lift to win this. Manighar is too short to be worth backing. Mawingo is a better betting proposition and December Draw can win if he comes back near his best.
Golden Rose
Rick: Nechita deserves to be favourite but is very short. Albrecht from the Snowden stable is an improving horse who won well last start and will get the 1400m no problem. $13 is a good price. Can’t rule out All Too Hard who shouldn’t be written off just yet.
Vince: People are dropping off All Too Hard but they shouldn’t be. Both Pierro and All Too Hard ran identical last 800m times last start. Nash Rawiller is such a magnificent rider who is such a great judge of pace. Dwayne Dunn could have ridden more positively in a race that lacked pace. All Too Hard has a really high cruising speed, he can run better than 17.50 metres per second for at least 600 metres but can’t get up to that 19 mps that horses with a phenomenal sprint can do. He will be suited by the pace of a race like the Golden Rose and deserves to be the same price as Nechita, not $8.
Epsom
Rick: Fat Al came a long way last campaign and really appeals as a Spring contender. His times suggest that he is definitely Group 1 class. Will get the right sort of run and have the right weight to be a big chance in the Epsom.
Vince: Agree 100% on Fat Al being a definite Group 1 horse. Strawberry Boy (if aimed at this race) would also be a very big chance. His performance last start was simply outstanding. The way he did it, but with improvement still to come suggests a very big future. He is an untapped horse that is heading to Group 1 level without too many troubles. Smokin’ Joey also should be respected. He needs firm ground and has a sprint to match any of these. His recent barrier trial was excellent.
Caulfield Guineas
Proisir’s last start was phenomenal. He was 10 lengths above the average for the first section but was also able to finish off. Looks to be a superstar in the making and $3.75 the place (Pierro is even money favourite) is very enticing.
Cox Plate
Rick: Pierro is a standout. He’s a top-line 3 year-old who gets in with a featherweight and looks almost certain of running a strong 2040m. As long he gets there in one piece only bad luck can beat him.
Vince: Pierro went from being 5 lengths above the benchmark standard to 11 lengths above the benchmark when stepped up in distance. He’s an absolute professional in the league of So You Think and is capable of winning anywhere around the globe. He’s got class, heart, determination and will to win and may just go through the spring undefeated. Any horse that can beat Pierro deserves to win the Cox Plate.
More Joyous is a clear 2nd favourite but is not capable of running a high pressure 2040. Her only chance is if they run the first half of the race like a barrier trial.
The full replay (70 minutes) is available here -
