Punters are treated to a triple shot of Group 1 racing action in Sydney on Saturday including a field of smart fillies facing off in the 2013 Flight Stakes– betting tips and exotic selections for which can be found right here.
Odds-on favourite Guelph is also the Races.com.au tip to win Saturday's Flight Stakes 2013. Photo: Steve Hart.
Running as Royal Randwick Race 4 at 2:05pm (AEST), this year’s $400,000 Group 1 Coolmore Flight Stakes (1600m) features a tiny field of only six hopes.
The diminutive size is due to Peter Snowden’s odds-on favourite Guelph scaring away only the bravest of rivals who are likely fighting it out for second here.
Winner of the ATC Sires Produce – Champagne Stakes double in open-gender company during the autumn, the now three-year-old Exceed And Excel filly had a first-up hiccup when beaten by the barest of margins in the Furious Stakes.
She bounced back however for win number five from nine at Randwick on September 21 to win the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m), a race her last start conqueror Bound For Earth could only manage to finish third in.
Currently Guelph is at $1.45 in the Flight Stakes odds, and deservingly so as she looks to secure a trip to Melbourne for October 16th’s $500,000 Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m).
Guelph’s main danger for an upset Flight Stakes result is then the consistent David Hayes-trained Arabian Gold paying $3.30 followed by Furious Stakes winner Bound For Earth ($10) who is not fancied to beat the favourite for a second time.
So are these three the ones to lock into your Flight Stakes trifecta bet? And do the bookies have the order right?
1st
#1 Guelph ($1.45)
Only the bravest are facing her on-field and only the stupid will take her on at the bookies. Guelph is the rank filly of the season, and the top 2YO from last season, and don’t see her getting beaten here. Admittedly she was defeated first-up, but that was first-up after four months off and by a nose in a photo. She’s much fitter and firing on all cylinders now as shown with her effortless 1.8 length Tea Rose win over Saturday’s top rivals. Plus she gets the extra distance going up to the mile here which she won the Group 1 Champagne Stakes over against the boys back in April. Stick with her here and in the Thousand Guineas next start.
2nd
#3 Arabian Gold ($3.30)
Definitely think the bookies have got the quinella spot on here, Dubawi grey Arabian Gold a top chance in her maiden Group 1 assignment. She won three straight in the winter progressing from 1250m at Canterbury to a mile feature at Randwick. So the track and the distance hold no fears, a big plus for a young filly this time of year especially as the 1600m at Randwick can feel much longer than that for the untested. Tea Rose second good too and tipping the same finish.
3rd
#2 Bound For Earth ($10)
It’s boring we know but are sticking with the bookies’ top three for the Flight Stakes. The form just says that’s how it will play out and we love to stick to the form in the Group 1’s. John O’Shea-trained Northern Meteor filly had a good winter campaign in Brisbane including a brave third being subsequent Golden Rose winner Zoustar in the BRC Sires Produce – form that has since stacked up obviously. First-up she scored a shock win over Guelph as a $19 roughie before being found out when third in the Tea Rose. Should be going good enough for another top three here as she sees the mile for the first time. Distance will be the factor for her here.
Get behind Guelph for the Flight Stakes in Sydney online at Ladbrokes.com.au and while you’re there don’t forget to check out their incredible Double The Odds promo for Melbourne’s Turnbull Stakes 2013!
*All odds quoted are Fixed Win from Ladbrokes.com.au and subject to change
