The second biggest race for three-year-olds held at Flemington on Saturday will be the 2013 Coolmore Stud Stakes – betting tips on the Victoria Derby Day classic detailed below.
Zoustar is the Races.com.au tip to win the Coolmore Stud Stakes 2013. Photo: Steve Hart.
There are 11 engaged in this year’s $500,000 Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m), kicking off the elite level racing action of the day as Flemington Race 4 at 1:30pm (AEST).
Firm favourite sticking around in odds-on territory to win the Coolmore is the Chris Waller-trained flyer Zoustar ($1.95).
Despite drawing wide with barrier 10 their price is short to score their third on the trot, and their second Group 1 career win after a stellar effort in the Golden Rose over 1400m two back.
Waller knew he had a star sprinter, and maybe not a genuine miler, on his hands after that so bypassed the Guineas in Melbourne and kept them home.
It proved a winning move as the son of Northern Meteor relished a drop back to 1200m, and class, to win the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes last start by four and a half lengths.
Now they take on some quality rivals again on Saturday with Hall of Fame jockey Jim Cassidy shooting for his 100th Group 1 success.
The next best is betting is then Liam Birchely’s Brisbane mare Missy Longstocking ($8.50), another well-supported last start winner who is looking to go back-to-back for the fillies following the success of Nechita 12 months ago.
All the rest can be found at $12 (Gai Waterhouse’s Guineas runner-up Divine Calling) or longer meaning there could be some genuine value in the Coolmore on Saturday.
But from where?
1st
#1 Zoustar ($1.90)
$1.90 is short we know, but history says the Coolmore Stud Stakes winner usually wins (only one being defeated since it became a Group 1 in 2006) and the form on this one is there for all to see. This horse has proven to be the real deal with five wins from seven starts, finishing out of the money just once which was in the Run To the Rose first-up. Group 1 form in Brisbane when second in the JJ Atkins over a mile, won the Golden Rose from gate 16 of 16, and flew home in the Roman Consul. Need to handle the trip to Melbourne but everything else that’s been thrown at them they’ve chewed up. Barrier 10 shouldn’t be of too much concern either (see earlier Rose draw)
2nd
#9 Missy Longstocking ($8.50)
Going to be boring and stick with the bookie’s Coolmore Stud Stakes quinella tip here. There’s lots to like about this daughter of Sequalo from the Sunshine State. Her form at home is outstanding, including a first-up win over 1000m at Eagle Farm, and she bought it to Caulfield for a Group 3 win by three lengths, despite racing wide throughout, on Guineas Day. That earned her a shot against the boys here and fillies have a good record in the race. She’s also got the second best Win Rate of the field (73%) and this is her pet distance as she boasts four wins from six over the 1200m, by far the best of these.
3rd
#11 Thump ($16)
Like the ladies this race and the price on this one is good. Trainer John Thompson won it last year with Nechita and we believe Red Ransom filly Thump also has claims. She’s been right in it this time in, including a first-up win over Sweet Idea in the Silver Shadow Stakes, a third to Bound For Earth in the Furious and her last start win to defeat Blue Diamond Stakes winner Miracles Of Life in the Champagne Stakes at Moonee Valley. This distance is right, she’s got the Melbourne run under the belt now and is ready to take on the boys.
Whether you’re backing or sacking the odds-on favourite Zoustar in the Coolmore Stud Stakes on Saturday you will get the guaranteed best prices online at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Ladbrokes.com.au are also the bookie to go to bet on the day’s major, the Victoria Derby, as they are offering DOUBLE the fixed win prices on that field!
*All odds quoted are Fixed Win from Ladbrokes.com.au and subject to change
