The prize money for the Sydney Cup 2014 has doubled this year which has made for a big field in the running of this years edition. Favourite The Offer will be looking to make it three wins in a row and sportsbet are keeping him very safe in the market at $3 but Ladbrokes are offering $4 for the runner in a special promotion. View our Sydney Cup Tips:
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1. VOLEUSE DE COEURS – G Boss (16) 58kgs
Summary: He came to Australia with massive raps on him but is yet to fire. Was heavily backed last start and failed so on that run you couldn’t have him but his international form is very good so he must be kept safe in case he puts it all together.
2. SERTORIUS – R Maloney (3) 56kgs
Summary: His run in The BMW was very good and was entitled to be well in the market in the Chairman’s Handicap despite the big weight and that took its tole and he finished a poor fourth. I will be risking him here at the odds but could run a place.
3. WHO SHOT THEBARMAN – J McDonald (11) 56kgs
Summary: Won well in New Zealand leading the whole way after pulling his head off during the run. If McDonald can get him to settle i think he is a massive chance here and he should definitely be included.
4. THE OFFER – T Berry (8)
Summary: Deserving favourite in the race with two very good wins leading into the race but punters will have to take a short quote and at that price i think he represents poor value. One of the big chances in the race but at the odds i wont be backing him.
5. BRIGANTIN – C Newitt (6)
Summary: Hasn’t shown enough in any of his runs to suggest he can win on Saturday. I won’t be including him but betting has him safe in the market which must be looked at.
6. EPINGLE – C Williams (12) 54kgs
Summary: She was becoming a non winner until back to back victories in Tasmania. That form doesn’t look good enough here so leave me out.
7. TUPAC AMARU – K McEvoy (9) 54kgs
Summary: Surprising to see a three year old in the race but i think he is a massive chance in the race with this years three year old crop looking better than the seasoned stayers. I will be including him in multiples but i won’t be backing him to win, place chance i feel.
8. GONDOKORO – R McLeod (10) 54kgs
Summary: Not sure where her ability wen’t but it has definitely gone. She looked a very promosing horse but now she looks like well out of her depth in these quality Group races.
9. LET’S MAKE A DEAL – Z Purton (7) 54kgs
Summary: Her race was the Queen Elizabeth at Flemington over the Spring carnival and she couldn’t win that so i doubt she will win this but at the odds she is a decent each way bet.
10. OPINION – J Collett (14) 54kgs
Summary: Has been well beaten by Opinion and i highly doubt he can turn the tables on him, i will be leaving him out of my selections.
11. HIPPOPUS – J Cassidy (4) 54kgs
Summary: One of the likely leaders in the race and Jim Cassidy on board wont hurt, but there arent many more positives for him. Likely to run like a Hippo on Saturday.
12. TREMEC – C Reith (17) 54kgs
Summary: Not sure where he found some ability last start and i was as shocked as most when he ran second. Can’t see him bettering that run here and he still lost in that race so no.
13. DESERT JEUNEY – B Avdulla (1) 54kgs
Summary: It will feel like you are in a desert as you wont be able to buy a drink if you back him.
14. MACEDONIAN – C Schofield (13) 54kgs
Summary: Making up numbers.
15. ANGOLA – J Ford (2) 54kgs
Summary: iIf you read his form and think he is a chance id recommend you get your eyes checked.
16. LIKE A CAROUSEL – J Bowman (15) 54kgs
Summary: It will look like he is running in circles in the straight.
17. FIFTH COLUMN – K O’Hara (5) 54kgs
Summary: Whats the prizemoney for seventeenth?
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Top Five (in order):
Who Shot Thebarman
The Offer
Voleuse De Coeurs
Sertorius
Let’s Make Adeal
Bottom Five (in order):
Too many to list. I can’t see anything winning outside of my top five.
Sydney Cup odds:
In the news:
Improving weather and track conditions have paved the way for Sertorius to take his place in the $1 million Sydney Cup.
Trainer Jamie Edwards walked the Randwick course on Friday morning before all but confirming Sertorius a starter unless there was a deterioration in the weather before scratching deadline on Saturday.
Edwards is convinced Sertorius is in perfect order for the 3200m race on the back of two tough staying runs in consecutive weeks in The BMW and then the Chairman’s Handicap.
Sertorius, however, showed Edwards he was not at his best on genuinely heavy ground when fourth to Cup favourite The Offer in the Chairman’s Handicap last Saturday which has had the trainer monitoring the weather.
“I would think that the horse will run. The track is significantly better than what it was last Saturday,” Edwards said.
He likened it to the conditions at Rosehill where Sertorius was beaten less than three lengths in the weight-for-age Group One BMW two weeks ago.
“It’s not a bottomless track like it was on Saturday,” Edwards said.
“We got found out pretty badly on a bog, heavy track but I think the horse goes through a slow-to-heavy track.”
After three days of fine weather in Sydney Randwick is reaching the slow range.
Sertorius, winner of the Zipping Classic and Bendigo Cup, has never raced beyond 2600m but Edwards is optimistic about the 2100 metres.
“If he’s ever going to run two miles it will be Saturday,” Edwards said.
“The horse has actually put on a little bit of weight which is quite amazing.
“He’s had two runs over a mile-and-a-half in two weeks and he hasn’t left a single bit of feed. He’s drinking a lot of water and he’s bright and well and very fit.”
The Offer is the clear-cut $2.80 TAB favourite ahead of Auckland Cup winner Who Shot Thebarman ($6) and Sertorius at $8.50.
Ryan Maloney will be chasing his first Group One on Sertorius, a horse he has ridden in his past 19 starts, and believes the gelding can run the trip.
“I think he’ll run it, he’s very tough,” Maloney said.
“Obviously there’s a question mark that he will run two miles, but the indications are he will.”
