AUSTRALIAN CUP PREVIEW
GROUP 1
2000M
RAIL +5M ENTIRE
GOOD 4
| # | Form | Horse | Trainer | Jockey (barrier) | Weight (kg) | Current Price |
| 1 | 230x4 | HUMIDOR | C WALLER | D LANE (12) | 59 | $13 |
| 2 | 54x78 | HARLEM | T DABERNIG & B HAYES | M WALKER (7) | 59 | $26 |
| 3 | 52x72 | FIFTY STARS | T DABERNIG & B HAYES | J ALLEN (3) | 59 | $4.20 |
| 4 | 173x3 | HOMESMAN | A & S FREEDMAN | J M NEIL (14) | 59 | $18 |
| 5 | 7600x | WARNING | A & S FREEDMAN | D OLIVER (15) | 59 | $26 |
| 6 | 93x66 | ANGEL OF TRUTH | M HAWKES | W PIKE (13) | 59 | $18 |
| 7 | 92214 | BEST OF DAYS | JAMES CUMMINGS | L NOLEN (17) | 59 | $26 |
| 8 | 310x4 | STEEL PRINCE | A & S FREEDMAN | JAMIE KAH (11) | 59 | $12 |
| 9 | 193x7 | CHAPADA | M MORONEY | D W STACKHOUSE (9) | 59 | $21 |
| 10 | 63513 | PLATOON | N PARNHAM | B PARNHAM (10) | 59 | $34 |
| 11 | 27x12 | SHARED AMBITION | C WALLER | M ZAHRA (2) | 59 | $10 |
| 12 | 51111 | DEFIBRILLATE | P PAYNE | W EGAN (4) | 59 | $11 |
| 13 | 883x2 | SAN HUBERTO | MATTHEW CUMANI | D YENDALL (6) | 59 | $17 |
| 14 | 19x35 | NONCONFORMIST | G BEGG | L CURRIE (16) | 59 | $13 |
| 15 | 107x8 | MIAMI BOUND | D O'BRIEN | D MOOR (8) | 57 | $51 |
| 16 | 7x0x2 | MISS SISKA | M SMITH | M J DEE (5) | 57 | $41 |
| 17 | 22111 | PARADEE | D O'BRIEN | C WILLIAMS (1) | 57 | $7.50 |
OVERVIEW
The Australian Cup rounds out the Group 1’s from Flemington on ‘Super Saturday.’ Perhaps not a
vintage edition of the race, with the likes of Lohnro, Makybe Diva, Vo Rogue and Bonecrusher all past
winners, the 2021 edition certainly looks a race up for grabs with angles galore for punters and a
healthy dividend the reward for finding the winner. Fifty Stars is looking to go back-to-back in the
race and is your current early favourite at $4.40, after a strong run last week in the Blamey when
runner up to Star Of The Seas. With the rail out 5 metres, expecting horses to be getting further away
from the rails by this stage of the day and looking to find the middle lanes.
SPEED
Speed looks fairly average here. MISS SISKA and HOMESMAN look the two most likely to search for
the lead with PARADEE using her gate from 1 to sit on their backs. SAN HUBERTO, HARLEM and BEST
OF DAYS are all sent forward to look for positions just off them. STEEL PRINCE won’t be far away from
HARLEM, CHAPADA and SHARED AMBITION. PLATOON, NONCONFORMIST and WARNING settle
worse than midfield. HUMIDOR, MIAMI BOUND, DEFIBRILLATE and the favourite FIFTY STARS all look
like going back.
KEY RUNNERS
8. STEEL PRINCE ($12) (Jamie Kah/Anthony & Sam Freedman)
Thought that Steel Prince represented some value in this contest second up after a very brave effort
in the Peter Young (1800m) when caught wide for the majority of the trip. Was forced to work and
despite the blanket finish, he still managed to record the 3rd fastest last 200m of the race. Second up
last preparation he went huge when running within a length of Orderofthegarter at 2000m in a very
high rating race. Gets back to Flemington now where he has a very strong record and the draw looks
perfect. Should allow him to roll forward and find a running line position, and then get to the middle
of the track in the straight which may be advantageous by this time of the day. Also gets the services
of J Kah. At the $12 on offer he looks a bet.
3. FIFTY STARS ($4.40) (John Allen/Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes)
Fifty Stars gets his chance to claim back-to-back Australian Cups after claiming the 2020 edition. He
brings arguably as good a form as last year into this year’s race after a huge run last start in the
Blamey where he was only just outlasted by the well credentialled Sydney galloper, Star Of The Seas.
Hard to knock this horse, especially after what he produced in the Spring when he ran a huge race in
the Cantala and then bravely chased home Arcadia Queen when 2nd in the Mackinnon. That’s A
grade form. Certainly saves his best for Flemington and will be even more suited by the step up to
2000m. My only niggle with him is the gate. Inside draws for map negative horses is never a good
thing and I can see him getting a long way off them here. If Johnny Allen can get to the outside
though he’s obviously a very good chance to run over the top of them.
9. CHAPADA ($21) (Daniel Stackhouse/Mike Moroney)
Want to also make a case for this galloper after a strong resumption when hitting the line hard in the
Peter Young. Got back on that occasion and was closer to the fence (the worst going on the day)
compared to some of his rivals so I think the run had considerable merit. Was strung up for room for
much of the straight and looked to have much more to give going through the line. The sectionals
back that up, with him running the 2nd quickest 4-200 sectional of the race before finding traffic and
only recording the 5th fastest last 200m. The fact that he did something first up, where in the past he
has needed a few runs to come to hand is a huge positive and the market told you that as he was
$15-$12. He’s another that will really appreciate the rise in trip and he maps nicely to find the lanes
in the straight. Think he can win.
STRATEGY
STEEL PRINCE ($12) & CHAPADA ($21)
Ultra competitive race that looks very tough from a wagering perspective but I’m looking to play the
race a little wider with bets on Steel Prince and Chapada. Think they both represent value stepping
to the 2000m after strong resumptions and crucially, I think they map in the right spot to be able to
blend into this race at the right time.
GOOD LUCK PUNTERS!
