 Expert - Brett Davis | |
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| Brett Davis was introduced to Australian Racing by his father back in the early 1980’s when his family became involved in formulating “Thoroughbred Racing Syndications”. Brett worked from 1995 as a Professional Form Analysts and Race Broadcaster with an array of companies throughout most parts of the Australia Racing industry. He currently resides in Adelaide, his hometown in Australia, where he is Chief Thoroughbred Race Caller and Form Analyst for Tabcorp / SkyChannel / RadioTAB. Brett Davis also spent 2 years with the Singapore Turf Club and 13 Racing Seasons with the Hong Kong Jockey Club between 2006 to 2019 as a leading Form Analyst / Race Caller and was the HKJC Chief Race Caller from 2014, calling the last 5 Hong Kong International (Turf World Championships) race meetings and over 50 G1 races. Brett has immense passion for Australian Racing both personally and professionally. With his diverse knowledge and long standing industry relations he’s a valuable asset to racing and it’s enthusiasts. | |
Expert Column for Blue Diamond Stakes Day (S2) (Brett Davis)
S2-1 Futurity Stakes
MR BRIGHTSIDE is the best horse in Australia according to the Victorian faithful, however, the Sydney siders believe it might actually be FANGIRL. Whatever the case, it’ll be a privilege to witness such an inspiring racehorse running around in another G1. He’s undefeated over the 1,400m at Caulfield, from four attempts, and meets a small field of talented individuals. Therefore, it should be just a case of run and win following a brilliant victory first up in G1 C. F. Orr Stakes, or was it a gut buster that now flattens him second up.
BUFFALO RIVER has been a solid contributor throughout his career and ran an absolute blinder last start. The 8YO gelding shall race on speed and potentially look to lead the race unchallenged if the opportunity arises. With the benefit of an extra run over MR BRIGHTSIDE and a dictatorship role out in front, he could certainly prove difficult to run down when they flatten for home.
PERICLES wasn’t up to scratch first up behind MR BRIGHTSIDE, but he can improve noticeably today second up. He’s yet to confirm his status as a genuine G1 horse but time and further maturity clearly remain on his side. With minimal speed runners to attack him early on it’s likely he and BUFFALO RIVER dictate the early and mid race tempo. If that’s the case, they’ll both run big races out in front and make the rest chase hard.
ATTRITION won the G1 Toorak Handicap at his final start last campaign and creates plenty of interest in this race. A soft 1,000m trial at Geelong is all he’s participated in since his return from a restful three-month break. Residual fitness can no doubt be called upon when this race is there to be won, but I can’t help feel he’ll be better for the outing, and it would be realistically a genuine surprised if he got up and won.
NUGGET has solid form around MR BRIGHTSIDE from this time last year and has performed well first up in the past. The former English galloper has proven previously that under the right conditions he can match it with the highest class. He’s never been to Caulfield, which shouldn’t hold any concerns, but he shall ultimately want further ground. Nevertheless, he may unsurprisingly ping first up with freshness and run well.
SELECTIONS: 1. MR BRIGHTSIDE, 6. BUFFALO RIVER, 2. PERICLES, 7. ATTRITION & 5. NUGGET
1ST DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S2-1: Multiple – 1. MR BRIGHTSIDE & 6. BUFFALO RIVER
S2-2: Multiple – 4. COLEMAN & 13. LADY OF CAMELOT
S2-2 Blue Diamond Stakes
COLEMAN is the runner undefeated from his two starts at Caulfield and the whispers floating around suggest he can make it three from three. He’s taken a different route to the majority of runners by winning the G3 Chairman’s Stakes, which is a proven formula to victory in the past. His own sectional data through the final 600m of the aforementioned win have him rated as the horse on the clock to beat, but he must sustain that over 1,200m.
LADY OF CAMELOT recorded super-fast time in the G3 Widden Stakes at Rosehill when winning first up. The daughter of WRITTEN TYCOON wasn’t quite ready in the spring of last year, but she’s developed fantastically well and is now a high quality running machine. She showed no signs of stopping over the 1,100m recently when leading throughout to score, and from the low draw for trainers Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott she’ll take running down.
MATISSE is a seriously talented filly that shall appreciate the rise to 1,200m more than many horses contesting this race. She drew the outside barrier in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude for the fillies, before thundering home hard to finish third on the heels of the winner. The near inside barrier draw doesn’t really suit but if the gaps appear at the right time she can win at a price.
STAY FOCUSED won his maiden in a hand canter at Geelong before running in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude for the colts and geldings. Only BODYGUARD was good enough to cut him back over the final 100m, so he was extremely tough in defeat. There’s a chance the room to move early, courtesy of the wide gate, entitles him to an uninterrupted run from the gate, which could assist in fending off the challengers in the final to the post.
SELECTIONS: 4. COLEMAN, 13. LADY OF CAMELOT, 15. MATISSE & 5. STAY FOCUSED
2ND DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S2-2: Multiple – 4. COLEMAN & 13. LADY OF CAMELOT
S2-3: Multiple – 14. REY MAGNERIO & 15. KING’S GAMBIT
TREBLE SELECTIONS (27 unit bets):
S2-2: Multiple – 4. COLEMAN, 13. LADY OF CAMELOT & 15. MATISSE
S2-3: Multiple – 14. REY MAGNERIO, 15. KING’S GAMBIT & 4. SGHIRRIPA
S2-4: Multiple – 10. ETERNAL FLAME, 4. VAGRANT & 1. REVOLUTIONARY MISS
S2-3 Oakleigh Plate
REY MAGNERIO is lightly raced son of MAGNUS that’s ticking all the boxes as he makes his way through the grades. The handicap conditions of the G1 Oakleigh Plate suit the unexposed rising stars and that’s precisely what he is. His win on 3rd February, over the same course and distance, has displayed a high level of ability. Therefore, he shouldn’t be underestimated despite the likely frantic and hard core early pace.
KING’S GAMBIT arrives first up to this incredibly open race but has the advantage of the inside barrier draw. The 3YO son of I AM INVINCIBLE also has a massive weight advantage over the entire field and must be highly respected on that fact alone. Jamie Kah has taken the time out to travelled to Sydney on two occasions during the last month to specifically ride him in preparation trials, and it’s fair to say he’s looked an absolute treat.
SGHIRRIPA has furnished into a genuine top-quality sprinter over the past three months and is worthy of his opportunity to stand up at G1 level. The South Australian won the listed Christmas Stakes over this course and distance on Boxing Day last year, before demolishing all rivals in the G3 Standish Handicap at Flemington last start. He’s won a trial at Morphettville by a big space in the interim and was set alight on that occasion from the very start.
ASFOORA is no stranger to races of this profile at Caulfield and won the G2 Schillaci Stakes last campaign when blasting along in front to score. She also ran third in this race last year before heading to Sydney, then Perth, in an attempt to win away from home. Her first up effort in the G2 Rubiton Stakes was another typically honest run, so expect her to be right amongst the action and in this contest for a long way.
KALLOS has been a potential top line galloper for a few seasons and the way he won first up, perhaps the time is now. He settled well back during then initial stages of the G2 Rubiton Stakes before unleashing a paralysing sprint to win. It may have been a case of pure freshness that got him to the line with such power, but today’s race could be run similar in tempo, so it’s possible he does the same. The weight he must carry does however stand out as the highly challenging factor.
SELECTIONS: 14. REY MAGNERIO, 15. KING’S GAMBIT, 4. SGHIRRIPA, 2. ASFOORA & 1. KALLOS
3RD DOUBLE SELECTIONS (4 unit bets):
S2-3: Multiple – 14. REY MAGNERIO & 15. KING’S GAMBIT
S2-4: Multiple – 10. ETERNAL FLAME & 4. VAGRANT
S2-4 Mannerism Stakes
ETERNAL FLAME won a strong race at Caulfield in January by a big margin and in the process put her name up in lights. She was then badly held up on two separate occasions over the final 400m of the G3 Frances Tressady Stakes. That form translates to the superior reference for this particular event and it should take her close to a win. She remains relatively unexposed and has experience still to gain but she’s highly exciting and weighted well enough to win.
VAGRANT is a seriously improved horse this campaign and her winning run could well continue if she can lift her rating to a new and higher level. She’s familiar with Caulfield and leading jockey Damien Lane has now been successfully allocated the ride. She’s drawn ideally in gate one from the tricky 1,400m start point so there won’t be any excuses in transit if she’s beat.
REVOLUTIONARY MISS has a strong and consistent line of form going into the final race of the day and despite the wide draw should prove difficult to hold out. Her record at Caulfield is excellent and she’s currently racing at her peak so she’ll be difficult to stop running at the line. The wide draw does appear tricky on paper with pace drawn underneath but jockey Michael Dee knows exactly what she requires to get it done.
FORBIDDEN CITY has been a model of consistency all campaign and she’ll be right there in play from the start. She was only narrowly defeated by REVOLUTIONARY MISS last start and that form reference gives her a chance. Her winning strike rate nevertheless is below where you’d like it to be, but with Jamie Kah again behind the wheel she’ll be given every possible chance.
WROTE TO ARATAKI was in need of the run first up and I’d anticipate she runs hard early in an attempt to lead. Her win in the G2 Tristarc Stakes last spring is testament to her front running capabilities and if given too much leeway she’ll make the opposition pay. She has further improvement to come but a dangerous runner to overlook.
SELECTIONS: 10. ETERNAL FLAME, 4. VAGRANT, 1. REVOLUTIONARY MISS, 7. FORBIDDEN CITY & 2. WROTE TO ARATAKI
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