SuperCoach Racing Round 2: Experts' stables
Looking for an edge on your mates in the race to claim the big cash on offer in SuperCoach racing? Check out our experts' round two stables below:
CHRIS VERNUCCIO'S ROUND TWO STABLE
Zaaki ($450,000) – Group 1 Might And Power (2000m)
Needed the experience running the Melbourne way last start and should be harder to beat.
Probabeel ($475,000) – G1 Might And Power (2000m)
Finished second to Zaaki last start and likely to do so again.
Anamoe ($225,000) – G1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m)
He has lengths on most of the Melbourne three-year-olds. Don't worry about the wide barrier.
Artorius ($175,000) – G1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m)
Barrier two is not ideal but he's too classy to leave out.
I'm Thunderstruck ($200,000) – G1 Toorak Handicap (1600m)
He's under the odds to win the Toorak but at his price cannot leave out in a Group 1.
Head Of State ($150,000) – G1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m)
Won the Gloaming Stakes narrowly over Profondo and no reason why he can't repeat.
Never Been Kissed ($150,000) – G1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m)
Won the Flight Stakes last week and that race has provided plenty of Spring Champion winners. Fits in nicely in the salary cap.
Profondo ($50,000) – G1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m)
This expensive colt is cheap in SuperCoach and the rise in distance can see him turn the tables on Head Of State.
Jockey – James McDonald
Should lock in two wins with Coastwatch and Paulele and there are other favourites he's riding at Randwick.
JACK FITZPATRICK'S ROUND TWO STABLE:
Probabeel ($475,000) – G1 Might And Power (2000m)
The Kiwi mare is unlikely to beat Zaaki but is a huge chance to run 2nd – if she does, she earns as many points and goes up in value as much as a G2 winner would.
Zaaki ($450,000) – G1 Might And Power (2000m)
Arguably Australia's best horse and close to a ‘moral' in this weekend's G1. He should give us max. points, is an obvious choice as captain, and can even rise in value if/when he wins.
Anamoe ($225,000) – G1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m)
Yes he's been dealt an award barrier but I think he wins this with even luck. For mine, he's the best 3YO in the country – and by a long way.
I'm Thunderstruck ($200,000) – G1 Toorak Handicap (1600m)
Hard not to have a favourite in a G1 at just $200k. He looks a no-brainer this weekend – both from a SuperCoach Racing point-of-view, and a punting point-of-view.
Artorius ($175,000) – G1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m)
Along with Anamoe, he looks the classiest 3YO in the Guineas. And, like Anamoe, he's been dealt an awkward draw given his get back, run on pattern. If he gets luck though, expect him to be fighting out the finish.
Head Of State ($150,000) – G1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m)
One of three runners at single-figure odds in the Spring Champion – and I'm having all three. I'm reasonably confident I'll get maximum points from Anamoe, I'm Thunderstruck and Zaaki, and I think one of these three will provide the same.
Never Been Kissed ($150,000) – G1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m)
See above.
Profondo ($50,000) – G1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m)
See above.
Jockey: James McDonald
This is subject to change on Saturday morning post-scratchings, but J-Mac is a pretty handy default setting.
MAGIC METRIC: Check out the Round Two stable the bookies have picked
JETT HATTON'S ROUND TWO STABLE
Zaaki ($450,000) – Group 1 Might And Power (2000m)
Pretty simple here. Did what was expected of him in the Underwood Stakes and he's more suited stepping up to 2000m – should be winning.
Bella Nipotina ($275,000) – Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m)
I think she's a Group 1 horse and should arguably be unbeaten this time in after a luckless effort two back. Looks hard to toss on Saturday.
Tiger Of Malay ($225,000) – Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m)
He may be the upset chance in the Guineas. Tiger Of Malay is a tough horse that may not be better than the likes of Anamoe and Artorius, but he maps favourably and could prove hard to catch.
Anamoe ($225,000) – Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m)
Despite my thoughts on Tiger Of Malay, Anamoe has got to go in my team. Wouldn't surprise if they rode him like the best horse in the race, similar to what The Autumn Sun did in 2019 when settling three wide the trip and he may just be too sharp for them.
Elephant ($200,000) – Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m)
It takes a very good horse to get beaten a lip under weight-for-age conditions just six starts in. He's since won the Sandown Stakes comfortably and stepping back up to a mile suits. Looks hard to beat.
I'm Thunderstruck ($200,000) – Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m)
Hard to miss his run in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and a repeat effort has him close to winning this. Still rather cheap at just $200,000 as well.
Coastwatch ($150,000) – Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m)
Scratched from Melbourne to run here is a big indicator. Went huge in the Golden Rose, a repeat effort has Coastwach winning to deliver valuable Group 2 points.
Profondo ($50,000) – Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m)
To me, he's the clear cut horse to beat in the Spring Champion yet costs just $50,000! Probably a must have for your stable at the cheap price.
Jockey: Jye McNeil
He's in hot form and has a stellar book of rides at Caulfield, highlighted by the likes of Lombardo ($1.75), Bella Nipotina ($4.50) and I'm Thunderstruck ($2.80).
DAN BATTEN'S ROUND TWO STABLE
Probabeel $475,000
Zaaki $450,000 (C)
Anamoe $225,000
I'm Thunderstruck $200,000
Coastwatch $150,000
Head of State $150,000
Brigantine $125,000
Profondo $50,000
Jockey: James McDonald
JETT AND JACK'S ROUND TWO STRATEGY GUIDE
The first round of SuperCoach Racing for spring 2021 is under the belt, and we have 10-race cards at both Caulfield and Randwick – including four Group 1s – ahead of us in Round 2.
If you haven‘t signed up yet, it's not too late – in addition to the $10k grand prize, there are weekly prizes on offer across every round of the competition!
Racenet‘s Jett Hatton and Punters' Jack Fitzpatrick sit down to discuss their strategies ahead of Round 2.
GROUP 1 RACING
Might And Power (2000m)
Zaaki, arguably Australia‘s best horse, looks as close as you can get to a 'moral' in a Group 1. He looks the obvious selection and will be a popular choice for captaincy this round. Russian Camelot did go under as a $1.40F in this race last year though.
Caulfield Guineas (1600m)
At the start of the week, many had this as a two-horse race between Anamoe and Artorius. While the pair still sit at the top of betting markets, barrier 15 for Anamoe will likely see him get a long way back and barrier 2 for Artorius will mean he‘s likely to be shuffled back between horses and needing luck at the top of the straight. The question is whether you want to be with the quality gallopers and hope they get some luck, or look elsewhere and hope to have a point of difference.
Toorak Handicap (1600m)
Every punter and their dog saw I‘m Thunderstruck's run in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) and he's a deserved favourite here with just 52kg on his back. He's a cheap $200,000 too, so he'll be in many teams. Is it worth adding another runner in this race? Tofane ($475,000) is a multiple Group 1 winner and has been given a good horse's weight, but most of the other chances are reasonable well-priced in the mid-range bracket.
Spring Champion Stakes (2000m)
There might not be a stable in the competition without Profondo this round – at the time of writing, he‘s the favourite for this three-year-old Group 1 and costs just $50,000. That opens a number of options – do you add another runner in this Group 1, given all these are relatively cheap? Or do you use the cap space to load up in other key races across the weekend?
OFF-BROADWAY
Here are some horses to consider from outside of the big races:
JETT
Bella Nipotina ($275,000) – G2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m)
I think she's a Group 1 horse and should arguably be unbeaten this time in after a luckless effort two back. Looks hard to toss on Saturday.
New York Baby ($150,000) – G3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m)
1200m is the query but the way this filly cruised to victory last time out suggests she's very good. Spaced them by close to three lengths and was never in fifth gear.
Coastwatch ($150,000) – G2 Stan Fox (1500m)
Scratched from the Guineas to race here is a big indicator. Went huge in the Golden Rose last time out and a repeat effort has him winning this.
FITZY
With a few ‘cheapies' going around in the big ones this week, it looks as though I can afford to fill every spot in my stable with a runner in the G1s. However, there is one off-Broadway horse I'm considering:
Lombardo ($200,000) – Listed Neds Village Stakes (1200m)
The shortest-priced favourite on either program, the I Am Invincible gelding is coming off a 4L win at The Valley. While he looks almost certain to record 18 points, a win won‘t see him rise in value given he tackles a Listed race. The question is: At this early in the game do I want to make as much money as I can, or bank the points?
JOCKEY TIP
JETT
Jye McNeil
He's in hot form and has a stellar book of rides at Caulfield, highlighted by the likes of Lombardo ($1.75), Bella Nipotina ($4.50) and I'm Thunderstruck ($2.80).
FITZY
Jockey challenge favourite
It'll be my go-to tactic each week – looking at the jockey challenge markets on Saturday morning and going with the favourite in the market. If that fails, J-Mac is always a good safety option.
LOCK OF THE ROUND
Here are our must-have horses:
JETT
Zaaki ($450,000) – G1 Might And Power (2000m)
Pretty simple here. Did what was expected of him in the Underwood Stakes and he's more suited stepping up to 2000m – should be winning.
FITZY
Zaaki ($450,000) – G1 Might And Power (2000m)
It really does look a matter of ‘how far?' for Zaaki this week. Having $200 on him on Saturday will win us enough to buy a slab.
