The first of the Group One races on Saturday is the best sprint race we have seen in Australia for a long long time. Buffering is $16! The Darley Classic can either be really complicated or it can be really easy. Here we feel it will be really easy. 10. Chautauqua to win. The gelding has had two starts down the Flemington straight this time in. First up he beat Temple of Boom and In Cahoots effortlessly by almost three lengths. Since In Cahoots has run a good third to Deep Field and Temple of Boom has been beaten 6 inches by Lankan Rupee. Second up Chautauqua beat Bounding by four lengths. That particular mare has since run second in a nice sprint race behind Vain Queen. The form says the grey gelding is the horse to beat and that is the way we are going to go.
Darley Classic
Winner – 10. Chautauqua. He might be a very special miler in the future. He will win this, then maybe be aimed at the T.J. Smith in the autumn, but he surely could even win the Doncaster. He loves the straight, he is a winner and he will be flying home.
Hardest to beat – 2. Lankan Rupee. The world’s greatest sprinter is about to lose his crown. But he is a Newmarket winner this track and trip and if the favourite is having an off day, then this gelding will be there to pounce. He never has a bad day, and apart from the favourite, Lankan Rupee beat most of these last start.
Best longshot – There are two. They are 1. Buffering who is $16 and 12. Driefontein who is $26. Apart from when he was racing Black Caviar, Buffering has scarcely started even at double figure odds. He is huge value for the multiples at his price. Driefontein ran Deep Field to a length last Saturday. What price would Deep Field be in this field? She is $26 and is worth an each way ticket.
Emirates Stakes
This race is a great deal harder with plenty of good chances. We are thinking of working around three horses which are 7. Hucklebuck, 5. Hooked and 3. Speediness. Hooked will be up the front, Hucklebuck will be a couple of pairs back. Speediness will be at the rear. If it is break neck speed then Speediness can swoop. If it is leisurely, Hooked can kick. If the speed is even then Hucklebuck will have his chance. There are plenty of other chances, but with these three, we will have all bases covered.
Verdict:
Winner – 7. Hucklebuck. He is almost out to $10 and although he is hard to catch, he has comeback better than ever this time in. He is starting to become pretty genuine and the quick backup suits.
Hardest to beat – 5. Hooked. This entire has turned over a new leaf of late. His best ever performance was last start and if he can reproduce that (which will not be easy) then he will be exceptionally hard to beat. He will be up the front so there are no worries there and he is extremely tough.
Best longshot – 3. Speediness. This horse will run well, he will be flying home and off a strong tempo (should we get a strong tempo) then the $13 is huge value. He has barrier one, but with a champion hoop aboard he can dodge and weave and will take some holding out. He is worth an each way ticket. He almost won this race last year.
By Zeb Armstrong
