Derby Day bonanza
Betting tips 
/ Editor / 28 October 2011 / Leave a comment Bet Now
With over $1.5m in prize money up for grabs and nine group races on the card, tomorrow’s event will feature the most prodigious talent in the country.
Kate White can already smell the freshly cut grass and fake tan thick in the air in anticipation of an expected 110,000 racegoers descending onto Flemington tomorrow to see the cream of the crop hit the track.
It's the one they call 'the day for racing purists', and while the 5.09pm city bound train might tell a different story, Derby Day is indeed the best day of racing on the calendar.
With a $1.5m Derby, and $4.85m in total prize money up for grabs in the total of nine group races on the card, tomorrow's event will feature the most prodigious talent in the country.
And while we see a handful of clear-cut favourites, there's a stack of up-and-comers and track specialists who will be ready to turn it on.
The Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) gets proceedings underway, with the Snowden-trained Galah (1.67) the early favourite, after a solid win over Masthead and fellow-runner Highly Recommended (13.5) at Caulfield two weeks ago. Expect these two to battle it out at the front, alongside big improver Meethaq (5.5) and First Course (12).
In The Group 3 Lexus Stakes (2500m) Lloyd Williams' import Green Moon (3.55) has strong claims but expect a big show from, Niwot (8.4) and Midnight Martini (10.5), Mark Kavanagh's last chance at a Melbourne Cup entry.
Next up, and Bear Hero (16) will be hoping to give the champ Sepoy (1.41) a run for his money in the Group 1 Coolmore Stakes (1200m), before Rekindled Interest (5) takes on Efficient (10), Glass Harmonium (7.6) and Foreteller (8.5) in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m).
In the headline event, the Group 1 AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m), Manawanui (2.98) looks the best of a talented field of stayers, with the strongest challenge likely to come from Gai Waterhouse's Niagara (8.6) and Induna (5.1).
Champion mare More Joyous (3.05) takes favouritism in the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m), ahead of Response (10.5), although a wet track won't hurt the hopes of Sacred Choice (18).
In the penultimate race, Midsummer Music (6) and Temple of Boom (7) both look capable of raining on Sister Madly's (4) parade.
And don't miss the battle between Doubtful Jack (9.4), Niblick (7.4) and Launay (6.4), unbeaten in three starts at Flemington, in the last race of the day over 1400m.
