Welcome to Weekend Winners, your one-stop tipping sheet for three massive days of Group I racing.
MOIR STAKES TIP – TERRAVISTA (Monee Valley - Race 7 No. 1) – These are facts. Terravista holds the first-up record of nine starts for six wins and three placings. At Group I weight-for-age level in Melbourne his record stands at six runs for two wins, a second and a third with a close-up fourth as well. And he's also won two and ran second twice in his four starts at 1000m. We know he is up to this grade and he's drawn ok so ask yourself – with those stats should he be a $14 chance on Friday night? We know he shouldn't be.
FLIGHT STAKES TIP – CHAMPAGNE CUDDLES (Randwick - Race 5 No. 1) – She's yet to win this preparation but her four runs have all had merit and it would be a brave man to argue she's not the best horse in the race. Not a lot has gone right for her all prep but she confirmed last week in the Golden Rose she produces her best when ridden quietly. So we don't expect them to go forward from the gate here and she's beaten Alizee home when she was ridden off the speed in the first two runs of her campaign. Gives every impression she'll lap up the mile trip and provided racing three weeks straight doesn't affect her performance, she'll take plenty of stopping.
EPSOM HANDICAP TIP – MCCREERY (Randwick - Race 7 No. 6) – Happy Clapper is too short for us at $2.60 coming off a clash with Winx when the trainer's reported since that the run hurt him. So what's the horse that can make dramatic improvement here – it's those Winx colours that we've come up with. McCreery has shown in the past he's capable of winning a Group I handicap, most notably his luckless second last year behind Le Romain in the Cantala Stakes. Both runs this prep he's been doing his best work late and now he's weighted to bring him into calculations. Chris Waller and the Randwick mile is a proven recipe for success and this is McCreery's preferred trip. At $13, he's worthy of an each-way interest.
THE METROPOLITAN TIP – WHO SHOT THEBARMAN (Randwick - Race 8 No. 2) – This old marvel has come back as good as ever and he's the value runner in the race on Saturday. He's such a genuine old horse you can never discount him and if Libran is the favourite, how could you not entertain this bloke at double-figure odds. He can handle a firm track, he's proven himself time and time again at this level and he raced in restricted room, not getting clear until approaching the 100m, then surged late in the Kingston Town Stakes. In the past, third-up has had normally been his best fresh run and he showed last time he's going great. The great thing about backing him is you know he'll give his best and he's in this.
UNDERWOOD STAKES TIP – HARTNELL (Caulfield - Race 7 No. 1) – Not a lot went right for this bloke in the Makybe Diva Stakes and history shows he's always been a tad vulnerable second-up, having gone into that race with just two second-up wins from six starts. His resume is different third-up with four wins from six and his only unplaced run was a fifth in a Cox Plate. His first-up win at this track was authoritive then last time out he took a long time to cross Black Heart Bart before being able to settle near the 1000m which took away plenty of his resistance when Humidor went on by in the straight. We're expecting them to ride him more conservatively here and there's no Winx or Humidor. He'll bounce back.
SIR RUPERT CLARKE STAKES TIP – MR SNEAKY (Caulfield - Race 8 No. 14) – A few of the Weekend Winners tipping committee swear by a punting theory in the office – back big Clint's tips the run after he spruiks them – and that's what we're doing here. A fortnight ago the big fella declared he love for Mr Sneaky and he was "betting up" but he found Theanswermyfriend too good. That horse meets him better at the weights this time but this is a very different race. There's high pressure here and Mr Sneaky's third-up record is outstanding. We agree with Clint, he's a good horse and we're happy to pick up the pieces at $9.
STAR BET – I THOUGHT SO (Randwick - Race 9 No. 10) – This is the race for him. Not a lot went right for him late in his previous campaign and in fairness to the horse he probably had a run or two too many. He was gelded (thank you) in his break and produced two trials that were as good as you see but luck again deserted him first-up when posted out four wide without cover the trip. Taking that into account he did a good job to only be beaten 1-1/4 lengths. He's got Group class ability, this time he's drawn to get the soft run, he drops 3kg in weight and he will be hard to hold out.
VALUE TIP – INVADER (Caulfield – Race 6 No. 1) – We concede Royal Symphony will be hard to beat but regular followers know we're more about finding value at Weekend Winners and bookies have been quick to write this horse off. He did win the Group I Sires' Produce Stakes in the autumn and his first-up run in a strong Show County Stakes against the older horses was full of merit. Last time he ended up a long way back and never ran on from a tricky gate but let's not forget who trains this horse – Peter and Paul Snowden – so, do you think he'd be in Melbourne if he was going no good? He's drawn barrier 1 which is a huge plus for a Sydneysider first time out at Caulfield and you may have heard of the jockey – Hugh Bowman, they say he goes alright. $21, yes please.
THE KITTY FILLER TIP – BOOM TIME ( MOONEE VALLEY Race 5 No. 5) – If we land this we'll have plenty of ammo to strike with over the weekend. We're following Laurie Sainsbury in here, he made a strong case for the horse and he is a $15 chance, which does seem luxurious. He's a smart stayer and was given a sore back last start so best to overlook that effort when assessing him here. Will appreciate some weight relief in this and his record at 2000m is outstanding. Drawn the inside gate, ensuring a favourable run and he is a winner at the track. Another strong stat is he's only missed a place once when third-up previously from four goes. Bet each-way and he'll give you a sight.
