Midweek racing at Geelong captures the attention of racing fans and punters with the Geelong Cup the feature of the day.
The Cup field is strong for the 2020 edition and as usual, has plenty of intrigue with some quality internationals lining up for the first time in Australia against a few Australian hopes such as King Of Leogrance, Steel Prince and Entente. The winner of course gaining automatic entry into the Melbourne Cup.
The track is currently rated a Good 4 with the weather forecasted to be fine with the rail in the true position for the entire circuit.
Race 4 Benchmark 84 (1200m) @ 2:10pm
7. Street Icon
Looks quite a nice chance here the daughter of Street Boss. She drops back massively in grade for this race here after running at Group and Listed level in her previous three starts. She finished 5th last start to Coruscate who has franked the form and won again since and has form around the likes of Pretty Brazen, Arcadia Queen (who goes into the Cox Plate on Saturday as one of the favourites), Perfect Jewel and Bless Her at Group 2 and the race. A lot of speed drawn which should give her a strong chance to charge over the top of them.
Suggested Bet: Back Street Icon Each-Way ($8 win, $2.20 place)
Race 5 Benchmark 78 (1500m) @ 2:45pm
1.Simply Invincible
If jockey Luke Nolen can navigate the wide barrier, I think this seven-year-old Gelding has a terrific chance to return to the winner’s stalls. He steps back in grade and is on the seven-day back-up after contesting a benchmark 84 last start where he did not get a lot of luck in the straight but hit the line nicely once he did. His previous starts saw him finish 3.8 lengths off Windstorm and Buffalo River and 2.3 lengths off I Am Superman and Morrissy. That form looks terrific for a race like this and he has a superb fourth up record of two wins and two placings from four starts. Expect him to be right in the finish.
2. Mr Money Bags
Looks over the odds in this and is also worth a bet on as well as the favourite for me. His first two runs were underwhelming but were both on soft tracks, which he does not run well on. He carried 62.5 and 62 kilograms in both contests, so he gets a bit of weight relief here and comes into this third-up, where he has a significantly better record than he does when racing first and second-up. Drawn to get a great run in the race and gets the services of Damian Lane for the ride. Could bounce back to form.
Suggested Bet: Main bet is on Simply Invincible for the win ($4.40) and something each-way on Mr Money Bags ($19 win, $5 place)
Race 6 Listed Geelong Classic (2200m) @ 3:20pm
6. Token Spirit
Was really taken with this son of Wandjina’s run last start in the Victoria Derby Trial at Flemington and that race looks the right form coming into this race. He settled last in the run and made up solid ground to finish seventh in the race, despite racing greenly. The blinkers have been applied for this run tomorrow which should help and the step up in distance looks to suit.
Suggested Bet: Back Token Spirit each-way ($9.50 win, $2.80 place)
Race 7 Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) @ 4:00pm
6. Skyward
Found this year’s Cup awfully hard to split with a terrific field contesting it. I have landed with this five-year-old son of Camelot as he looks to have the best form for this. His run last start in France saw him finish just 2.8 lengths fourth behind Anthony Van Dyck and Stradivarius. That was over the 2400m and he won well the start prior over 2500m. Expecting a strong showing first-up here in Australia and for him to take out the Cup.
Suggested Bet: Back Skyward ($4.60)
Race 8 Listed Black Pearl Stakes (1200m) @ 4:40pm
1.Xilong
Looks one of the better bets of the program. Looks like she will be able to cross the field and land on the speed from barrier eleven but may be made to work for it by a few on-speed horses drawn inside her. She was tough first-up as he was challenged for the speed by a rock-hard fit and in-form horse in Felicia and finished fifth. That race was a Group 3 so she is stepping back in grade here and should derive plenty of benefit from that first-up run. Will be leading for a long way.
12. Too Good Too Hard
Hit the line nicely behind Xilong and only finished 0.3 of a length off her last start. Also drops in grade but finds herself at a far bigger price here. If Xilong gets taken on for the lead and they run at a strong tempo, it’ll set the race up perfectly for her to run over the top of them and is worth an each way bet outside of the favourite.
Suggested Bet: Back Xilong for the win ($3.30) and have something each way on Too Good Too Hard ($10 win, $3.30 place)
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