Sunday racing at Rocky is what we wake up in the mornings for here at Mugs HQ, so after a proper stinker yesterday, we are graced with the opportunity to get square or at least get back to -32,674 units. It's Tattersall's Gold Cup Day at Callaghan Park this afternoon, the Grand Finale of Tatt's weekend. We are on a Soft 5 track and the rail is out 5m for the entire course. Race 1 goes at 12:30pm AEST.
Race 1: 2YO & 3YO Maiden Handicap (1100m)
We are going to go a bit wide in the opener and back two horses each-way at big odds. The first of those is the toppie in Cross Of Sacrifice, who is on debut following two barrier trials. In his most recent trial, he was beaten by I Am Clever who was nosed out of the finish at Townsville first-up, while Better Ask Roy ran second in the trial, with that horse winning at Rocky on Friday. He could surprise at big odds today. The other is the Sunshine Coast-based Alpha Jane. If you bet in Queensland, you have backed Pennino, and this girl is the full-sister, so if she can find some of that two-year-old form Pennino had, she should be giving this a shake. While her debut was lacklustre behind subsequent Listed winner Stroll, we are trusting that she has improved during her spell and should find this a fair bit easier.
Race 2: Maiden Handicap (1500m)
You couldn't possibly trust any of these horses at the top of the market. While both London Bell and St Moritz look ready to win and beautifully placed in this race, they're both too short to want to be backing given their lack of a will to win.
Race 3: 3YO Handicap (1400m)
If there is a form line that we love more than Mystic Aroma form, it is Badgers Nuts form. Garnett Taylor saddles up Peter The Piper in this 1400m race, with the son of Altius chasing back-to-back wins. Peter The Piper beat Badgers Nuts in maiden company on the Polytrack at the Sunshine Coast on May 27, and the Nuts has since won and placed in metropolitan company, franking the form for Peter. Taylor has a terrific strike rate in Rocky, so we are expecting Peter The Piper to add to that tally with a win this afternoon.
Race 4: Class 6 Plate (1100m)
With even luck, Let's Party Marty should blow this field away. While the $1.60 is far from an entertaining price, we are pretty confident that he quite simply has plenty on this field. It was only four starts ago that the Lindsay Hatch-trained gelding was beaten less than two lengths by Palaisipan over 1200m at Ipswich and she is now a Group 2 winner and placed in yesterday's Group 1 Tatt's Tiara. Put in, take out job this.
Race 5: Fillies & Mares Benchmark 70 Handicap (1300m)
It's a bloody competitive race this, but there is a standout in our view. Bold And Lucy loves the big track at Callaghan Park, winning three of her four starts there. The Garnett Taylor-trained grey mare finished four lengths behind Francesco Guardi and Palladas last start at Eagle Farm on Oaks Day, with the winning coming out and franking the form with a good win at Randwick yesterday in a Benchmark 88. Provided they don't get away with murder in front, Wiggo can be getting Lucy home in fifth.
Race 6: Tattersall's Gold Cup (1600m)
All eyes will be on the Sky 2 split screen at 3:50pm this afternoon for the Tattersall's Gold Cup. Master Jamie, Sayl, The Tax Accountant - it is a who's who of Central Queensland racing. We are with last year's winner The Tax Accountant for Tommy Button. The five-year-old was pretty good first-up in The Fitzroy, which has seen the likes of Ammoudi Bay, Montenegro Man, Brad and Ahooshu all come out and win, while Sir Warwick ran third in the Eye Liner at his next start. Talk about franking the form. The Tax Accountant gets back to Rocky today, gets to the mile and carries 7kg less than Master Jamie, so we expect him to run a big race at double figure odds.
Race 7: Ratings Band 0-55 Handicap (1300m)
This looks a real race in two between I Am Clever and Vila Tinto. Tom Smith's four-year-old was enormous first-up at Townsville when just missing behind the classy Roadhouse over 1200m, so he should appreciate the extra 100m. Bubba Tilley stays on which is a positive, while there is a bit of pace in the race which can set it up for him to finish strongly. Provided his first-up run and the trip to and from Townsville didn't knock him around too much, I Am Clever can be going close to winning here.
Lloydy's Lock - Race 5 #5 Bold And Lucy
Selections
Race 1: Cross Of Sacrifice & Alpha Jane
Race 2: No Bet
Race 3: Peter The Piper
Race 4: Let's Party Marty
Race 5: Bold And Lucy
Race 6: The Tax Accountant
Race 7: I Am Clever
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