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2010 Spring Stakes and 2010 Cockram Stakes Preview
2010 Spring Stakes and 2010 Cockram Stakes Preview
The 2010 Spring Gully Spring Stakes will be held at the Allan Scott Park Morphettville races and ten weight-for-age race horses will try to win this 1200-metre, Group 3 race to claim a big share of the $115,000 prize money purse.
Not making a run in this year’s Spring Stakes is last year’s Melbourne Cup favourite Alcopop. The six-year-old gelding was nominated for the Spring Stakes in what would be his first start-up of the season. However, trainer Jake Stephens took his horse out of the race due to a virus.
Also absent from the nominations to the Spring Stakes are four entries from Mark Kavanagh and the Peter Moody-trained Avenue. Since Alcopop and the other favourites will not grace the Spring Stakes, the SportsBet bookmaker market has anointed Rebel Raider as one of the pre-race favourites.
A five-year-old Reset galloper, Rebel Raider last raced in March when he finished fifth at the 1600-metre C.S. Hayes Memorial Cup. This year, he is gunning for a slot at the 2010 Melbourne Cup by November. However, punters are having second thoughts on placing their money on Rebel Raider for he has drawn the far outside barrier ten but he can win the race given that he gets a clear run.
Another highly-ranked Spring Stakes competitor is Silent Surround. This William Smart-trained Face Value mare had a solid 1000-metre trial and she has a big shot of winning the Spring Stakes since she has drawn the third barrier. When the betting market for this race opens, expect a heavy volume of bets for her as well.
Last year, Silent Surround had a solid spring campaign when he ran second to Faint Perfume in the 2000-metre Wakeful Stakes and finished sixth in the 2500-metre Crown Oaks. Not to be disregarded are the other Spring Stakes competitors such as the veteran Likable Will, the in-form mare Xaleta and the Richard Jolly-trained Lapel that will start from the inside barrier.
On the other hand, the 1200-metre, Group 3 Cockram Stakes will take place at the Caulfield racecourse on Saturday and it will feature 16 mares and four emergencies. These female horses will push their stride to win a big portion of the $125,000 total prize money pool.
Since most of the top rates mares in Australian horse racing will start their spring campaigns at the 2010 Cockram Stakes, horse racing fans cannot wait to place their bets through online bookmakers. One of the pre-race favourites in this mares-only race is the Mooney Valley Classic winner My Emotion. The Michael Kent-trained four-year-old drew the eighth barrier and will be ridden by Brad Rawiller.
Meanwhile, David Hayes will be represented by the Fastnet Rock-mare Irish Lights that is making a re-run at the Cockram Stakes. During her last race back in March at the Coolmore Classic, Irish Lights finished in 12th spot. However, the Thousand Guineas winner looks fresh and ready coming from a lengthy break. However, Irish Lights got a wide barrier draw.
Other notable mares include the Shamardal mare No Evidence Needed, the lightly-raced Victorian runner Response and Mark Kavanagh’s Valentine Miss and Puttanesca. Valentine Miss and Puttanesca will be ridden by Damien Oliver and Michael Rodd respectively. However, they have drawn opposite barriers with Valentine Miss on barrier two and Puttanesca on barrier 16.
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