A new-look Ladbrokes Cranbourne Cup Day takes centre stage in Victoria on Saturday.
Not only has the time-honoured Cranbourne Cup attracted one if its strongest fields in recent memory, but we’ll also be treated to the inaugural running of the AU$1 million The Meteorite.
Australia’s latest slot race will feature a fittingly bright field of sprinters, but there are ten winners to be found on the card and you can find our full Cranbourne tip sheet below.
Romani Ite Domum couldn’t have done a lot more on debut without winning and is since undefeated, picking off races at Bendigo and Geelong. He steps out in peak order, and this looks an ideal opportunity to successfully transition into Saturday metro company.
Mount Rinjani raced greenly on debut at Ballarat last month but still finish just over a length behind the winner, while he was too good for them over the 1519m last time out. He has plenty of upside and another rise in trip looks ideal.
Staunch has turned in some fine performances throughout a busy spring prep, and he was last seen finishing second behind an impressive Pittsburgh Pirate in the Ararat Gold Cup. He does rise in the weights following that race, but the rise in trip looks beneficial and I think he has a number of these rivals covered for class.
Alectrona was a strong and consistent performer last time in, winning in BM70 company at Pakenham and finding form around some above average gallopers in Saturday metro company. She worked home well to finish only a head behind the winner in BM70 on Bendigo Cup Day and any improvement on that performance would see her right in the finish again.
Trapeze Warrior returned to action to win in BM64 company at Moe, just his third career starts, while he hit the line impressively to finish a half-length second at Flemington last time out. Fitter third-up, I like that he’s getting back into a race with a turn, and he has drawn ideally under Luke Nolen.
Nation’s Call has missed placing only twice in thirteen career starts since debuting and returned to action for an eye-catching win in a BM78 at Moe. Having finished third, beaten only a length by Angland over a mile at Flemington last time out, he’s ready for the rise in trip, while this race is certainly no harder.
Brazen Lady returned to action to win in BM78 company on Bendigo Cup Day, while she was just over two and a half lengths behind Niance in the How Now Stakes last time out. There is no doubt that this is a weaker race, she’s open to further improvement, while she’s another one that I think will relish the rise in trip this week.
Arkansaw Kid has been excellent this season, winning both the Regal Roller Stakes and the Bobbie Lewis, while he was only just denied in the Gilgai Stakes as well. He’s been freshened since his latest appearance and has drawn awkwardly, but I think his class will still take him a long way towards winning.
Globe didn’t come up in the spring of last year and his campaign was abandoned, but after returned to action this time to finish a credible fourth in the Moonga Stakes, he finished off well behind Light Infantry Man in the Chester Manifold Stakes last time out. Given that horse is on track to start favourite in Saturday’s Group 1 Railway Stakes in Perth, I’m expecting the form to hold up, and 2000m is perfect for this horse at this point of his prep.
Igotcha recorded consecutive victories at Mornington and Moe and September and October, while she only just missed behind Delicious Tycoon at The Valley last time out. She’s fit and with even luck in running, I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish again.
Best – Race 5 No. 10 Trapeze Warrior
Next Best – Race 9 No. 11 Globe
Value – Race 8 No. 1 Arkansaw Kid