DAQMAN ONE-TWO IS TWO-THREE AS 17-1 SHOT SWEEPS BY: Daqman’s one-two in the Melbourne Cup at 4 o’clock this morning finished second and third at 19-10 and 9-1. His order-in also had the 17-1 winner but that was not ‘Verry’ acceptable consolation as she flew home four lengths clear.
THE REST OF THE DAY Back to the mundane with low stake bets at Redcar and Newcastle.
CHAMPION MARE BOLTS UP
He’s our Dettori! He’s cheeky like him and he rides like him. So say my Aussie mates about New Zealander James McDonald, after his Melbourne Cup rout this morning.
It’s not for a flying leap but a Usain Bolt impression after dismounting that the Sydney champion McDonald is known.
And the winning mare, Verry Elleegant, is now known for TEN Group-1 strikes, and the dubious honour of ‘destroying’ punter’s favourite Incentivise by four lengths for the £2.5m Flemington prize at a massive 17-1. Andrew Balding’s Spanish Mission was third.
Only seventh last year under a different jockey, Verry Elleegant had been beaten by Incentivise in the Turnbull on the same course but over a shorter trip last month.
But McDonald had been telling ‘everyone who’d listen’ that she would reverse the placings and Bolt up over Incentivise and English and Irish raiders Spanish Mission and last year’s winner Twilight Payment (11th for Joseph O’Brien).
Verry Elleegant, Australian horse of the year last season (2020-21), was the first Melbourne Cup winner for superstar trainer Chris Waller.
It was not until Saturday morning that Waller decided to run Verry Elleegant, knowing that Macdonald was free after his mount, Away He Goes, had to be withdrawn, injured.
EARLY STORM APPROACHING
⭕ 12.05 Redcar Early first bet with Storm Castle in the opener for John and Thady Gosden. The two-year-old son of Invincible Spirit is by far the best bred in the race and is likely to be much more like a racehorse today after running as green as the grass on debut at Salisbury.
It looked a hot race at the time and so it has proved subsequently with the winner Hannibal Barca going on to finish fourth in the Group 1 Vertem Futurity at Doncaster and the fourth and fifth from the race also franking the form.
It would be disappointing if he didn’t prove strong enough to account for the exposed Barneys Gift or
Fourth Time Lucky who was third on debut here and is now stepped up in trip.
THE GOLDEN TICKET
⭕ 12.40 Redcar The BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE favourite is set to be Dream Show who ran well at Leicester last time out but there might some value in opposing him with the William Haggas trained Golden Voice.
Despite only finishing seventh on debut at Newbury, he was only beaten five lengths and was eye-catching in the closing stages when making up for a slow start.
The winner from that race Bosh followed up with a huge second in a valuable sales race at Naas and Newbury form can usually be relied upon.
THE AGE OF AQUAMAS
⭕ 5.30 Newcastle A typically competitive seven furlong handicap at Gosforth Park but the Michael Dods trained Aquamas does stand out as the bet on the card.
The three-year-old filly makes her all-weather debut after some promising efforts on the turf – most notably last time out when a short head runner-up to Kats Bob at Ayr. She looked a moral winner that day given she met trouble in running so the handicapper has given her a real chance by just hiking her just a pound.
In contrast, Zenzero races under a 6lb penalty after his course and distance win last week. That was his second course win in October, both by narrow margins and he makes limited appeal under the extra weight burden.
A bigger danger to the selection may come from Rocket Rod whose form had tailed off but there was plenty to like about his 50/1 third over course and distance last month.
DAQMAN’S BETS (staked to win 10 points)
BET 3.5pts win STORM CASTLE (12.05 Redcar)
BET 4.0pts win (nap) GOLDEN VOICE (12.40 Redcar)
BET 2.1pts win AQUAMAS (5.30 Newcastle)
What are points? Points facilitate a staking plan, which is the secret to creating profit. One point is whatever you choose: a pound, a euro, or whatever ….
Start with a bank and decide how much you can afford to lose over a period of time, and determine the size of your bets accordingly. Daqman makes this variation every day.
