Star Stable, racing’s leading fantasy game, is back once again!
The game, which is a solid test of racing knowledge and management skills, returns for the spring, beginning with tomorrow’s feature meetings at Randwick and Flemington.
If you’ve never played before, don’t worry! Just Horse Racing is pleased to bring you this guide which will assist you to take part in the Spring Racing Carnival like never before!
To get started, head over to www.starstable.com.au to sign up!
HOW IT WORKS
You are an owner with $1 million to spend. You have 10 boxes to fill, and you must fill all 10 boxes while remaining on budget. You also get to choose 1 jockey each week who will earn money for you based on their performance.
Basically, the amount of prizemoney won by your horses provides your score each week. The person who manages their stable best, by winning the most prizemoney, wins the competition.
Each week, you are allowed to make two changes to your stable. You trade horses in and out, all the while ensuring you remain on budget. Changes are to be made during trading periods, which commence the day after the previous meeting and end at 10am the morning of each meeting. The jockey, which doesn’t count as a trade, must also be chosen before the 10am lockout.
There are eight meetings in total, with seven trading periods. The eight meetings are:
Race Meeting 1 – Epsom Handicap/Turnbull Stakes Day
Race Meeting 2 – Caulfield Guineas Day
Race Meeting 3 – Caulfield Cup Day
Race Meeting 4 – Cox Plate Day
Race Meeting 5 – Victoria Derby Day
Race Meeting 6 – Melbourne Cup Day
Race Meeting 7 – Crown Oaks Day
Race Meeting 8 – Emirates Stakes Day
There are weekly prizes each week, with the overall winner receiving a trip for two to the Dubai World Cup, one of the world’s premier race meetings.
So why wouldn’t you have a go?
Head over to www.starstable.com.au today to sign up. You must have your stable selected by 10am tomorrow to accrue points for tomorrow’s meeting.
NEW RULES
For experienced players, there are a number of new rules this year which are critical to strategy.
Most importantly, the value of horses may change depending on their performance this spring. Take Pierro as an example – if he wins the Caulfield Guineas next weekend, his value will rise to $250 000, which is the maximum value for any horse.
For all other horses, their value will rise depending on the worth of their performance as follows:
Group 1 win – $75 000
Group 1 second – $50 000
Group 1 third – $50 000
Group 1 fourth – $25 000
Group 1 fifth – $25 000
Group 2 win – $50 000
Group 2 second – $25 000
Group 2 third – $25 000
Group 3 win – $50 000
Group 3 second – $25 000
Group 3 third – $25 000
Listed win – $25 000
This affects players as this means there may be more money to trade with in the future. The value of a stable can rise, meaning it is critical to get horses whose value may rise.
Also noteworthy is that the Thousand Guineas and Manikato Stakes meetings are not included. This is of importance tomorrow, for example, as it may be risky taking an Edward Manifold Stakes runner heading into the future. Most horses progress from the Manifold to the Thousand Guineas, but with the Thousand Guineas not counted this year, they could almost be useless in your stable.
Another new rule is that they pay prizemoney for seconds and thirds accrued by jockeys. In the past, they would pay $100 000 for first, and that is it. But with $50 000 for second and $25 000 for third, it means there’s another element of strategy.
TIPS AND HINTS
Just Horse Racing has spoken to a number of players who have given advice on how to play the gme, based on their own experiences. Below are tips and hints from:
- Jay Mathieson, Media and Sales Executive at Dynamic Syndications
- Morgan Payne, Owner of Just Horse Racing
- Tom Haylock, Star Stable analyst for WePuntRacing
This writer has also given his views on how to play the game.
What’s your strategy early on?
JM: I use the same tactics as Ranvet Stakes winner Zavite, make every post a winner! I have gone all out this week to try and get in the leading few so from there I can control the pace! If I have a bad weekend this Saturday though it will be straight back to the paddock for me.
MP: My strategy is to basically try and get as many Group 1 wins this weekend, it’s the round the makes or breaks you. Don’t worry about who you think will win the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate or Melbourne Cup – select who you think will win this Saturday in the big events.
TH: One of the biggest things to consider when picking your initial stable, is the changing value of horses. Unlike previous Star Stables, this spring it is absolutely crucial to start with good value horses running in Group Races on the initial day of the competition. If they win they will go up in price and add to the value of your Star Stable.
AH: To me, it’s vital to be forward thinking. The start is critical, but make sure you get horses that will be earning you prizemoney along the way in big races. For example, in the Epsom, I’d prefer to have Shoot Out on my side – with the likelihood he may go to the Cox Plate – as opposed to a horse like Fat Al, where I don’t know where he’s heading next. All good to get a good start – it’s imperative – but make sure it can be continued in future weeks.
What is your ultimate tip for Star Stable players?
JM: Make sure you get away to a good start. You don’t want to miss the jump by 10 lengths and feel like you are always struggling to keep up. If you have a good first two weeks, you should set yourself up for a big finish plus you will have more money to play with this year.
MP: Target only the Group 1 races unless you can get a cheap horse into your stable who is a very good chance for a Group 2 with good prize money.
TH: Read the rules thoroughly.
AH: Keep on top of racing news as much as possible. If a horse is likely to run in two Group 1s in two weeks – say, the Caulfield Stakes and the Caulfield Cup – and they are a realistic chance, it would be advantageous to include them in. Also, it helps to know who is out of the spring so you can keep them out of your stable.
Who is the one horse people must include in the first week?
JM: Personally I struggle to see Fat Al losing the Epsom and that is the race with the best prizemoney during the first meeting. I think he has to be in there week one and if he does the job on the weekend (with only 52kgs), then he could be up for a big few weeks.
MP: Definitely has to be Proisir, as he is a long odds on favourite in the Spring Champion Stakes and only $50k on Star Stable. There are also talks he could head to the Cox Plate as well.
TH: Everyone is going to say Proisir, so I’ll go slightly left field and say, Urban Groove.
AH: I actually think Pierro is the horse that should be included first week. I know, if I don’t include him, I’m not going to have enough money to get him next week, so by working my stable around him I know I’ll have him going for me in the Caulfield Guineas.
Who is the best value horse?
JM: Has to be Zurella who runs in the Turnbull this weekend. Her win in the Let’s Elope was super and had plenty of excuses last start in the Naturalism. Gets the trip and will get further later on. At $25k she is a must and a few Kiwi horses always pop up, especially in recent times. Would not be surprised to see here run a reasonably big race at Caulfield in late October.
MP: I think Moudre looks very good value at $75k. I’m expecting him to run well in the Turnbull Stakes.
TH: Fawkner, Maybe Discreet and It’s a Dundeel.
AH: I’m actually going to go with Zurella too. $25k is a steal, I think she’s got a good chance tomorrow and if she makes the Caulfield Cup I reckon she’ll be a good chance there. Worth including.
How do you choose which jockey you will use?
JM: The jockey wasn’t hard. Gai is starting to gear up for the carnival, Nash is riding at 25% this season and has more winners than any other jockey in the country. Plus the man is a genius on horseback so it was a no brainer for me. Nash Rawiller all the way. Matty “The Rockstar” Nielsen would be my second pick because the guy could ride could ride a house cat to win. He is the most underrated jockey in Australia!
MP: I base my jockey choice on the trainers that are in form, with good horses heading into the spring. You can’t go past Gai’s team this year so I’m sticking with her number one rider Nash Rawiller.
TH: Unlike previous versions, you can trade your jockey every week. So just pick the jockey with the best rides that weekend. Keep it simple! Nash Rawiller or Corey Brown have the best rides this weekend so will run with them. Then, I’d trade to a Melbourne jockey with a good book of rides next weekend.
AH: Choosing the jockey is like having a bet on the jockey’s challenge. You just have to choose who you think will win the most races – or those that might finish in the minor money consistently. Have to agree that Nash Rawiller looks the one this weekend, but obviously it pays to
What will you do if you bomb out the first week?
JM: I won’t be bombing out first week, Hawko, I’m more likely to have one foot on a flight to Dubai! However if I do, it surely can’t be my fault so I will be blaming the rides of every jockey who didn’t boot home a winner for me, as that seems the most logical explanation. That, or probably just go out and drink reasonably heavily.
MP: Focus my stable solely on the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup treble. See if i can win all three.
TH: Go to the TAB? Nah, I think I’ll be fine this week.
AH: I have to learn to stick with it. When I don’t do so well, I tend to give up. Need to realise it is possible to win off a slow start.
What’s your entire team this week?
JM: More Joyous, Fat Al, Polish Knight, Norzita, Spirit of Boom, It’s a Dundeel, Ichihara, Prosir, Voila Ici, Zurella with Nash [Rawiller] in the saddle.
MP: Pierro, Green Moon, Secret Admirer, Stout Hearted, Ambidexter, Moudre, Exceptionally, Zurella, Proisir, Showmya Miss, Duet, Nash Rawiller
TH: Not settled yet. I’ll give you a few names: Pierro, Green Moon, Fawkner, Maybe Discreet, It’s a Dundeel, Voila Ichi, Urban Groove, Ichihara, Moment of Change, Ambidexter etc. And Nash Rawiller or Corey Brown.
AH: Pierro, Shoot Out, Glencadam Gold, King’s Rose, Voila Ici, Ocean Park, Lightinthenite, Proisir, Zurella, Class Is Class, Nash Rawiller
LEAGUES
The best part, for many people, of Star Stable is the ability to compete against mates in various mini-leagues. We’ve compiled some of the more popular leagues below. To join, simply enter the code when prompted.
Just Horse Racing: 313432
WePuntRacing: 620295
Radio Sport National: 120856
Andrew Bensley’s Racing HQ: 894492
Racing Retro: 449320
The Roar: 723343
POPULAR HORSES
This list is courtesy of the Herald Sun. The top 10 horses by popularity, as of this morning:
Pierro $225,000
More Joyous $250,000
Proisir $50,000
Ocean Park $100,000
Manighar $225,000
Lamasery $100,000
Green Moon $200,000
Shoot Out $150,000
Southern Speed $150,000
Zurella $25,000
So now you have all you need to know about playing Star Stable. Hope to see you on the virtual gallops!
Head over to www.starstable.com.au to sign up, and remember to follow @StarStableAU on Twitter for the latest updates. Also follow @JustHorseRacing and @AndrewNJHawkins for hints and tips throughout the competition!
