In our new weekly fixture BLACK BOOKED, we’ll take a look every week at the top five horses that were Black Booked by Sportsbet punters over the previous weekend’s racing. You don’t have to look hard to find someone trying to tell you about a good thing – but this way you can get a good look at what fellow punters are keeping tabs on without anyone’s opinion getting in the way.
TOP 5
5. Pardoe
The Phoenix, 1350m, Doomben
Kicking things off this week is gun colt, Pardoe. The Tony Sears-trained two-year-old made it four in a row on Saturday after leading from start to finish in an eye-catching run. Pardoe is currently $15 for the Group 1 JJ Atkins on June 10, with connections yet to make a decision on whether he will run. At any rate, the youngster certainly appears to have plenty of ability at this stage of his career.
4. Bonny O’Reilly
Helen Coughlan, 1200m, Doomben
A second appearance in Black Booked in three weeks for the Bjorn Baker-trained mare, who is travelling beautifully after extending her winning streak to five. After settling fourth on the rail, the four-year-old took the inside lane to kick clear at the 200m, taking the race out by 1.3 lengths. The win leaves her two positions outside the starting field for Saturday’s $1.5m Stradbroke Handicap, with a start in the Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes now much more likely.
3. Ability
Cafetto Handicap, 1000m, Moonee Valley
Ability certainly lived up to his name after storming home down the Valley’s short straight to pinch the Cafetto Handicap. The Robert Smerdon-trained four-year-old settled midfield with cover before swooping wide at the turn and showcasing an electrifying turn of foot to win by a length. It was Ability’s first start since being gelded and on the weekend’s form, may well prove to be the making of him.
2. Sultan Of Swing
#theraces, 1500m, Rosehill
For the second time in as many weeks, we’ve had a runner make the top five without winning at the weekend. Sultan Of Swing settled to the rear of the field and things didn’t open up for the Shaun Ritchie-trained gelding until 100m out. After finding some daylight he flew home into second, finishing just half a length behind winner Louie Sea Kay in a run that really caught the eye of Sportsbet punters.
1. Egg Tart
Queensland Oaks, 2200m, Doomben
No surprises at all with our winner this week, as the Chris Waller-trained Egg Tart stormed home to take out the Queensland Oaks. It’s the filly’s sixth win in eight career starts, with two of them coming at Group 1 level after she won the SA Oaks a month back in her last start. There have naturally been comparisons to Waller’s star mare Winx, who also came through the Queensland Oaks, though Waller himself was at pains not to compare them. The talented filly now looks like she’ll be set for the Group 1 Epsom at Randwick in the Spring.
