Back Yourself!
Sign-up and start betting with Ladbrokes in 2 minutes!
Back A Winner with Neds!
Sign-up and start betting with Neds in 2 minutes!
Daily Racing Specials!
Sign-up and bet with Australia's best new bookmaker!
#1 Ranked New Bookie
Sign-up and bet with Australia's #1 ranked new bookmaker!
Best Of The Best Odds!
Bet With Palmerbet and get Paid Top Fluc or Top Tote!
Massive Odds on All Races!
Sign-up and start betting with PlayUp in 2 minutes!
Imagine what you could be buying instead.
Set a deposit limit.
Search
 

Chris Waller is accustomed to preparing the headline horses for Australia’s biggest races.

At Flemington on Saturday, he will have to settle for the role of underdog.

While his Black Caviar Lightning runners Delectation and Japonisme are Group One winners, even Waller concedes they are at the mercy of Australia’s benchmark sprinter Chautauqua and his heir apparent Exosphere.

“I’m just hoping Chautauqua’s not quite as forward as they’d like because if he’s the fittest horse in the race he’s extremely hard to beat,” Waller said.

“And I’m hoping Exosphere is not as effective down the straight as he is on bend because on a bend he’s lethal.”

Exosphere held market sway early in the week but by Thursday was sharing top billing with Chautauqua at $2.50.

James McDonald has bypassed the Silver Slipper meeting in Sydney to stick with Exosphere who failed at his only other attempt down the Flemington straight when a well-beaten fourth to Japonisme in the Coolmore Stud Stakes last spring.

He gets the chance to prove that run an anomaly and his trainer John O’Shea is more concerned by the giant-striding colt’s rails draw than any aversion to straight racing.

“It’s not a good draw for him,” O’Shea said.

Waller has no such queries with Japonisme or Delectation who both posted their biggest career wins over the Flemington straight course.

However, the 1000m of the Lightning does present a challenge.

“Delectation has got weight-for-age form on the board around Chautauqua and Terravista but he’s a better 1200-metre horse,” Waller said.

“Japonisme has proven he’s a consistent horse and he’s an up-and-comer that would be slightly better suited to the 1000 than Delectation.

“With that said, they will both be better horses in the Newmarket having had a first-up run on Saturday.”

Chautauqua, a superior fresh performer, will be striving to end a frustrating run of seconds in Flemington Group One races.

A multiple stakes winner down the straight, Chautauqua has been runner-up in the past two editions of the Darley Classic and last year’s Newmarket Handicap with his two elite victories recorded at Moonee Valley and Randwick.

Sydney speedster Terravista shares the second line of betting with Delectation at $8 while Japonisme is a $9 chance.

Kinglike ($23) and Va Pensiero ($61) make up the Group One field.

 
*Existing customers only. 2nd Racing bet. Excl SA & WA. T’s & C’s apply. Gamble responsibly.
Imagine what you could be buying instead.
Set a deposit limit.
Featured News

FREE BETS – Claim $1000’s in Bonus Bets at the TOP Betting Sites

We take a look at the BIGGEST and BEST Free Daily Racing Offers and Betting Promotions from Australia’s leading online...

Golden Slipper Likely Field – 2024

The biggest two-year-old race of the year will jump this Saturday in arguably one of the best fields in recent...

Former trainer handed a five-year ban for pulling stewards pants down

Former trainer Todd Balfour has been handed a five-year disqualification by Racing SA stewards after a misconduct incident at the...

Melbourne Cup champion Verry Elleegant passes away

Verry Elleegant, one of the great mares in the history of Australian racing, has died while giving birth to her...

Watch 📺 Jockey banned from all racing premises over ride

Jockey Dylan Kitts has been penalised with a disciplinary officer exclusion directive due to non-compliance with an inquiry regarding his...

Group 1 winner returns positive swab

Racing Victoria stewards are investigating a positive swab from Group 1-winning mare Prowess, the racehorse trained by Roger James and...

Alligator Blood injured, career in doubt

Cult galloper Alligator Blood may have run his last race, with trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott confirming the star galloper had...

Nikita Beriman returns to the saddle

July 1, 2023 to January 26, 2024 … that period represents the just shy of seven months that Nikita Beriman...

Australia's Best Betting Sites

New Betting Sites Australia + Top List Bookmaker Apps $$$

Betting in Australia has never been more popular thanks to a large increase in new betting Agencies and Apps available...

Top 10 – Funniest Race Horse Names

Horse racing. Known as the ‘Sport Of Kings’, an industry worth billions, a very serious business…but to some, it’s a...

Best Horse Betting Sites in Australia

Best Horse Racing Betting Apps and Betting Sites – March 2024

We take a look at the best online betting apps to bet on horse racing in Australia for the month...

Golden Slipper

The Golden Slipper is one of the biggest and most prestigious horse races in Australia. Taking place each April at...

Australian Bookmaker Reviews – Online Bookie Ratings $$

Which bookmaker should you bet with? We Review each of the leading online Australian Bookmakers and rate them in order...

 
 
Imagine what you could be buying instead.
For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au