Mackinnon Stakes 2021: Pro punter preview
Pro punter Trevor Lawson gives us his thoughts on the 2021 Mackinnon Stakes.
The track
The rail is out eight metres, you’d think on the fourth day they’ll be getting away from the fence and coming down the middle more.
The speed
There’s not much speed here. Homesman will lead from Zaaki. Dalasan and Mounga will be handy and the rest will be midfield to back.
Mackinnon Stakes: Runner by runner
HOMESMAN was okay at his first two starts, then well beaten in the Caulfield Cup. I’d give him only a very rough chance here.
CASCADIAN is racing well. He’s coming off a peak figure last start in the Cantala and is on the quick back-up here. However, he’s stepping to 2000m for the first time, which looks a slight negative.
SUPERSTORM has a similar setup to Cascadian with the quick back-up from the Cantala, which he won. There’s a couple of negatives here, however. His best record is at 1400m – 1600m, and he loses Oliver, who is in ripping form.
SUPERSTORM! ⚡⚡⚡
It was a terrific finish in the Kennedy Cantala Stakes. 🔥@DOBrienRacing @RacingVictoria pic.twitter.com/5EFfeWFylj
— Racing.com (@Racing) October 30, 2021
ZAAKI is a difficult horse to price here! The race is all about him. If I rate him on what he did two starts ago in the Underwood, you have him an odds-on chance here. But on the Caulfield Stakes performance he’s a lot, lot longer. Then, of course, he was scratched from the Cox Plate. Really, you have to assume that he’s right to go here because if he wasn’t, he wouldn’t be running. He also gets McDonald goes on too which is a positive.
KEIAI NAUTIQUE is not good enough at this level.
DALASAN is racing just fairly. He was okay in the Epsom and then well beaten in the Cox Plate. I’d give him just a rough chance of running a place here.
MO’UNGA had been running well this prep and was building up nicely, and was well fancied in the Cox Plate and failed. He’s better suited here back on the bigger track, and can run to his best.
PRIVATE EYE had a terrific win in the Epsom, then wasn’t suited last start in the Golden Eagle. He steps to 2000m for the first time but has been strong late recently, so I think he’ll be getting home well.
Private Eye has won the Group 1 Epsom Handicap! @reganbayliss@bluebetau pic.twitter.com/MkYtCZTELZ
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 2, 2021
COLETTE is on the quick back-up from winning the Empire Rose last week. She’s okay at this distance range. Any rain would enhance her chances.
The first G1 of the 2021 #MelbourneCupCarnival @FlemingtonVRC has been won 🙌
A late burst of speed secures COLETTE the victory in the TAB Empire Rose Stakes and lands her the $1 million bonus 👏💰
🎥 @Racing pic.twitter.com/a1AORs3XD0
— World Horse Racing (@WHR) October 30, 2021
HUNGRY HEART is racing well. She hit the line well in the Empire Rose. This is a different class again. I give her a rough chance.
Final thoughts
It all depends on Zaaki, doesn’t it? I think the market just has to assume he’s right to go and so they’ll probably come for him on the day. Nothing else has the figures at 2000m to challenge him if he goes okay. He’s clearly on top.
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