The Autumn Carnival is almost here, and the quality kicks up another gear at The Valley on 2022 Australia Stakes Day.
The Australia Stakes always draws a talented field of sprinters and this year’s edition is absolutely no exception. The Group 2 feature headlines another exciting nine-race program.
I’ve run the rule over every galloper, and you can find my complete 2020 Australia Stakes Day Tips below.
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Mitty’s Handicap (1500m) – 12:40pm AEDT
Tip: No. 1 Throntari
Throntari has improved with each of her three starts back from a spell, and she is ready to win at The Valley on Saturday.
The three-year daughter of Alpine Eagle’s condition just gave way a little here when resuming, but she has kept all of her best work for late when second in races at Caulfield and Sandown since.
She steps out this week in peak order and with even luck, this looks the perfect opportunity to strike on a Saturday.
Ladbrokes Handicap (1600m) – 1:15pm AEDT
Tip: No. 5 Americain Angel
Americain Angel takes winning form into the second at The Valley on Saturday, and she can make it two in a row.
The Amercain mare has been a strong and consistent performer since resuming, and finished second in each of her first three starts back before striking at Caulfield last time.
The mile is ideal, she gets into the race well under the conditions and her winning claims have been enhanced further with the booking of Jamie Kah.
Ascend Sales Trophies Handicap (1600m) – 1:50pm AEDT
Tip: No. 2 Stay Gold
Stay Gold is seeking a hat-trick of wins when she steps out at The Valley on Saturday, and she looks well placed to pull it off.
The daughter of Toorak Toff has been a strong and consistent performer throughout her prep, winning three of five starts and finishing second on another occasion, and she has beaten home plenty of above average gallopers.
She is another who has been treated well at the weights and is drawn well under Jamie Kah.
Ascend Sales Trophies Handicap (1600m) – 2:25pm AEDT
Tip: No. 5 Dundirtcheap
Dundirtcheap is yet to return a poor effort since debuting, and he can break back into the winner’s stall at The Valley on Australia Stakes Day.
Dundirtcheap didn’t show a lot at the trials prior to debuting last year, but he put the writing on the wall with a dominant win at Yarra Valley, and he kept his unbeaten record intact with a handy win in Class 1 company at Ballarat.
The BM70 contest that he resumed in at Caulfield was easily the toughest task of his career to date, but he boxed on well to fill the minors, and I have no doubt that he’ll enjoy wholesale improvement for that effort.
VOBIS Gold Carat (1200m) – 3:00pm AEDT
Tip: No. 8 Luna Cat
There is a case to be made for several gallopers engaged in this year’s VOBIS Gold Carat and with that in mind, I’m keen to extract the value, which I believe likes with Luna Cat.
Luna Cat recorded consecutive wins at Bendigo and here at The Valley three and four starts back, and she has finished close to the winner in races at Flemington and Caulfield since.
Her proven ability here at The Valley obviously cannot be ignored, she is drawn to receive a lovely run in transit, and we can have an each-way play at around the $10 mark.
Steamatic Handicap (1600m) – 3:40pm AEDT
Tip: No. 9 Austrata
This is one of the more open races on Saturday’s program at The Valley, and I think that a horse like Austrata can have an impact at a price ($20 at publish).
Austrata hasn’t been seen at the races since September, but he did return some competitive efforts last time, and finished third behind Mr Brightside at Sandown most notably.
He has won at this point of his preparation previously, and he returned a sharp piece of work here earlier in the week.
Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) – 4:20pm AEDT
Tip: No. 9 Tuurath
Marabi has opened a clear odds-on favourite in 2022 Australia Stakes betting, and understandably so. her form is faultless, and she has recorded five wins from as many starts.
This is easily the hardest race that she has contested, and while I wouldn’t be shocked to see her win, I am going to take her on at the price.
The one that I like the look of here his Turaath.
Turaath went to another level during her spring preparation, and ended her prep with four-consecutive race wins, including the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes.
She resumed with a fair effort for fifth, beaten only a length and a half in the Group 3 Standish Handicap a fortnight ago, and she looks great value in my opinion at around $10.
Rendr Handicap (1000m) – 5:00pm AEDT
Tip: No. 12 Midwest
Midwest is seeking a fourth win in succession when he takes his place in the penultimate race on Australia Stakes Day, and he looms as the runner to beat again.
The Zoustar gelding returned a dominant winner in maiden company at the Yarra Valley in November, and he has continued to improve with each start and as the bar has been raised, striking over 1000m at Caulfield last time.
Given the dominance of that win under similar conditions, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish again.
Measure Consulting Engineers Handicap (1000m) – 5:40pm AEDT
Tip: No. 7 More
This is the most open race on the Australia Stakes Day program and at publish, we’re faced with a little less than $7 the field – certainly not the easiest way to end it all from a betting perspective.
More has returned to the races in career-best form this time, and she looks up to winning something of this quality.
More finished down the order at Traralgon when resuming, but charged back into the winner’s stall in BM64 company in November, and takes her place in this field following another win at Mornington.
She’s trading at around the $9 mark, and we can have a small each-way play at that price.
