Turf Deli quest for punting value : DEPOSIT $50 and get a $100 FREE BET

CAULFIELD : LISTON STAKES - 16TH AUGUST 2008

Track: DEAD (5) - Weather: SHOWERS - Rail: OUT 8M

Betting Portfolio ($50): Been consistent showers around during the week, but seems to basically take a 1 in 100 year flood for these major city tracks to come up seriously rain affected. Few showers forecast again during the weekend, so track should stay a genuine dead – tending toward slow. Note that this track did start to chop up though last meeting when the rail was out 4M. Rail out 8M probably means those drawn wide might struggle. They should be spreading out on the turn and best ground will probably be off the rails. Always a meeting to tread lightly on as the majority of runners are 1st up and kicking off their spring campaigns. Seems to be a few decent bets early on, where the fields don’t have much depth, but the last few races are wide open. Track comes up slow and they were getting into it a little. Early races were dominated by on pacers, middle of track better later in the day which favoured those drawn out and running on. BEST BET : Race 2: 3-BIRD DANCER $15 WIN 4th W=$5.60 Getting close to retirement, but racing very well at the moment, does need some pace in this race, but has big plus in race fitness over his main rivals. RESULTS : Unfortunately no pace on in the race make it impossible, flew home to finish 4th - not much use for us. BEST EACH WAY : Race 4: 7-BURGEIS $5 EW Put in some great runs as a 2YO, often unlucky, but missing out on winning those runs means she looks extremely well weighted in this based on her form. QUINELLA : Race 5 : 11# 2,3,7,8 x $2.50 = $10. 1st 3-AFTERBURN W=$7.90, 3rd 11-SPARKING SATINE W=$12.80 11-SPARKING SATINE has been hopelessly unlucky last 2 runs, held up for runs badly at Flem 1st up, then trapped back on inside mid field most of last 600M at MV. Fitter for 2 runs in and should be enough pace in this for her to run into it. Should be some value in the quinella in large even field. RESULTS : Not far off here - 11-SPARKING SATINE is trapped wide all the way but still runs on for 3rd. Worth following BEST ROUGH : Race 6 : 8-KIBBUTZ $5 EW With the focus on the other two 3YOs, this one might start over generous odds and will appreciate the pace in this year’s race. Might do something 1st up at odds. RESULTS : Barely makes it to the finish TURF DELI WONDER BET : Here we try and turn $5 into a whole lot more. Race 6 : First Four - 7 / 6,8,10 / 6,8,10 / 2,4,5,6,8,10 x $5 – 20.83% Take the wonder horse one out, hope our roughie does something and one of the bolters runs into 4th for some value. SPENT : $50 RETURN : $0 NET : $-50

The Tips: Race 1: 1-MAGNETIC, 2-CHOLULA, 5-JOHNNY KNOXVILLE Race 2: 3-BIRD DANCER, 9-ESCAPE ARTIST, 2-GALLOPIN Race 3: 8-CATAPULTED, 7-APPREHEND, 2-EXCEEDINGLY GOOD Race 4: 7-BURGEIS, 2-SUGAR BABE, 5-WOPPIT Race 5: 11-SPARKING SATINE, 7-OFFER IT UP, 3-AFTERBURN Race 6: 7-WEEEKEND HUSSLER, 8-KIBBUTZ, 6-JUNGLE RULER Race 7: 6-CATECHUCHU, 18-BENATAR (emerg), 7-ROYAL ASSCHER, 16-VIVACIOUS SPIRIT Race 8: 5-SCENIC BLAST, 2-SONIC QUEST, 10-BARBARICUS

RACE 1: RESULTS

Tips: 1-MAGNETIC 2-CHOLULA 1st W=$2.60 5-JOHNNY KNOXVILLE

RACE 2: RESULTS

Tips: 3-BIRD DANCER 9-ESCAPE ARTIST 2-GALLOPIN

RACE 3: RESULTS

Tips: 8-CATAPULTED 7-APPREHEND 2-EXCEEDINGLY GOOD 3rd W=$5.40

RACE 4: RESULTS

Tips: 7-BURGEIS 2-SUGAR BABE SCR 5-WOPPIT 2nd W=$4.50

RACE 5: RESULTS

Tips: 11-SPARKING SATINE 3rd W=$12.80 7-OFFER IT UP 3-AFTERBURN 1st W=$7.90

RACE 6: RESULTS

Tips: 7-WEEEKEND HUSSLER 2nd W=$1.60 8-KIBBUTZ 6-JUNGLE RULER

RACE 7: RESULTS

Tips: 6-CATECHUCHU 7-ROYAL ASSCHER 16-VIVACIOUS SPIRIT

RACE 8: RESULTS

Tips: 5-SCENIC BLAST 1st W=$4.30 2-SONIC QUEST 10-BARBARICUS 3rd W=$6.30

RACE 6: LISTON STAKES 1400M GROUP 2

Tips: 7-WEEEKEND HUSSLER 2nd W=$W=$1.60 8-KIBBUTZ 6-JUNGLE RULER

Others: 10 Pace: FAST Leaders : 5-LIVE IN VAIN, 6-JUNGLE RULER Handy : 1-SIR SLICK, 2-MALDIVIAN, 7-WEEEKEND HUSSLER, 9-ALAMOSA, 10-LIGHT FANTASTIC Back : 3-ALEXANDER OF HALES, 4-ZAVITE, 8-KIBBUTZ, 11-MISSION CRTICIAL Chances: 7-WEEEKEND HUSSLER who? Weekend What? Totally dominant 3YO who does seem to actually deserve the hype and accolades and spontaneous applause and ticker tape parades that accompany the mere mention of his name. Given a well planned autumn after they went one run too many in the spring. The real test for these boom 3YOs always comes in the next spring when they now have to measure up to open company, and often they are bought back to the pack, but this one has taken on open company before and excelled. No doubt he is way way above average. 1st up here, most of these are starting their preparations too and should have them covered. However, sure the bubble will burst some time during the spring, maybe over more distance, as surely he cannot continue to be as dominant as his 3YO season. Did have injury setback this week. Not a betting proposition for us, but looks the one to beat. 2nd W=$W=$1.60 6-JUNGLE RULER is an honest as they come on pacer who is in career best form. Does like it wet, but just as capable on firmer tracks, and last two wins have been very gutsy as the opposition have had plenty of opportunity to run him down. Have a slight question mark over the quality of horse he has been beating, and did beat a lot of the same horses in those two runs. Up to WFA today, and will keep the super stars honest. Chances improve the wetter the track is. Liston Stakes – often can’t go wrong backing the race fit on pace wet tracker and he ticks all the boxes. Upset chance if there are any chinks in the favourites. 8-KIBBUTZ was a solid staying performance to win last year’s Derby and given the full year off. Still very lightly raced so probably capable of doing something fresh, but probably being aimed at the Cups and they might be taking him along slow this time in. Undoubtedly will be running on, and likely to be a fair it of speed in this race, so is the sort of horse that could maybe cause a boil over if he continued to improve. Is he form that much worse than the (10)? And what is the difference in odds going to be ? Rough chance. 10-LIGHT FANTASTIC is the other boom 3YO who appeared with a rush in the Autumn and jockey and trainer both talking up his ability. Undefeated in 4 runs, and probably still has lots of improvement to come. Can take up a handy position. Was very impressive going from task to task in the Autumn, but just looking back at the form, do wonder if he is under the odds going into this based on form. Suspect there will be lots of money for him and might start under $3. Could quite easily come out and blow them all away, including the favourite, but looks like a classic case of the 3YO who now needs to prove himself in open company. Respect, but maybe not at the odds on offer. 1st W=$4.00 Place: 5-LIVE IN VAIN is hard to catch from a form point of view, and even harder to catch on the days he does strike form – tears out to lead. Leading and 1400M is his thing. Fitter for 3 runs in – and don’t pay too much attention to the form – all runs have been over 1200M or less, and that is just not his caper. Although the runs do look slightly disappointing. He is a key horse in this race – if he does go forward, and get fired up in the lead by the (6) he will run them along at a frantic pace. Maybe a rough place chance. 4-ZAVITE is another one stepping out for his spring debut. Solid on pace staying type who was competitive throughout the spring last year and has been given a nice long break. Probably at best on firm tracks, did run a nice race here over 1700M (and was unlucky) off a freshen up last spring, but think he will take longer to find form this time in. Passing, but maybe throw in for a rough place chance cause will be over the odds. This is the one you want for 4th in the First Fours to kick some value in. Sacking: 1-SIR SLICK apparently isn’t a gansta rapper, but a race horse. NZ visitor, who usually goes forward in his races and has genuine WFA form in NZ. Just question him having a crack at races like this when he is well into his 70s (starts). Solid wet track form and does go OK fresh, but prefer to see him go around today. 2-MALDIVIAN returns to the scene of his spring mugging, with his chalk outline still visible on the turf near the starting gates. Was setting the world on fire last spring before injury, came back in Autumn and didn’t quite produce. Been given a solid break and good chance he will return to last year’s form this time in. Ran 3rd in this race last year 1st up and another who normally races forward. Feel he might need a few runs to find best so happy to go around him today, but let’s hope he shows something. 3rd W=$15.70 3-ALEXANDER OF HALES (USA) almost certainly got teased at school because of his poncy name. Lightly raced Irish import now in local stable and probably has a lot of untapped potential. Likely to be at his best over distance, and really just have to watch and see how he goes, has had the year off racing so likely to need this run. 9-ALAMOSA is a NZ import who has some decent form at Group level. Can take a handy position too which is usually a plus in this with many who will drop back 1st up. Very difficult to line up and will need to watch the media and betting markets to see how he rates. Do usually prefer to let these ones have a run over here though before getting on board, and he is drawn wide and does look to be a lot of speed in this race, so likely to get trapped out. 11-MISSION CRTICIAL showed some staying form over the 3YO QLD winter and did tend to lead in the longer races. Probably drops back in this 1st up, and meeting a pretty decent Liston field here so happy to let run. Summary: Well, fancy that, instead of the Liston Stakes being the usual warm up lap for stayers, it turns out to be one of the races of the spring, with the two boom 3YOs going head to head. Normally, in this race, like to watch out for the on pace, race fit, in form honest types who will catch the 1st uppers napping. 6-JUNGLE RULER would fit that criteria perfectly in any other year, and normally this race is on pace dominated because of all the stayers resuming. However, this year, there does seem to be a fair bit of speed - 6-JUNGLE RULER and the unpredictable 5-LIVE IN VAIN going forward, 2-MALDIVIAN and 9-ALAMOSA (wide) can both apply pressure as well. Favourite 7-WEEEKEND HUSSLER does look the one to beat and does have the class to account for these first up, even with injury set back. Probably starts too short for us though – no fun in backing short priced favourites. Rather, let’s have a play each way on 8-KIBBUTZ , pace on here should suit and the rest of the field might get out to silly odds with all the focus on the two favourites. Throw 6-JUNGLE RULER in as race fit on pace one. No surprise if 10-LIGHT FANTASTIC does live up to his press release, but just feel he is under the odds based on his form to date – done nothing wrong, but not as proven as his main rival. Fascinating race. Fascinating Liston Stakes ! (who ever thought we would be uttering that sentence). One to risk: Roughie: 8-KIBBUTZ RESULTS : 6-JUNGLE RULER and 5-LIVE IN VAIN set a solid tempo on a slow track, which tested these out 1st up. Solid win by the new title holder, 10-LIGHT FANTASTIC, although trainer did express concern about the hard run after the race. Still plenty of improvement to come with 7-WEEEKEND HUSSLER coming off an injury setback and jockey probably erred in coming out and going for home too early - he may have won 3YO races running like that, but won't be as dominate in open WFA class. But the run that was really impressive was 2-MALDIVIAN out and rolling and stuck on well on the inside which was probably the worse going - suspect he is going to be the dominant horse this spring.