Sport is made for betting

Arrogate did it last year, controversially winning Horse of the Year for a performance that was the last time he won a race. An obscene amount of money for a surface almost exclusive to one continent, this year's edition has attracted a couple of European turf horses as well. Tasked with previewing the world's richest non-buy-in-invitational race is regular international racing aficionado Luke Humphreys,  @WorldRacingLuke . ======================== Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup G1, 2000m, 1m2f, $USD10,000,000, Dirt Race 9 Meydan, 1750 BST, 2050 Local Time’ (PRICES LISTED ARE BEST AVAILABLE FRIDAY MORNING) 1 Awardee  (66/1): Fifth here 12 months ago ten and a half lengths behind Arrogate. Didn’t have much luck in the Japanese trial for this at G1 level last time, unlikely to be good enough however. 2 North America  (8/1): Won the principal trial race for this at G1 level over the C&D three weaks ago easily. This is much tougher and I don’...

The Northern flat season doesn't really start until the Dubai carnival has had its big finale, and this is it. The showpiece race is the World Cup but that's really a race for US horses. This is the genuine world classic. Returning to the blog is regular international racing aficionado Luke Humphreys,  @WorldRacingLuke . ================================ Longines Dubai Sheema Classic G1, 2400m, 1m4f, $USD6,000,000, Turf Race 8 Meydan, 1710 BST, 2010 Local Time (PRICES LISTED ARE BEST AVAILABLE FRIDAY MORNING) 1 Mozu Catchan  (12/1): G1 Japanese Oaks second last year behind Soul Stirring. Then third in another one of the G1 fillies classics and then won the feature G1 of the season for all age girls. Far from disgraced first-up when fourth on Yielding ground at G2 level against the boys when fourth to Clincher and Classic winners Al Ain and the reopposing Rey de Oro. Place best though. 2 Idaho  (12/1): Is very inconsistent, unlike the big brother, ...

Easter Saturday used to be the biggest day in Sydney racing, featuring the Derby and the Doncaster at Randwick. But the boffins decided the flexible date based on the lunar relationship to some mythical event alleged to have occurred over 2000 years was too hard to deal with, so that'll be next week.  But  enough of the old man moaning at the clouds scenario,  that gives us another week at Rosehill before 'The Championships', and as with any meeting in the midst of a major carnival, it's packed full of strong contests, including a very good G2 mares' race. Returning to the blog after his debut last week is budding Sydney form analyst Joshua Reed,  @joshuareed22 . And this week you can listen to some of his work on the Racing Nation podcast . ============================== Emancipation Stakes Group 2, 1500m, AU$200,000 Rosehill, Saturday 31/3 1420 local, 0420 BST This year's edition of the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes features a small eig...

Among the star-studded card at Rosehill is the Ranvet Stakes, a G1 which these days is more of a lead-up to the bigger races in The Championships. Casting a sharp eye over the field is Joshua Reed,  @joshuareed22 , budding NSW form analyst making his debut on the blog. Welcome aboard Josh! ====================== Ranvet Stakes Group 1, WFA, 2000m, AU$700,000 Rosehill R4, Saturday, 24/3  1405 local, 0305 GMT The Group 1 Ranvet Stakes for 2018 may only have nine runners, but it oozes quality over the quantity! The 2018 edition of the Ranvet contains five raiders from south of the border who all came to this race via the Australian Cup and one from over the ditch leaving just three NSW horses to defend their home turf. As we dissect the race more in depth, we will base our form around a Soft 7 track or worse which will make this no easier as all nine runners have run well on a soft track or worse with Gailo Chop and Ventura Storm winning over 60% of their soft trac...

The signature race in Sydney has always been the Golden Slipper - big stakes, quick return on investment and a heavy focus on breeding. That might have changed a little with the creation of the Championships and the Everest at Randwick, but this gem of a race in western Sydney, the world's richest juvenile race, is always a sensational contest. I put the call for some new blood on the blog for Sydney racing, and taking up the challenge is aspiring NSW form student, Matt Baird. I expect you will enjoy his debut effort and you can follow him at @mattyb1819 . Welcome aboard Matt! ================================== Longines Golden Slipper Group 1, 2yo, 1200m, AU$3,500,000 Rosehill, Saturday March 24 1510 local, 0410 GMT What a super edition of Sydney’s premier race for two-year olds, the Longines Golden Slipper! Described by the Slipper Queen herself, Gai Waterhouse, as a “sexy race” earlier in the week, I can’t help but agree. As the thoroughbred industry places ...

The other big autumn feature at Flemington today is the Australian Cup, featuring just about every decent 2000m horse not called Winx! There's also the curious addition of a former Japanese galloper who has beaten the mighty Kitasan Black. It's all set for a tremendous contest. Taking the reins once again is Darryl Frenc, @winningpunter1. Read more of his work at winningpunter.org ------------------------------------ TAB Australian Cup AU$1.5m, Group 1, WFA, 2000m Saturday 1635 local, 0535 GMT Speed Map It’s likely that we will see a very fast run Australian Cup. Supply And Demand heads down to Flemington after having best early figures at Rosehill. Gailo Chop had best early figures last start and will go straight to the lead. Behind them will be Single Gaze again as well as at least one of the Williams horses, most likely Homesman.     My Market The Runners Hartnell - We backed him first up in the C.F Orr but I couldn’t go near ...

The Newmarket Handicap is the premier handicap sprint on the Australian thoroughbred calendar and it has thrown up a tantalising contest. Multiple Group 1 winners, a couple of flying fillies carrying featherweights and some pretty handy handicappers in the middle. A fascinating race, and just one of the highlights on a great Super Saturday card. Looking for three wins in a row is Darryl Frenc,  @winningpunter1 .  You can find more of his work at  winningpunter.org .  ---------------------------------------------------- Lexus Newmarket Handicap AU$1.25m, Group 1, 1200m Flemington, Saturday 1515 local, 0415 GMT Speed Map A lot of the time, races run down the straight tend to be run at a slower pace, this allows horses to travel within their comfort zone and sprint better. This is in my opinion why we see horses who seem to excel down the straight. It’s not that they love not running around the bend although I would say that plays a part but ...