We've been blessed in Sydney with good tracks for the most part of the Winter, so how fitting is it that the first Group 1 of the season comes around and we're currently looking at a heavy surface.
Plenty of resuming horses and big fields in the feature events which makes things tricky but also presents plenty of betting opportunities and I think one of them does come up in the feature.
Hinged and Fangirl have been bundled together their whole careers, both now five-year-old mares with Waller who have met a remarkable nine times. The general consensus is that Fangirl is a superior horse, yet their h2h record reads just 5-4 in favour of Fangirl.
Fangirl does have the higher career peaks and was very consistent last time in without winning, bumping into Anamoe a few times. The first up run in the Autumn equivalent however saw Fangirl run third to Anamoe with Hinged holding second.
She's clearly at her best when put on speed which seems assured him from the ideal barrier and the wetter track only favours her more. I'm surprised she's longer in the market than a few of these and think she's more a 9-1 chance than a $15 chance.
We'll make Hinged the best of the day with the option to play both ways and look for even bigger odds for the each-way play, landing on August Bloom in a very interesting Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m).
I don't think there's much between most of these fillies- most have raced each other directly or have obvious form lines and very similar ratings but August Bloom profiles as an improver without the price to match, with bet365 leading the market at $34, with $8.50 available for the place.
Her last start rating is one of the highest peak ratings in this field, running to 103+ when running on strongly for third to Steel City in the Group 3 Magic Night Stakes (1200m).
Obviously her racing pattern is her issue again but the pace looks assured with five Waterhouse & Bott speed types and she might be one that can pick up the pieces late.
bet365 SYDNEY SPECIALS
Bet of the day: Race 8 #16 Hinged @ $15 with bet365*
Each-way play: Race 9 #13 August Bloom @ $34/8.5 with bet365*
*Odds correct at 11:30am, 17/8/23