2016 Geelong Cup Day Preview & Betting Tips

Big day of midweek racing on Wednesday with the highlight of the day set to be the Group 3 2016 Geelong Cup, which features a number of horses trying to gain entry into the Melbourne Cup.

The 9 race card also contains the Geelong Classic and Rosemont Stud Stakes, while Warwick Farm in Sydney hosts 7 races.

We have horse racing betting tips for every race at both tracks, with a full preview of the Geelong Cup!

Geelong Cup Day Racing Tips

Race 1 - Ruthven
Race 2 - Lips Areios
Race 3 - Movie
Race 4 - Polar Vortex
Race 5 - Demonstrate
Race 6 - Theanswermyfriend
Race 7 - Oceanographer (full preview below)
Race 8 - Painted Firetail
Race 9 - Miles Of Krishan / Black Vanquish EW

Best Bet: Race 5 - Demonstrate

Looks a race in 3 between Demonstrate, Lucky Liberty and Lord Von Costa. Demonstrate finished runner up to Hellbent two starts ago and Hellbent was the red hot favourite for the Gr2 Sprint at Caulfield on the weekend before being scratched. He followed that up with a convincing win last start, and the 3rd horse out of that race has since come out and won. Soft track a bonus here and looks hard to beat.

Best Value Bet: Race 9 - Black Vanquish

This horse had a throat operation during its spell and resumed with a fair effort at Caulfield before being ridden against its usual pattern last start and running poorly. With Gauci aboard today it should lead and could bounce back at a good price of $16. Tough race though. 

2016 Geelong Cup 2400m - Group 3

Interesting edition of the Geelong Cup with four of the nine runners having their first start in Australia. This race generally plays a big part in earning a spot in the Melbourne Cup for horses currently balloted out, and the method has proven successful over the years.

Hard to know what the pace will be like with nearly half the field being made up of internationals, but I'd assume Lucques and Black Tomahawk will go forward, with the latter wearing blinkers for the first time. 

GREY LION is the first of the four internationals engaged, now under the care of Matt Cumani, and comes up the early favourite at $3.60. He has four wins from 11 starts, which includes a win over 2500m in France. He's been poor at his last two starts, but may appreciate the rain that's predicted to come. Might roll forward from barrier 9, but I don't think he should be favourite and I'm happy to take him on here.

Chris Waller's only runner in the race is his English import KINEMA, who draws barrier 1. He has quite strong form around this distance range, which includes a strong performance behind Wadi Al Hattawi at Newmarket last year and more recently a win in a good race at Ascot carrying 59kg. His past two runs have also been average but they were in particularly strong races. The soft track today will really suit this horse and you have to think Waller accepting and then scratching Who Shot TheBarman was done purely to ensure this horse got 54kg. Not great first up statistics but he's only been off the track for 60 days so expecting a good performance today.

Godolphin have two horses entered today in the form of QEWY and OCEANOGRAPHER and there's good reason to expect a strong showing from both after Scottish's admirable runner up finish in the Caulfield Cup.

QEWY has mixed his racing between flat and jumps races in the UK but comes into this after two good performances on the flat over 4000m and 2800m, finishing 2nd at both. He won't know himself with only 54kg on his back, and he's another that is favoured by the Soft track. The slight query is whether his best is over longer than the 2400m here, but Godolphin expect him to finish top 3 and I think he's in with a good chance here.

OCEANOGRAPHER is the best of the imports, in my opinion, and my top selection for the race today. He's the least exposed with just 9 starts to his name (3 wins) and he's won up to 2200m previously. Two starts ago he won well with a big weight before finishing 7th in the Ebor Hcp at York, which is one of the best staying races in the UK. My query is his suitability to wet tracks but apart from that he profiles well for the race and I expect him to go very close.

The locals look to be best represented by LUCQUES and BLACK TOMAHAWK. Lucques beat Black Tomahawk two starts ago at Flemington over 2500m at the same weights as they carry today. The soft track suits Black Tomahawk better, and Darren Weir's horse also wears blinkers for the first time so could be in with a place chance.

Sticking with Oceanographer, but expecting big runs from both Qewy and Kinema, while Black Tomahawk can finish best of the Aussies.

1st OCEANOGRAPHER
2nd QEWY
3rd KINEMA
4th BLACK TOMAHAWK 

Warwick Farm Racing Tips

Race 1 - Granadilla EW
Race 2 - Chaussure
Race 3 - Karaka Lass
Race 4 - Infra Dig
Race 5 - Cab Fair
Race 6 - Katswiri / Vain Elaine EW
Race 7 - Cottage

Best Bet: Race 2 - Chaussure

Ran 2nd by a nose on debut over 1300m at Kembla and was sent straight for a spell. Resumes today and has had three trials leading into this. Step up in distance suits and the booking of Tommy Berry looks significant. Biggest danger looks to be Silent Warrior.

Best Value: Race 6 - Vain Elaine

Won quite impressively at Nowra first up and although that was only a Class 1 it was a smart win. Draws well and step up to 1600m suits. Could be a sneaky chance at double figure odds.