Australian Racing Preview for April 24

By Mitchell Lamb

The Sydney Autumn Carnival is over but there’s still some cracking racing from right around Australia on Friday night, with stakes racing from all four venues being covered on TwinSpires. I’ve picked out a few that I think we can build a weekend bank with!

ROSEHILL RACE 1 NO.3 ROUSSEAU (TOMMY BERRY)

Current Odds: 4-1

This well-bred colt, by 10-time Group 1 winner So You Think and from the family of one of Australia’s most successful sires of this century in Fastnet Rock, ran a fantastic race at his debut when second to one of his rivals here in Formentera. Not once during that race did he seem comfortable on what was a very wet surface, but, after being one of the first under pressure, he kept coming all the way to the line.

Goes up in trip to the 7 furlongs now, will get on to a much firmer track, and I see nothing but this colt continuing to improve – I think he should be the favorite, but it’s not looking like he will be, so I’ll be betting up if he’s anywhere near that current price.

ROSEHILL RACE 7 NO.4 UNFORGOTTEN (JOSH PARR)

Current Odds: 20-1

Former Australian Oaks (G1) winner who, for the most part, has been somewhat disappointing as an older mare.

But I’m prepared to give her one more chance here against what is the easiest field she’s come up against in some time. Forget her first up run in the Emancipation as she doesn’t go a yard in the wet. Before that she had trialed well and since then they have given her another trial where she was asked to do absolutely nothing.

Gets the good surface she needs here, she has a class edge on these and if she’s anywhere near her best, that 20-1 quote seems insane for a mare as good as her.

FLEMINGTON RACE 1 NO.6 AIN’TNODEELDUN (MARK ZAHRA)

Current Odds: 11-1

Think this youngster is going to be a smart three year old come next season, maybe even a Derby horse if he continues to improve.

He’s already looking for a mile in all honesty, but whilst he stays at the 7 furlongs here, he does get a few things in his favor – a big track, a likely firmer surface, and I think he’ll be outside horses in the run and get a chance to really wind up late. He didn’t get that last start, but I thought his last half-furlong was really good and he was very strong through the line.

If we can get double figures about him, he’s certainly worth a play despite the fact he wants more ground than this.

SUNSHINE COAST RACE 2 NO.11 BETTER GET SET (BORIS THORNTON)

Current Odds: 9-2

They have struck an average field of maidens here for this filly to chalk up her first victory, especially coming back to a firmer surface.

After an ok effort on debut back in November of last year, they spelled Better Get Set immediately to give her some time to mature. We then saw her in a barrier trial in late March, which she won, before she started favorite at this venue at her first run back this prep. She loomed up to win as they turned for home, but floundered in the very heavy conditions and got tired the last part of the race.

She’ll be better off fitness-wise now, she’ll appreciate getting on to a good track, and as I’d mentioned at the top, there isn’t much quality lining up against her in this – I expect her to be going very close now.