WE opened up last week with two collects from four bets, for a return of $79.
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The $20 best bet on Commanding Jewel saluted at $2.60 and Chivalry and Puissance De Lune both finished in the placings to get the place parlay home and return $27 for our $10 stake (El Roca was scratched from third leg).
The Park Hotel in Alfredton has again put up the $50 to bet with this week, with all our winnings to go to charity.
SAMAREADY is one of those horses that I've just never been able to catch at the right time.
She wins brilliantly and I'm not on. I load up and she flops.
There's no doubting the horse's class - she has won six of 12 starts - but she has just not put it all together when my cash is on.
However, I'm prepared to forgive all if she can get home this afternoon.
I keep coming back to that brilliant four-length thumping of a star-studded field in the group 1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley last preparation as a reference point to her ability.
Craig Newitt has ridden the horse throughout her career and famously picked her over boom sprinter Lankan Rupee in last year's group 1 Newmarket Handicap. That proved a poor decision as Samaready's stablemate powered to victory in the $1million feature.
Newitt has been replaced by champion Damien Oliver for today's first-up assignment at Caulfield, so let's hope this can be the beginning of a successful partnership. Otherwise, I'm bringing out the black texta and ruling a line through her forever.
BEST BET
Samaready (Caulfield, Saturday, R8 #1)
If she is anywhere near wound-up for this, she should be too good.
Loves Caulfield (won three of four), has won twice first-up and was scintillating in a four-length demolition job on Buffering and co last preparation.
I'm keen she can bounce back from a disappointing end to her last campaign.
BEST EACH-WAY
Kaizaen (Caulfield, Saturday, R2 #3) @ $6.50/$2.37
Was heavily backed and won on protest last time out at Caulfield.
In that race, she was pushed off the track and cracked over the head by a rival jockey's whip, but still only went down in a bob on the line. She was then granted the result by the stewards.
Should be coming into peak fitness after that second-up outing and fancy she can run well again today at each-way odds.
BET MULTI
Iconic-Trust In A Gust-Hawthorn @ $9.78
Iconic was a winner at listed level at Moonee Valley last start so I'm confident he measures up to this race in Adelaide. Trust In A Gust was enormous two weeks ago at Moonee Valley, and if he hasn't been gutted by that tough run, he should be too good at Caulfield this afternoon. All going well, we then just need the Hawks to knock over Port Adelaide later tonight.
SOMETHING DIFFERENT
Josh Kennedy - Brownlow Medal @ $11
With the Brownlow Medal count on Monday night, it'd be rude if we didn't have a bet there.
Sydney onballer Josh Kennedy has had another outstanding season and I reckon he's in with a good hope, despite missing the last two home and away rounds.
THIS WEEK'S BETS FOR CHARITY
$20 - Samaready (Caulfield, Saturday, R8 #1) @ $4
$5 each-way - Kaizaen (Caulfield, Saturday, R2 #3) @ $6.50/$2.37
$10 - Iconic (Morphettville, Saturday, R7 #6)-Trust In A Gust (Caulfield, Saturday, R9 #5)-Hawthorn (v Port Adelaide, Saturday) @ $9.78
$10 - Josh Kennedy to win Brownlow Medal (Monday) @ $11