Sprint races to watch for in Australia

Many punters prefer the sprinters to the stayers because sprinters tend to race more often. Horses that race more often not only become familiar faces (so to speak) but also become easier factors to consider in future races. When punters have access to free betting, they tend to place their bets on sprinters. In Australia, the most famous sprinter to ever gallop was undoubtedly the undefeated Black Caviar, now in the broodmare barn.

Sprint races are also popular with the Australian racing industry. 2015 is an especially exciting one for sprint racing, as six nations host the ten races of the Global Sprint Challenge. The racing calendar features many Group One sprints, with these being the most prestigious for free bets from a book maker.

Black Caviar Lightning Stakes

Once just called the Lightning Stakes, it was renamed to honour (guess who?) Black Caviar herself. She won the race in 2012. Held at Flemington Racecourse usually in late February, this $500,000 (AUS) 1000 meter sprint hosts world-class sprinters. The 2015 edition was won by Lankan Rupee, a questionable runner for the rest of the year due to injuries sustained in the 2015 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington in March.

Newmarket Handicap

First run in 1874, this is another Group One sprinting event at 1200 meters also held at Flemington but with a purse of $1 (AUS). The handicap tends to be more interesting than stakes races because weights come into play during the final few strides. The handicapper's goal is to get all of the horses to hit the wire together, which can make for some wildly unpredictable results, such as the 2015 running where the heavy favorite, Lankan Rupee, ran sixth. Brazen Baeu won.

The BTC Cup

Run in May at Doomben Racecourse, this Grade One for three-year-olds and up is another sprint race where punters use their free bets from a book maker. There are often full starting gates for this race which makes the odds juicy. Last year's winner, Famous Seamous, is expected to try for a repeat win.

AJ Moir Stakes

First run in 1976, this sprint may not have the largest purse on the calendar, but it certainly is prestigious. It's also challenging to pick a winner. Seeing what horse winds up the favourite is nearly as exciting as the race itself! Run in late September at Moonee Valley Racecourse, this 1200 meter sprint was won by Black Caviar in 2010 and 2011. Last year's winner, Buffering, may not be able to run this year's running due to injury.

Darley Classic

Held in November at Flemington Racecourse, this prestigious 1200 meter sprint for three-year-olds and up is also part of the Global Sprint Challenge. This race, first held in 1868, was previously called the VRC Sprint Classic and then called the Patinak Farm Classic. Hopefully, it will still be called the Darley Classic come November. The purse is a mouthwatering $1 million (AUS.) This is a good race to use any free betting on as it is a weight-for-age instead of a handicap or one-weight-only race. Last year's winner, Terravista, may come back for a second win in 2015.

Australia on target for Juddmonte International

With the British Flat racing season well past the midway stage of 2014 the York Ebor Festival, featuring the top class Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes, is drawing nearer, this year promising to feature the outstanding three-year-old middle-distance colt Australia, trained by Aidan O’Brein, writes Elliot Slater.

The International is always one of the most eagerly anticipated races of the year, a clash between the best three-year-old’s and older horses in training, often attracting the cream of the crop from not only Britain and Ireland, but also from France, and occasionally from even further afield. If Australia does indeed take his chance in the 10 furlong contest he will be expected by most experts to start at odds-on on Betfair, despite the strength of the opposition that could include such as Mukhadram, Noble Mission, Trading Leather, and The Grey Gatsby.

Australia, a son of Galileo, proved himself a smart performer last term when landing two of his three races as a juvenile, including a Group 3 success at Leopardstown in September that made plenty of good judges sit up and take notice, marking him down as a potential Derby winner. The Ballydoyle-based colt did little wrong on his seasonal reappearance when running over an inadequate mile in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May, staying on strongly under pressure inside the final furlong under Joseph O’Brien to finish a close third behind the surprise winner Night of Thunder and the outstanding three-year-old miler of this season, Kingman.

His 2000 Guineas run unsurprisingly hinted at much better to come over a longer trip and Australia duly started a warm favourite for the Investec Derby at Epsom on June 7, never giving his backers a moment’s concern as he glided around Tattenham Corner before coasting into the lead a furlong from home, eventually going on to beat the gallant Kingston Hill with plenty in hand by a length-and-a-quarter,

His subsequent victory in the Irish Derby was little more than an exercise canter when Kingston Hill was a late withdrawal leaving O’Brien’s star to beat two inferior stable companions without turning a hair. It won’t be that easy at York, and with the likes of Eclipse Stakes winner Mukhadram, subsequently an excellent third in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot behind the brilliant Taghrooda, the much improved Noble Mission (a Group 1 winner this term), and the impressive French Derby winner, Kevin Ryan’s locally trained The Grey Gatsby amongst his potential rivals, any flaws in Australia’s ability to perform at the highest level over just 10 furlongs could well be exposed.

For his part, Aidan O’Brien appears to have few concerns on that score, pointing out that his charge had the pace to go very close over a mile in the 2000 Guineas and is one of the classiest thoroughbreds he has ever handled.

It all points to Australia in the Juddmonte International at York on August 20, a race that looks well worth waiting for.