In 2011 Chipping Norton Stakes Betting Melito is a clear favourite but she’s far from a certainty for today’s Group 1 race at Warwick Farm Racecourse.
She did manage to live up to the hype first up in the Apollo Stakes where she jumped as a similar priced $3.20 favourite on Luxbet but there are a few things working against her.
Melito will be looking to dispel history to win today's Chipping Norton Stakes
Added to this the mare has never been able to put together two wins in a row throughout her entire career.
She’s also never run at the Warwick Farm Track and will do so today from a wide barrier 13.
There’s also a bit of trivia against her with 2009 winner Tuesday Joy the only Mare to win the race in the past 25 years.
However trainer Gerald Ryan is far from concerned saying she’s probably in the best form of her career.
“It’s not easy to say she is better than ever because last autumn she was fantastic,” Ryan said.
“But she is certainly bigger now and has to be better to take on and beat the boys at weight-for-age.”
He’s also not concerned by the extra 200m in the Chipping Norton Stakes saying she’s now shown enough at the shorter distances.
“She was strong at the end of 1400m first-up and she has definitely improved with that run,” Ryan said.
However the barrier is something he can’t look past and he’s conceded he’ll be left with little choice other than to ride her up front.
“Our hand has probably been forced by the barrier,” he added.
A win by Melito in the 2011 Chipping Norton Stakes could be bitter sweet for Australian race fans with tentative plans already made for a potential overseas campaign.
“It’s still 50-50 about going to England,” Ryan said.
“There is plenty of prize money to be won here at home during the autumn and going to England won’t do anything for her broodmare value – it’s as high as it ever will be.”
Either way she will at least finish the Autumn season in Australia with the big prize set for the $2 million Doncaster Mile again over 1600m.
“She will go to either the Queen of the Turf Stakes or George Ryder Stakes prior to the Doncaster,” he said.
On the current Luxbet fixed price markets for the 2011 Chipping Norton Stakes you can still get the favourite Melito for $3.20.
If you register an account with Luxbet now you can also claim a free bet up to $400 just for joining!
If you invest that on Melito and she goes two in a row for the first time that’ll earn you a very healthy return of $1280!
So get onboard Melito and the 2011 Chipping Norton Stakes by joining Luxbet today!
Chipping Norton Stakes Betting 2011
| No. | Horse (Barrier) | Luxbet Odds | $400 Free Bet Win |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | THESEO (12) | 8.00 | $3,200 |
| 2 | DESCARADO (NZ) (11) | 26 | $10,400 |
| 3 | DANLEIGH (8) | 7.50 | $3,000 |
| 4 | ZAVITE (NZ) (1) | 101 | $40,400 |
| 5 | ILLUSTRIOUS BLUE (GB) (3) | 101 | $40,400 |
| 6 | CENTENNIAL PARK (NZ) (2) | 7.50 | $3,000 |
| 7 | MALUCKYDAY (NZ) (7) | 5.50 | $2,200 |
| 8 | VISION AND POWER (NZ) (4) | 81 | $32,400 |
| 9 | LUEN YAT FOREVER (5) | 12 | $4,800 |
| 10 | LORNE DANCER (10) | 51 | $20,400 |
| 11 | MELITO (13) | 3.00 | $1,200 |
| 12 | SACRED CHOICE (6) | 21 | $8,400 |
| 13 | ONCE WERE WILD (9) | 8.50 | $3,400 |
Note: Odds are subject to change and correct at time of publication. All prices are Fixed Win.
Photo courtesy (c) Steve Hart Photographics
