The last of the black type autumn racing action in Sydney on Saturday is the Hall Mark Stakes 2015, tips for the penultimate race at Randwick this weekend found below.
Our Boy Malachi is the super-consistent favourite and Races.com.au tip to win the 2015 Hall Mark Stakes on All Aged Stakes Day. Photo: Steve Hart.
Set to run as Randwick Race 7 at 4:25pm (AEST), this year’s $150,000 Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) features 13 sprinters with Ladbrokes.com.au tipping Our Boy Malachi as the one to beat.
Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes’ returning six-year-old boasts an ultra-consistent career record of 16 wins from 18 starts to date, his last start being back in December when posting his second black type win on the trot in the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m).
He flies fresh with five wins and a second from six previous first-up runs, a record he’s tipped to continue in the Hall Mark Stakes as the firming $2.50 favourite to win.
Barrier 11 of 13 is a wide draw for the distance but he’s proven himself every time he’s stepped out, and did it from a double digit gate two back in the Starlight Stakes at Rosehill for a two length win.
What can stop the favourite from winning his resuming run?
The latest Hall Mark Stakes betting markets feature three other single figure hopes with Craftiness ($5.50) winning at the barrier draw with gate three, Joe Pride’s Star Kingdom Stakes runner-up Target In Sight ($6.50) and Godolphin’s six-time winner Vashka ($9.50) first-up in barrier two.
1st
#10 Our Boy Malachi ($2.50)
Favourite is far too good to go past for this, the 16-from-18 record enough on its own. Boasts the fitness edge here and races like a gun first-up (6-5-1-0) so expect another big resuming run this weekend even from the wide draw. Has done it without a worry from barrier 11 before, and his last start (and win) was at Randwick so the track is a non-issue. Undefeated in three runs over the distance so it’s a pet for him and a Soft track is also no drama as he’s won both starts on the going before. Is a mature six-year-old with plenty of racing and winning still in him who hasn’t disappointed yet.
2nd
#8 Target In Sight ($6.50)
Still a decent price for an all-but-guaranteed place chance who, like the favourite, is drawn wide (12) so will be going forward in this. Third-up on the back of two tidy runs after winning the Group 3 Maurice McCarten on March 14 and then finishing second in the Star Kingdom. Well and truly winding up now and the return to Randwick will suit as he’s won three from five here previously. Also boasts two wins and a second from three runs over the track and distance, and we’re sticking with this type of consistency.
3rd
#1 Rock Sturdy ($19)
For value in the trifecta the Joe Pride-trained Fastnet Rock four-year-old Rock Sturdy ticks plenty of boxes. Randwick record (4-1-1-1) is good and from three runs at the distance he has twice finished second. Heavy tracks also suit this mudlark (4-1-1-1) so expect the price to firm if the rain hits. He returns to racing here and in his two previous first-up runs has run second both times. Last start was way back in September when winning the Group 2 Shannon Stakes (1500m) and pretty good trials since suggesting the shine is still there.
Don’t settle for second best odds to finish up your autumn carnival betting this weekend.
Get the right price on every horse in every race every day online at Ladbrokes.com.au where this Saturday you’ll get paid Best Tote or SP + 20% on the two Group 1s at Randwick!
*All odds quoted are Fixed Win from Ladbrokes.com.au and subject to change
