One of the more even races you will find all year. Luck in running will play a massive role in the result.
I’ll start with HAWAII FIVE OH, he has improved this prep. I thought he might have been a touch overrated but he’s shown class and the run in the Everest was full of merit after being wide against the best sprinters around. Draws to get the perfect run and deserves to be hard in the market.
KOVALICA is going as well as any of these but he was the loser when it come to the barriers. Draws poorly again so will have to go back or be caught wide. He ran the 3rd best L200m split of the entire meeting last start and on a day with so much quality that’s enormous. Will need luck but if he gets it, he can win.
The value in the race might be OSIPENKO $17. Has run in Group 1’s every start this prep and bumped into the likes of Fangirl, Gold Trip and Mr Brightside. Well beaten at the 2000m last prep but has had four weeks between runs with just a trial to tick over. Blinkers go on and he might be the forgotten horse.
Always a question on how they travel but this Japanese horse OBAMBURUMAI looks a good one to me. Lightly raced with a good record and they are always trained to the minute. The harder they go the better it should be and at $12 he goes in all my exotics etc.
*If I’m having a bet it would be something on OSIPENKO at big odds and a smaller play OBAMBURUMAI looking for value.
Gibbo’s Golden Eagle Selections:
7-OSIPENKO $17
12-OBAMBURUMAI $12
1-HAWAII FIVE OH
5-KOVALICA
