THE FORECAST: Villainous Times

THE FORECAST: VILLAINOUS TIMES

As excited as racing fans will be to see PRIDE OF JENNI and MR BRIGHTSIDE back on track in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday, I’m wondering if anyone else is secretly hoping for a villain to spoil the party.

Sure, we all love to watch great horses, but we all love a villain too. Darth Vader, Hannibal Lecter, Anton Chigurh, Dom Sheed, you hate them but you kind of love them at the same time. You know it’s wrong but a little bit of you wants them to win.

This one’s for you Pies fans.

Can ANTINO be that horse in the Memsie? He’s got the ability but is yet to land a Group 1. He’s been unlucky and often a good thing beaten on more than a few occasions, dialled up for a big fresh run with Jamie Kah in the seat, he might just be the cat amongst the pigeons. Or something like that.

Pies fans know what Merc means.

In Sydney we see the $40million colt STORM BOY back on deck for the San Domenico Stakes. $40million is a  lot of money and this colt needs to come out and make a statement as a three-year-old. I’d reckon the Coolmore lads would be just a tad touch nervous about this goliath gamble until he does, or maybe they know they’re eventually going to win.

A pretty smart stayer kicks off at Rosehill as well on Saturday LAND LEGEND became another fresh off the boat Euro success story when he won the St Leger in October, 1500m will be short of his best but this is a sneaky Cups chance in the making, likely via The Metropolitan.

On the topic of looking to the future, the AFL Finals start next week. I know one team that won’t be there.

BEST: Rosehill R7 No. 5 AUTUMN GLOW

BEST EACH-WAY: Caulfield R6 No. 6 WONDER BOY

BEST ROUGHIE: Rosehill R6 No. 7 TROPICUS