14/9/2001 edition

Horse Racing Betting Strategy

Gold Class - bad luck - short odds

This undefeated four year old gelding had won his three race starts in Brisbane in July and August by a combined total of nearly 12 lengths. So trainer Gerald Ryan brought him to Sydney and entered him in a restricted race, the last of the day at Rosehill last Saturday.

Witha huge boom on him Gold Class was backed from $3.00 to $2.50 in the 14 horse field, very short odds considering the quality and potential of some of the lightly raced opposition.

Things never went right for Gold Class right from the start, which he missed by two lengths. Rounding the home turn, Glen Boss, no doubt feeling the pressure to get the "good thing" up and also very confident, as he had ridden the winners of the three previous races, went for a run inside Win A Lode when there was insufficient room. Gold Class got checked.

Glen Boss then searched for a run on Gold Class, who was badly held up in the straight and was checked off the heels of Jet Shoes at the 200. Then at the 100 Gold Class struck the heels of Jet Shoes.

The run of Gold Class should of course be forgiven. However it highlights the dangers in taking short odds about horses in big fields.

We had a decent sized bet on Clay Shaker, who also had top form coming into the race. Clay Shaker won at the nice odds of $8.00.

Jim Cassidy - make money following this outstanding jockey

When Jim Cassidy is put on a horse resuming from a spell it pays to sit up and take notice. He has no shortage of rides. That means he is not out there riding a horse resuming from a spell just to collect the rider's fee like some of the battling jockeys.

In the same race at Rosehill as Gold Class and Clay Shaker there was a lightly raced five year old horse, Magic Feather. In May last year the horse won at the track and the distance by over two lengths. Magic Feather was resuming from an enforced break of nearly 15 months.

Magic Feather, with good form prior to his lengthy break, had run second in a barrier trial at Rosehill on August 21. Jim Cassidy also took the ride. That should have set the alarm bells ringing. Magic Feather started at $31.00 and finished third.

He added huge value to the trifecta we got which paid $670 on the New South Wales tote for our $40 outlay.

Next pages
Future winners at big odds
Spring horses to follow
Trifectas - another winning betting strategy

Top Odds Are Important

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