THE ROLLING SCORE: 25 runners, 10 winners, 7 seconds, 6 thirds

Crazy Craig’s Lay of the Day: 4 runners, 1 success, 3 others that ended up winning

I am counting Loving Gaby as part of the backing guide.. even if it was a pisstake.

Well it’s fair to say my last three weeks with the Guide has gone as well as Richmond since the 3rd quarter of Round 1 (Although Jack Riewoldt has a wrist injury, so I’ve now edged ahead), and coming off the bench to provide some inspiration is the Wizard of Odds, Kenny Callander!

This weekend is the final weekend of the Rosehill Carnival, with the Tancred Stakes the feature (Formerly known as The BMW and The Mercedes Benz Classic) and the Vinery Stud Stakes, featuring an Oaks-quality field, down below at Bendigo, we have to care about Bendigo and the Golden Mile, and over in the West, it’s the WA Oaks, and yes, William Pike has a ride.

Oh, and I can’t forget the ‘heroic’ Aussies going over to race on Dubai World Cup night in the Al Quoz Sprint; Kris Lees’ Brave Smash (Hugh Bowman), Peter Gelagotis’ Illustrious Lad (Anthony ‘Dar Man’ Darmanin), and Lloyd Kennewell’s mare, the Pride of South Australia, Viddora (Joe Bowditch).

AND, former Bunbury trainer Simon Foster, now based in Korea, has a runner in the Dubai World Cup in the form of Dolking– But he’ll probably lose to Sheikh Mohammed’s several dozen runners.

Okay, enough of this silly business, we need to find short priced winners!

No.1 Madison County in Race 7 at Rosehill- 2000m Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (1:50pm AEDT)

Trainer: Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman, Hoop: Tommy Berry

Tulloch was bred in New Zealand, Bridges of Madison County was a 1996 film that almost baited Meryl Streep into an Academy Award, so what do these two have in common?

Nothing at all really, but Madison County is a horse from New Zealand trained by the dominant Murray Baker-Andrew Forsman duo, and has won multiple Group 1s across the ditch, and headlines the Kiwi invaders to Sydney this Autumn.

After he closed off well behind the Autumn Sun in the Randwick Guineas, MC was a late scratching from the Rosehill Guineas last week after suffering a “Hip abrasion” in the float, but this week he gets a second crack without any boom colts to deal with.

Tommy Berry aboard, M.Baker the Kiwi master, a possible soft/heavy track- It all lines up for an unlucky 2nd.

No. 9 Tonsor in Race 5 at Doomben – 1350m Open Handicap

Trainer: Matthew Smith, Hoop: Robbie Fradd

This is how brave I am, betting in Queensland!

The lightly raced Tonsor (7 starts, 4 wins, 2 seconds and a third) has won his last two starts, most recently in the bog at Warwick Farm (As favourite), and under the lights at Canterbury on the 22nd of Feb to round out the night season.

Has Barrier 1, the ever volatile ‘Fraddster’ Robbie Fradd has the ride, drops 6kg down from 60 to 54, and an epic battle against Courtza King and Tawfiq Boy awaits…. which means some 50/1 shot is going to come flying home and beat them all.

On another note, he is by Redoute’s Choice, who passed away aged 22 on Tuesday, so it would be nice to see a son of Redoute’s get it done for senitmental reasons.

No.3 Verry Elleegant in Race 6 at Rosehill- G1 2000m Vinery Stud Stakes (3:50pm AEDT)

Trainer: Chris Waller, Hoop: James McDonald

The first leg of the Group 1 double-header, this one for the fillies, and I can’t look away from the Waller-McDonald combination, especially after VE’s win in the Phar Lap a fortnight ago, where she took her rivals behind the woodshed in the straight on a Heavy 10, and won careering away to the tune of 3.5 lengths.

She does have a temperament to over-race, so the major gear change for the step-up from 1500 to 2000 is the nose roll off, and ear muffs on.

It’s also worth noting her stats on wet tracks are nothing short of outstanding; 5 starts, for 4 wins and 1 second. Nice, Garry.

Her major rivals in the race are the progressive Nakeeta Jane, who is a Group 1 winner that hasn’t raced beyond the mile, and Pohutukawa, who won the fabled Kembla Grange Classic.

I shall be investing what few sheckles I have left on the Kiwi expats!

No. 1 Avilius in Race 7 at Rosehill- G1 2400m Tancred Stakes (4:30pm AEDT)

Trainer: James Cummings, Hoop: James McDonald

If Kenny had been around for the backing guide last weekend, Avilius may have been given a reprieve as he finally got a well-earned Group 1 victory in the Ranvet, following the disappointment of the Australian Cup- Ulcer in the eye, whip in the eye, who knows?

On the quick turnaround, only real threats being the Lees pair and Red Cardinal and Big Duke, odds of $1.60- I’d tip him alright, but they’re rock bottom odds, so support him at the peril that inevitably awaits with me tipping him.

Only major change is Kerrin McEvoy hopping off, and JMac hopping on.

🤪🤪Crazy Craig’s Lay of the Day🤪🤪

Where Crazy Craig tries to lay a horse, but they usually win… except Redzel.

Bendigo Race 2 (MR2) No.2 Secret Blaze- 2200m 3YO Handicap (12:50pm AEDT)

Trainer: Tony McEvoy, Hoop: Luke Currie

One of the two days of the year we’re forced to bet at Bendigo, and there’s one Anthony McEvoy runner I’ve got in my Craaaazy Cannon in the 3 Year Old Handicap!

Secret Blaze has been plugging around in Group 2 races, including the Alister Clark at Death Valley, the Autumn Classic and the Autumn Stakes at Caulfield, and back in on Derby Day he ran a good 3rd in the Carbine Club at Flemington- As a result, he hasn’t been helped by the weights, copping 59kg and giving at least 2.5kg to the entire field.

He’s had 14 starts for 1 win, 2 seconds and 2 thirds- He may be the best horse in the field, but those ain’t the stats of a winner, and at $3.60 at the time of writing, I’m putting on my Craaaazy hat and saying that it’s no secret that Secret Blaze is in my line of fire!

I’m Crazy Craig, and that’s why they call me… Craaaaaazy Craig! 🤪

IF YOU’VE JUST READ CRAZY CRAIG, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WIN MR MCEVOY