3 minute read
“Winners go on winning and losers go on losing” is one of the great punting maxims and it comes to the fore when looking at today’s Con & Rose O’Brien Benchmark 65 Handicap (1500m) at Muswellbrook.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The small field of seven boasts just one with recent winning form, Akamas, who has won three of his last four, the latest couple coming with plenty to spare.
Today’s rivals are ten, nine, eight, seven, three and sixteen starts between wins respectively, three of them coming off last start “duck-eggs”.
Another positive that jumps off the page for Akamas is that not only is he a winner he has been beating winners.
Two winners and three placegetters came through his Tamworth maiden win before he was without luck finishing third at Narromine in a race that produced four subsequent winners (himself included) and five placegetters.
The form around his latest couple of wins has been sound as well, the latest, at Dubbo, showing Akamas at his best so far with a neat turn of foot putting his rivals away with ease, the 3.5 length margin flattering to those in behind.
The lone three-year-old in today’s field he holds an advantage not only in recent form but also in upside with plenty more to come from him than can be expected from the other six.
One who is not so readily dismissed is Oh Lonesome Me who was sound at his first run for this stable last time and is open to improvement on that today, second up.
He is only three runs between wins and David Vandyke is always one to keep on side.
Vandyke has terrific stats across the board, in particular with horses from other stables with which he has a 25% strike-rate and returns a profit on turnover of 8.4%
It will be no surprise to see him improve Oh Lonesome Me and win races with him.
Punters could do worse today than play him in quinella’s and exacta’s along with Akamas, the winner who can keep on winning.