Pinwheel lasted the 1400m the best of them and had no trouble dealing with the heavy track or the relatively quick early pace.

Maluckyday was a late scratching in the event meaning we’ll have to wait a little bit longer to see the resumption of last year’s Melbourne Cup runner up.

From the outset there was a bit of speed out in front with Startsmeup moving to the lead and setting the speed with Trusting not far away.

They ran away from the inside rails to avoid the chopped up ground and as they made the turn they fanned out quite wide across the track.

Startsmeup continued to push from in front down the straight but it wasn’t long until both Pinwheel and Ilovethiscity loomed up on the outside.

Pinwheel went to Startsmeup quickly and claimed the lead and left Ilovethiscity behind the process.

With 200m to go the race was as good as over as Pinwheel surged to the line leaving Ilovethiscity to just edge out the gallant Startsmeup for second spot.

Black Piranha ran on well late for fourth and there was also a promising performance from Hawk Island in sixth.

He was never going to figure in the placing  for this event but it does hold him in a good position for the longer events later in the spring.

The Warwick Stakes though belonged to Pinwheel in 2011 with Peter Snowden claiming an early Group 2 in the new season.

Kerrin McEvoy was the winning rider and he made no mistakes settling the horse in the perfect spot early and then opening him up with 400m to go.

Pinwheel was the favourite for the race at Luxbet with Ilovethiscity also well backed into second place.

Startsmeup was signalled as a good roughie earlier in the week and he franked that with his third placing, he was also a late market mover into around $17.

If you missed out on the 2011 Warwick Stakes then don’t worry, there’s a few to follow moving through the rest of the carnival and you’re sure to have another big opportunity with Luxbet in the next couple of weeks.

Bookmakers are reporting a mountain of money flowing through at the early fixed price odds with punters looking to score a bargain at odds well over valued.

The main reason bookies have been caught off guard is that the weather conditions around Sydney did not improve as expected.

That’s all but guaranteed a heavy track tomorrow at Warwick Farm and thrown apart the markets from where they first opened.

The main beneficiary of the money has been the sole mare in the race Sacred Choice.

She’s proven herself across the heavy stuff and she’s done it at the top level as recently as this year when she won the Doncaster across bottomless turf at Randwick.

She’s also one of probably only half the field which are suited to the 1400m and she has a 2kg advantage off most of the others.

She does have an awkward barrier in gate 10 but punters seem to have overlooked that in a case of limiting the unknowns.

She definitely has the class, she definitely has the trip and she can definitely handle the track, the only real query being how fit is she first up for the spring?

It is a big question sure, but when you compare that to some of the queries about the other horses she almost looks like a sure thing.

Some punters believe that and her fixed price quote on Luxbet has been crunched from eight dollars right into $6.00.

The more the rain falls the more that’s likely to continue as well with no other genuine wet track specialist in the field.

That is with the exception of Hawk Island but he has one of the biggest unknowns in the race.

Not only is he unsuited to the distance, he’s also first up after a nasty fall which occurred in the Sydney Cup.

That’s reflected by his quote and you’d be a game man to pick up the $51 being offered right now at Luxbet.

Let’s look through the field then and see just which horses are in the best shape for the 2011 Warwick Stakes and see how they stack up on class, distance, track conditions and fitness.

2011 Warwick Stakes Form Guide

Black Piranha: $12 at Luxbet

He’s probably the distance specialist of this race and his class in undoubted with two Stradbroke Handicap titles. He’s capable on heavy ground as well but there must be a query on how much the old boy still has in the tank.

Centennial Park: $11 at Luxbet

Fitness is his strong point as he’s well into his prep and he’s also started 17 races at this distance. The question for him is in terms of class and the heavy track probably won’t assist him.

Hawk Island: $51 at Luxbet

As has been said he’s a classy horse but that’s at a bigger trip. He’ll cover the ground no problems but it’s a wait and see game after that fall.

Maluckyday: $17 at Luxbet

You don’t need to be an expert to know the 1400m is the query and also that he’ll be underdone first up. Class is well and truly on his side and he’s never started on a heavy surface.

Pinwheel: $4.80

He’s the market favourite because he’s fit and in form and he can run the trip. He’s got a bit of class about him too and can handle the wet, that’s why he’s your favourite.

Gathering: $13 at Luxbet

Another which could thrive on the heavy and is far from a mug over the 1400m. If he gets in front he could be hard to run down providing he’s fit enough first up.

Triple Elegance: $6.50 at Luxbet

A gun at the trip and as classy as any, but just how fit is he in his first up run? Has won a  race over the heavy and is in this contest up to his ears.

Trusting: $19 at Luxbet

Last win was over 1400m but that was in August of 2009. Really needs to score a win this prep to prove his class as a stallion, never started on heavy ground.

Ironstein: $101 at Luxbet

He’s your roughie of the field because he needs longer than this trip. While he might handle the wet the distance rules him out regardless.

Ilovethiscity: $4.60 at Luxbet

Comes into equal favourite after being passed fit by the vets but will need to overcome the wet surface which may be against him. Has the class to win and will run the trip but heavy the query.

Shootoff: $21 at Luxbet

Really good horse but has never won over 1400m and that might be the killer. Ok in the heavy but not ideal, should ahve a bit of residual fitness after short spell though.

Startsmeup: $26 at Luxbet

Could well be the best positioned in terms of his fitness coming into this third up and the 1400m is perfect. Heavy a question and so to the gate, player at big odds.

Sacred Choice: $6.00 at Luxbet

Ticks all the boxes except the unknown, how well will she go first up? Punters are backing her in on faith and time will tell how right they are.

Run under weight-for age-conditions, the 2011 Warwick Stakes will take place as Race 6 at 3.40pm (AEST).

13 horses have been nominated for the 2011 Warwick Stakes that will be worth $175,000 in prize money and will be run over 1,400 metres.

Included in the Warwick Stakes 2011 final field is Grahame Begg’s Ilovethiscity, who is due to resume in the race after a four month winter spell.

However, Ilovethiscity’s run is in jeopardy after he pulled a shoe and stood on a nail during his routine trackwork yesterday morning.

“We’re monitoring the situation,” Begg said.

“With those sort of things you just never know, they can flare up or they can settle down pretty quickly.

“It can go either way but rest assured we won’t be taking any chances.”

The trainer is hopeful he can run Ilovethiscity in the 2011 Warwick Stakes as there are no other races that suit the horse until the 2011 Sebring Stakes (previously known as the Theo Main Stakes) on September 3.

“There’s really no suitable race for three weeks,” Begg said.

“The situation is if he doesn’t run on Saturday he’ll run in three weeks in the Theo Marks and then we might have to look at Melbourne and the Rupert Clarke.

“If he runs Saturday he will still have three weeks into the Theo Marks then back up in the George Main.

“He’s ready to go.”

Racing NSW stewards advised today that Ilovethiscity was making good progress and had successfully completed his trackwork at Kensington this morning.

“Mr Begg advised that Ilovethiscity had worked again this morning on the Kensington track,” said a statement made by stewards.

“As a precaution, Racing NSW official veterinarian, Dr Craig Suann, will examine Ilovethiscity tomorrow afternoon to determine his fitness to compete in Saturday’s Warwick Stakes.”

Ilovethiscity has been allocated barrier eight in the 2011 Warwick Stakes and will be ridden by jockey Brenton Avdulla.

Also included in the 2011 Warwick Stakes final field is Chris Waller’s  Hawk Island, Gerald Ryan’s Ironstein, Graeme Rogerson’s Shootoff, Joseph Pride’s Sacred Choice and Michael, Wayne & John Hawke’s Maluckyday.

Make sure you open an account with our favourite online bookmaker Luxbet today in order to receive the best odds on all of the best races around Australia.

Did you know that Luxbet are owned by TABCORP? So you can receive the “Best of the Best” horse racing odds while still betting in an environment you know is safe and secure.

Also, sign up with Luxbet today and you will receive a bonus bet worth up to $400 when you enter the exclusive promo code BONUSBET.

So sign up today and start winning!

2011 Warwick Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw

It shapes as potentially the best race of the new season with 20 horses still in the running for the final 18 barrier positions.

Looking through the field is like looking through a who’s who of the autumn season and  you can all but guarantee this race will be producing at least one spring carnival Group 1 champion, potentially three or four.

It will be such an enthralling contest with plenty of the field first up for their prep meaning the work of the trainers is a major consideration  and will have a direct impact on the outcome.

Also to take into account is the fact that many of these horses probably aren’t suited to the 1400m.

A heap of them will be looking to stretch out to a longer trip as the carnival goes on with the Melbourne Cup a very real possibility for at least five of them.

So many of these horses are already proven at the top level and many more of them have showed a mountain of promise previously.

Looking through the list there’s not enough time to go through them all individually but these are some of the key players in the 2011 Warwick stakes field.

All Silent, the grand old sprinter is back for yet another campaign and has a real shot at a Warwick stakes win. He’s one of the few 1400m specialists in the field and that alone could be enough to see him back on the winning podium.

Black Piranha is another with this upside, he run well without winning in Brisbane and was unlucky with an unsuitable race in the Stradbroke Handicap.

He has the conditions to suit and the ability to back it up.

Hawk Island will need longer than this to find his best but it’s such an important race first up after a race fall in the Sydney Cup.

He was in tremendous form before that incident and needs a strong showing here to justify a Cup’s bound spring.

Maluckyday was second in last year’s Melbourne Cup but didn’t fire a shot in a short autumn return.

Connections are hoping he’s back to himself for the spring and although he doesn’t need to win this race he does need a better showing.

Triple Elegance can win this and will be one of the favourites on the day. The distance is suited and the ability is there, plenty are tipping big things from this horse over the next few months.

Shootoff is the Queensland Derby champion and comes here with some hefty expectations. He’s picked it with the big guns at Group 1 level before in open grade, he’s in this one up to his ears.

Sacred Choice won the Doncaster in the autumn so the Warwick Stakes is well within her grasp.

A bit of rain around Sydney only sures up the confidence punters have in this mare.

These are just a handful of the notables in the 2011 Warwick stakes nominations so for a full list see our table below.

Also remember to hit up Luxbet later in the week where they will have a full list of odds for the 2011 Warwick stakes field.

It will be interesting to see where the money goes in such a fascinating race so be sure to stay on the ball with an account with Luxbet where the bookmaker odds are better!

2011 Warwick Stakes Nominations & Weight

On the back of an encouraging campaign earlier in the year the gelding is tipped for big things over the spring and a Warwick stakes win would be the ideal start.

He’ll leave his Gold Coast base on Wednesday night arriving in Sydney with enough time to settle in before Saturday’s event.

Hll’s son in-law Paul Hammersley will pick up the ride in what’s shaping as a cracking 1400m weight for age contest.

The trainer has already gone on record as saying he believes Startsmeup is capable of delivering him a maiden Group 1 win.

His abilities were really driven home when he finished his winter campaign a month ago with a devastating victory over 1350m at Doomben.

His four year old spring season at this stage will be confined to the Sydney spring carnival however Hill hasn’t ruled out extending it to Melbourne as well for the Group 1 Toorak Handicap over 1600m at Flemington.

“I’m not sure how many runs he’ll have in Sydney and I’ll wait and see how he goes in the Warwick Stakes first,” Hill said.

“If he happened to win then we’d have to look at the Epsom Handicap with him.”

Hill is very keen to get him into that Group 1 contest on October 1st which is why this weekend’s Warwick stakes is so important.

On the heels of Startsmeup will be his other spring hopeful Warrior Within which heads down a week later.

He is the Grafton Cup champion and recently ran second to Fantastic Blue over 2200m at Doomben in the first week of August.

He’ll get his chance at redemption though, both horses likely to meet again in the Group 3 Newcastle Cup midway through September.

Before that he may also have a crack at the Grafton Cup on a regional cups program expected to stretch all the way into Victoria.

“I gave Warrior Within an easy week after his last run as he’s had a few tough runs,” Hill said.

“He’ll probably go to Sydney next week and he could run in the Wyong Cup before the Newcastle Cup.”

In terms of top flight success though that will be left to Startsmeup who is already no stranger to black type events in the southern states.

He narrowly missed out on an unexpected Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes win in the autumn when Bullbars just held on across 1400m at Flemington.

He got his first taste of Group 1 action in the Australian guineas and although only finishing 10th, it wasn’t a bad run six lengths off the impressive Shamrocker

Hill maintains his horse looks even better as a four year old and is expecting big things of his gelding across the next couple of months.

“He’s brilliant and has trained on well since his last win,” Hill said.

“His work is the best it’s been

The 2010 Warwick Stakes was undoubtedly the feature race of the Warwick Stakes Day, and saw 14 horses compete under weight for age conditions for a share in the $150,000 purse.

Tim Clark took to the winning saddle, and led Metal Bender to the win. It was a gallant finish from the five-year-old, which sent a warning to his potential rivals of the spring.

Triple Honour finished a short neck back in second, and was unlucky not to snatch the win with a superb last chance sprint down the straight. The pre race favourite Danleigh rounded off the Waller trifecta another three-quarters of a length back in third.

Metal Bender headed into the 2010 Warwick Stakes after a superb stint of winter racing in Brisbane, and now has a record of eight wins from 14 starts.

Next up for the multiple Group One winner will be the $150,000 Group Two Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) on September 4, before heading down to Melbourne and the bigger spring carnival features.

The ultimate goal for the Danasinga gelding is the 2010 Cox Plate on October 23, and the winner’s odds have shortened after the stunning victory.

Also taking place on Saturday was the colts and geldings feature – the Group Three Up And Coming Stakes (1200m) where Blackball claimed honours, and the fillies feature – the Group Three Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) where stablemate Parables finished first.

Remember if you would like to follow any of the spring carnival racing action make sure you are signed up to SportsBet! That way you will know you are getting the best odds and markets online with every single race to take to the tracks!

2010 Warwick Stakes Results

Headlining the action on the track will be the $175,000 Group Two Warwick Stakes (1400m) itself, which has drawn an impressive calibre of runners in its 14-horse field.

Eight of the starters are Group One winners, so if you can pick the victor then head to Sportsbet to discover where the best place is to bet online.

Metal Bender has drawn well with barrier four, and the 2010 Doomben Cup winner could certainly pose a threat to the rest of the field.

Trained by Chris Waller the Danasinga gelding has run two trials this month, so the 2010 Warwick Stakes marks his return to racing proper.

Waller also has sprinter Danleigh starting, and despite the wide barrier 11 start the 2010 Missile Stakes runner up is always a threat.

Sniper’s Bullet finished a spot behind Danleigh in the Missile Stakes, and with champion hoop Blake Shinn in the saddle could be a strong punt at SportsBet come raceday.

The lightly raced Brilliant Light will jump in the 2010 Warwick Stakes from barrier 14 on Saturday afternoon.

The race will make the gelding’s first jump in a weight-for-age event as he prepares for his target this spring – the Epsom Handicap (1600m).

Theseo will kick off his spring campaign this Saturday with Nash Rawiller taking the reins. The pair formed a strong partnership back in March when they powered home to win the $300,000 Group One Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) – but can they do it again?

If you are looking to place a punt on the races this weekend, there is nothing more exciting than the line up at the 2010 Warwick Stakes. Just head over to SportsBet to find the huge array of odds, including other races set to jump.

2010 Warwick Stakes Final Field

Twenty horses at least three-years-old have been nominated for the 2010 Warwick Stakes, and it is lining up to be a thriller.

Twenty horses at least three-years-old have been nominated for the 2010 Warwick Stakes, and it is lining up to be a thriller with big names returning to the track.

Sure to be hot in the odds with Sportsbet prior to the jump will be the return of Gai Waterhouse’s Theseo. The five-time Group One winner is a crowd favourite and looks set to return with Sydney’s top hoop Nash Rawiller if he has overcome his spate of pneumonia.

Rawiller has been out of racing for two weeks but returned to track work on Monday, looking to the 2010 Warwick Stakes as his return to serious action.

Waterhouse has a strong presence in the initial Warwick Stakes nominations, with the USA-bred Cannonball, Dealer Principal and Descarado all entered.

The 2010 Warwick Stakes has a solid field, making it hard for punters in these early stages, with the likes of Sniper’s Bullet another strong threat. The Tracey Bartley-trained gelding has won three Group One races accumulating a little under $2.5 million in prizemoney.

Rosehill-based trainer Chris Waller also has a strong contingent with the Missile Stakes runner up Danleigh a strong nomination for the 2010 Warwick Stakes.

Waller also has New Zealand duo Metal Bender and Triple Honour nominated for Saturday’s race.

Also taking place on Saturday at the Warwick Farm Racecourse will be the $125,000 Group Three Up And Coming Stakes (1200m), the $125,000 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) and five other great races.

So make sure to sign up with SportsBet before the jump so you can make the most of the odds!

2010 Warwick Stakes Nominations