The Goodwood Barrier Draw Stats & Info
The Goodwood Tips & Preview 2024
Looking for The Goodwood tips and best bets? We dissect times and form to find the winner of the 2024 The Goodwood at Morphettville.
THE GOODWOOD BETTING SNAPSHOT
It is a pair of West Australian gallopers that head the market with PlayUp and the gun mare Amelia’s Jewel at $4.20 is just ahead of the three-year-old, Oscar’s Fortune, at $5.50. The Jason Warren-trained Benedetta is on the next line at $6, while I Am Me at $7.50 and Johnny Rocker at $8 are others under double figures.
There are 17 contenders in action for the $1 million set weights and penalties race and it is the filly, Skybird, that is next at $11 ahead of the last start Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) winner, Climbing Star, at $16. What You Need ($18) and Sghirripa ($23) head the rest.
THE GOODWOOD FORM ANALYSIS
Amelia’s Jewel has been kept to the shorter trips in her current preparation and closed off with the fastest late splits behind Oscar’s Fortune when resuming over the 1100m at Ascot, going a healthy 11.2 lengths faster than standard.
The West Australian worked hard from the wide barrier to settle handy in the $5 million Quokka (1200m) at Ascot at her most recent start but for the second year in a row, she couldn’t reel in Overpass, finishing runner-up, going seven lengths faster than standard. She battled over the 1600m at her last preparation when third up but is the class runner. Oscar’s Fortune was 3rd in the Quokka and meets Amelia’s Jewel 3kg better at the weights.
Five runners had their most recent start in the Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) for the fillies and mares. That was taken out by the Philip Stokes-trained Climbing Star, who came from well back in the field to arrive in time. Lachlan Neindorf cut the corners to secure his first Group 1 win. Climbing Star went 9.9 lengths faster than standard. That is the best last start benchmark figure of any runner in this race.
Learning To Fly and Benedetta filled the minors, while I Am Me was 4th and Stretan Angel was 6th. Learning To Fly covered much more ground than the winner and was stepping out off an eight-week break. She will have to do it the hard way after again drawing wide. Benedetta was less than half a length away and also ran on. I Am Me settled handy and just peaked late. Stretan Angel was posted wide but stuck on, finishing three lengths off the winner.
Johnny Rocker is an interesting contender. The improving galloper from the Nick Ryan stable is one of two in the field that had their last start in Sydney and was 8th in the TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) on a Heavy track last time, going 6.9 lengths faster than standard in what was a compressed finish. He was never really clear and landed two lengths off Chain Of Lightning. The four-year-old was a narrow runner-up behind Imperatriz at Group 1 level prior to that, going 11.6 lengths faster than standard.
Vilana is the other that had its last start in Sydney, finishing runner-up in the Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) on a Heavy deck. He hasn’t won since taking out that race in 2023 and cops barrier 16.
Four runners come out of the John Hawkes Stakes (1100m) and they are the winner, Extremely Lucky, as well as What You Need (3rd), Sghirripa (5th) and Karacasu. Extremely Lucky was first up and might have improvement to come but is 5kg worse at the weights against the likes of Sghirripa, who was luckless. What You Need is another to come out of that lead up and comes into this third up. He just peaked late on his run last time.
Another key contender is Skybird. She has won four of six and was too good when second up at Morphettville on April 27, claiming the Group 2 Tobin Bronze Stakes (1200m) by two lengths. The Mitch Freedman-trained galloper drops 2.5kg and draws perfectly in barrier 5.
THE GOODWOOD TIPS AND BEST BETS
Tricky race and willing to roll the dice on Oscar’s Fortune, You could make a case for a number of these, including Amelia’s Jewel, Learning To Fly, Johnny Rocker and Benedetta, who will all need a bit of luck from their respective draws. Oscar’s Fortune won’t have to work too hard from barrier 8 and will settle in the first few. He might be able to get things on his own terms and is better at the weights over Amelia’s Jewel, while the son of Rich Enuff has shown that he is capable of sustaining a high cruising speed. If the swoopers come into play, Learning To Fly is one that represents value at the quote.
