2015 BTC Cup Tips: Scissor Kick The Value

Racing expert Nathan Exelby has Scissor Kick on top of his BTC Cup tips and he believes that the talented three-year-old represents great value at his current odds in betting for the Group 1 event at Doomben tomorrow.

Scissor Kick has the chance to record a maiden win at Group 1 level in the 2015 BTC Cup. Photo by: Steve Hart

Scissor Kick has the chance to record a maiden win at Group 1 level in the 2015 BTC Cup. Photo by: Steve Hart

Scissor Kick had a disrupted autumn campaign after he started his preparation with a narrow victory in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens, but he returned to racing with a close fourth behind Dissident in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 18.

Exelby told RSN that three-year-olds have an excellent record in the BTC Cup and he believes that Scissor Kick is massive overs at his current BTC Cup odds of $8.50.

“The one I have come up with here is Scissor Kick,” Exelby said.

“This has been a very good race for three-year-olds over the years and his profile is similar to three-year-olds that have won this race in the past.

“He was stiff not to win the Golden Rose when he went around the middle of the track and I thought that his All Aged run was very good.

“He was only beaten a length there just off Chautauqua and he would be nice and short here.

“He is taking on a race that is no harder than what he did last time, he has finally drawn a decent gate and he gets the genuine speed that he loves.

“I think that if he gets the splits he will be very hard to beat here and at $9 he represents a very good gamble.”

Our Boy Malachi has easily been the best-backed runner in 2015 BTC Cup betting markets and the Rockhampton Rocket is in to $2.60 to record a maiden win at the highest level of racing.

Exelby believes that Our Boy Malachi deserves to be on top of BTC Cup betting markets due to his outstanding record of 17 wins from 19 starts as well as his soft win in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 18, but he believes that it is tough to back the Top Echelon gelding at his current quote.

“$2.60 is a skinny price,” Exelby said.

“He doesn’t know how to get beaten and the record is quite phenomenal, but this is another step-up for Our Boy Malachi.

“He beat Craftiness and Hidden Warrior there last night and he is taking on much better opposition here.

“I think that he is entitled to be top pick the way that he has gone, but it is hard to dive in at that price.”

Our Boy Malachi ($2.60) is set to start a clear favourite in the BTC Cup betting market with Ladbrokes from Srikandi ($4.80), Scissor Kick ($8.50) and Sacred Star ($11).

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.