Happy Trails is on top of the 2015 Mackinnon Stakes tips of racing expert Daniel O’Sullivan and he believes that the popular gelding is the value selection in the $1 million event at Flemington tomorrow.
Happy Trails has the chance to record back-to-back wins in the 2015 edition of the Mackinnon Stakes. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett
Happy Trails is yet to record a race win during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival, but he finished within a length of Fawkner in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 12 and he was only narrowly denied by Criterion in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 10.
The Good Journey gelding was settled towards the tail of the field in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) and could only battle home to finish tenth after being caught wide throughout, but O’Sullivan told RSN that he is happy to ignore that performance and he is confident that Happy Trails can bounce back in what he believes is a very open edition of the 2015 Mackinnon Stakes.
“It is a very open race,” O’Sullivan said.
“The only runner with betting appeal here for me is Happy Trails.
“You can totally forget he went around in the Cox Plate – he was back near the tail, was out so wide and was given no hope at all on a track that gave those horses no chance.
“I am happy to overlook that run and prior to that he was second to Criterion and that was the strongest distance form going around in the spring.
“Mongolian Khan came out of that and won the Caulfield Cup and Criterion ran very well in the Cox Plate and should have finished a length or two closer to Winx.
“That form line is very strong and Happy Trails ran to a figure in that race that is going to be good enough to win this event.
“The price on offer of $8 is more than acceptable to take the gamble that he can run back to that level especially on the seven day back-up here.
“He performs well at Flemington and he won this race last year.”
Recent history is against Happy Trails however as no horse has won the Mackinnon Stakes in back-to-back years since Belmura Lad in 1981.
Happy Trails is currently available at 2015 Mackinnon Stakes odds of $7.50 with Ladbrokes and he is on the third line of betting behind new favourite Stratum Star ($5.50) and The Metropolitan winner Magic Hurricane ($6).
Don’t miss out on the best Mackinnon Stakes odds with Ladbrokes, who are offering Best Tote or Starting Price +20% on every single race at Flemington on Saturday.
