2015 Emirates Stakes Tips: Magic Artist & Bow Creek Tough To Split

Form analyst Daniel O’Sullivan has Magic Artist and Bow Creek on top of his 2015 Emirates Stakes tips and he believes that both horses represent good value in betting markets for the Group 1 event that will be held at Flemington tomorrow.

Bow Creek is currently on top of 2015 Emirates Stakes betting markets. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Bow Creek is currently on top of 2015 Emirates Stakes betting markets. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Magic Artist made his Australian racing debut in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day and he finished a more than credible fourth, but he was horribly blocked for a run in the final stages of the race and arguably would have won without clear running.

O’Sullivan believes that Magic Artist has the scope to improve off his performance in the 2015 Mackinnon Stakes and if he does that he is confident that the talented entire will be very hard to beat in the Emirates Stakes.

“Magic Artist is coming back from the 2000 of the Mackinnon, but that Mackinnon Stakes was just an evenly run race and coming back to 1600 in a fast-pace really looks ideal for this horse,” O’Sullivan told RSN.

“His strength at 2000 metres can really be an asset in the closing stages of what is going to be a pretty brutal race here.

“Off that last start rating and a clear scope to improve I think that $5 is a nice price for him.”

Bow Creek made his own Australian debut in the Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600n) at Moonee Valley on October 24 and he was an alarming drifter in the lead-up to the race, but he flew home late to finish second behind Turn Me Loose.

O’Sullivan admits that he is concerned by how long it took Bow Creek to get going in the Crystal Mile, but he said that he has every reason to believe that the Shamardal entire still has plenty of improvement in front of him ahead of the 2015 Emirates Stakes.

“Bow Creek was absolutely friendless last start, so he clearly wasn’t ready and the way that he ran was a really promising sign for his future here,” O’Sullivan said.

“Under the weight-for-age conditions of that race he ended up with a pretty solid rating and he is one that is really benefitting from the handicap conditions here.

“There is a slight concern that he was a bit slowly away last start and he took a while to muster and that could create a problem here because he might end a fair way off them from that barrier, but the pace is suitable, the soft ground is suitable and he really has upside from that last start figure.

“That puts him and Magic Artist into a group that could push this race to a level that the others are unlikely to reach.”

Bow Creek is currently available at 2015 Emirates Stakes odds of $5 with Ladbrokes and he is a narrow favourite from Magic Artist ($6), Turn Me Loose ($8) and Lucky Hussler ($8.50).

Don’t miss out on best odds for every single race at Flemington on Saturday with Ladbrokes, who are offering Best Tote or SP +20% on all nine races!

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.