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SOUTHPORT TYCOON TAKES THE AUSTRALIAN GUINEAS

The script went out the window on a day of Group 1 racing across two cities with upsets and fairytales aplenty.

Short priced favourites were expected to control the features, but the unpredictable nature of sport came to the surface again.

In the newly crowned Verry Elleegant Stakes in Sydney, it was star mare Fangirl  who was expected to follow in the footsteps of that former champion, but Nash Rawiller and Think It Over  (pictured) had other ideas.

Tropical Squall  wasn't a huge shock in the Surround Stakes but Learning To Fly had been the most popular pick. For Waterhouse/Bott, the win of Tropical Squall came on the same day that Storm Boy  enhanced his Golden Slipper chances with a win in the Skyline.

In Melbourne it was Jamie Kah again who starred, a week after claiming the Blue Diamond Stakes.

This time she piloted Southport Tycoon to victory in the Australian Guineas over the highly fancied Riff Rocket 

We had huge price advantages, more upsets and some key in-play prices throughout the first official Saturday of Autumn.

We will outline the best and worst of the day below.

BEST BACKED WINNERS

It was a day where most of the best backed runners got beaten, but we still had a few standouts across Melbourne and Sydney.

The opening race at Flemington was a small field with two horses dominating the betting.

It was Sans Doute  who got up with 54% of the market hold.

Aramco in the second was also matched for about 60% of the volume bet into that race before winning.

Race Four was similar, with Bold Bastille  controlling things with 60% of the market hold, but still a small price advantage over Best Tote despite the popularity.

The standout at Flemington belonged to Jamie Kah again, with Another Wil (pictured) winning Race Six with 76% of over $400,000 matched on the race.

Atishu in the Blamey held steady popularity through the day as others drifted, before a Blake Shinn masterclass got her home.

The best backed winner of the entire day though was classy Sydney runner Storm Boy, who took a positive step towards the Golden Slipper with victory in the Skyline.

The money just kept coming for the fav, who held a whopping 88% of volume on that race.

FIRMERS AND DRIFTERS

It was a busy day for movements in the market, with Flemington setting the pace early.

Kettle Hill  was an enormous drift before Race Two, moving from $5.40 out to $12 before going under.

At Morphettville we saw a huge move on Cormorant  in Race Three, with that runner shortening from $9.40 into $4.70 before running fourth.

Bristler  also shortened in the next at Morphettville, from $2.86 into $2.12 before missing a place.

Race Five at Randwick saw a drift prove accurate with Redstone Well moving from $3.15 out to $4.60 before also missing a place.

At Eagle Farm, we saw Shane Ciurleo's lay of the day Transatlantic  drift from $2 out to $2.54 before finishing well back in the field.

In the features of the day it is worth noting the biggest drift actually came with Learning To Fly  very late ahead of the Surround. The race favourite moved from $2.90 out to $4.50 and ended up running third.

Both Fangirl and Riff Rocket would harshly be placed in this section, but on volume of money matched they do qualify.

Fangirl was the most popular pick of the day ahead of her run in the Verry Elleegant Stakes. With over $500,000 matched on the race, the favourite carried over 75% of that volume before running second.

Losing no admirers, but certainly going down against expectation and weight of money.

Riff Rocket also carried a huge volume into the Australian Guineas, with over $500,000 matched on the favourite.

Race Five at Randwick saw a bunched finish with four horses hitting favouritism at less than $2 in the run.

Floating  would eventually win the race but Louisville ($1.10), Logan Street Lion ($1.60) and Miracle Spin ($1.87) all traded quite short.

PRICE ADAVANTAGE

Aramco got the day going at Flemington with a 17.6% advantage in Race Two. Big Watch followed it up in Race Three at 20.8%, and Atishu gets an honorable mention in the Blamey for the 18.4% edge.

The pick of the day came in the Group 1 Australian Guineas though, and by quite a margin.

Southport Tycoon 's victory (pictured) at $25.01 came with a 49.8% advantage over Best Tote.

It equates to an extra $75 in the pocket for a $10 outlay.

In Syndey we saw Tashi  win the second at $12 with a 37.3% edge.

Once Again My Girl (19.5%), Storm Boy (13.5%), Floating (13.4%), Hell Hath No Fury  (20%) were all strong advantages as well.

Again the pick of the day came in the feature event with Think It Over's victory in the Verry Elleegant coming with a whopping 44.2% edge.