Summary of Best Bets
- Best Bet: Race 2 – (2) Intellectual
- Next Best: Race 6 – (2) Nextonixs
- Best Value: Race 7 – (10) Cielao
Turf Talk
- The track is currently rated a Soft 7 and with clearing weather forecast leading into Saturday, conditions should improve into the Soft 6-7 range.
- The rail moves to +3m for the entire circuit after the previous meeting, where on-speed runners held an advantage before horses fanned wider in the straight.
- Expect a similar pattern if conditions remain comparable.
Stats That Matter
- Noel Callow returns from suspension and begins riding in South Australia after producing 22 winners from his last 100 rides before the break, returning a POT of +16.8%.
- Taylor Johnstone has endured a difficult winter with five winners from her past 100 rides.
- Stuart Gower has his stable in terrific form with 13 winners from his past 100 runners and a POT of +20.6%.
- Andrew Gluyas has had a quieter winter than usual, with seven winners from his last 100 runners.
Race 1
(10) She’s Iconic made a solid return recently when running 2nd behind a smart looking type but is here fitter now and maps for the right run early so with improvement looks tough to catch. (2) Street Legal has had plenty of chances but does look close to a win off the back of three placings in a row this prep, a rise in distance looks suitable at this stage for him. (5) Amalfi Dreamer was well supported for her debut run but had to go back from a wide barrier which made it hard, but she was hitting the line well late, rising in distance looks ideal and she can get a better run from a low barrier today. (3) Torpedoes can mix his form, but his best efforts should see him go close in this if he can bounce back, improving conditions should help.
Selections
(10) She’s Iconic
(2) Street Legal
(5) Amalfi Dreamer
(3) Torpedoes
Suggested Bet
No bet
Race 2
We see (2) Intellectual resume here today, he is lightly raced but has good form around some smart types through his career so this looks a suitable kick-off race for him. He has won first-up previously and looked good winning a recent trial. Expect him to be positive in the run and hard to beat in this grade. (3) Stand Alone rises in level after a last-start maiden win, she maps for a similar run to what she got that day and is well suited with the apprentice claim so should figure again. (1) Up The Den resumes, he showed talent through his last campaign and maps to be positive in the run which gives him a strong chance. He won a recent trial which suggests he could be ready to fire fresh. (6) Sassy Little Miss was a good winner to kick off this prep but endured a forgivable run last time when stuck wide. She is capable of bouncing back with a better map.
Selections
(2) Intellectual
(3) Stand Alone
(1) Up The Den
(6) Sassy Little Miss
Suggested Bet: (2) Intellectual – Win
Race 3
(2) Longer Route looks well set up dropping in grade today having run a close 2nd in his last start at Mildura, he is proven at this distance and now dropping in level should set him up for a strong performance. Hard to knock the recent form of (6) Petit Eagle who has won two in a row now and continues to rise in level, she has been hitting the line strongly so the rise in distance suits but she needs an even track if she looks to settle back in the run. (5) Moussaka is another runner in strong form with two wins in a row also, he relished a rise in distance last start so sticking to this trip looks ideal but another who needs luck early from a wide barrier. (3) Exalted Fire has a consistent record at this track and distance and will be suited dropping in grade. Expect him to be capable of turning around recent form and a positive run should also boost his chances.
Selections
(2) Longer Route
(6) Petit Eagle
(5) Moussaka
(3) Exalted Fire
Suggested Bet: No bet
Race 4
(6) Brimarvi Rosemarie is on the quick back-up after not having much luck in the run last time. She is drawn to the inside again which could be the risk, but a slight rise in distance suits and expect she could settle closer today and take bad luck out of the equation. Victorian visitor (4) Porsha Crystal drops in grade from the most recent races she has contested, including last start behind the smart-looking Tennessee Bound. Expect she should be suited in this grade and can handle wet conditions so this track should suit. (1) Breakfast is flying with two wins in a row beating some good fields in those runs. Hard to knock the form but will need another big performance now high in the weights and faced with a tough run from barrier 10. (5) Tahnee Territory is another runner who has found strong form this prep, sets up well from barrier four so look for her to again take the short way home in the straight and may prove tough to catch if the inside lanes are holding up.
Selections
(6) Brimarvi Rosemarie
(4) Porsha Crystal
(1) Breakfast
(5) Tahnee Territory
Suggested Bet: No bet
Race 5
(8) Maxildo has run into the placings in his last two runs and looks close to a win after a close finish last time. He gets a similar set-up in these conditions but the advantage of a potentially soft run from barrier one, so expect him to settle on speed quickly and be prominent. (7) Fast Tempo hit the line strongly last start for a nice win and looks ideally suited rising in distance. (1) Nicish is consistent and managed to break through for a win last time. She is a runner that can find bad luck but with a handy claim and low barrier may land in a strong position. (6) Extinguish is knocking on the door after a pair of close seconds to kick off this prep. She is ready for a rise in distance but may need luck early from a wide barrier.
Selections
(8) Maxildo
(7) Fast Tempo
(1) Nicish
(6) Extinguish
Suggested Bet: No bet
Race 6
(2) Nextonixs resumes today. She has a strong record at this track and distance (6:3-0-2) and is yet to miss a place first-up. Expecting she can fire fresh off the back of a sharp recent trial. (9) Daisydoo was well supported first-up and is fitter now while dropping in grade. (3) Real Deluxe is in flying form having won three of her past four starts and is suited despite the rise in weight. (1) Demojo has been consistent without winning and comes across the border looking for a suitable race. A wet track would suit.
Selections
(2) Nextonixs
(9) Daisydoo
(3) Real Deluxe
(1) Demojo
Suggested Bet: (2) Nextonixs – Win
Race 7
(10) Cielao ran midfield when resuming but feel she is capable of quick improvement now she is fitter second-up and up to 1400 metres where she has a strong record (5:3-2-0). She looks much better suited in this race and should get a positive run with the light weight. (6) The Stalker was a dominant winner last start and looks capable of handling the rise in grade if able to control the tempo. (4) Carbonados was moderate when resuming but finds a much easier race than he has seen for some time. (3) Snoopy Now has been in consistent form and comes back from a stronger race at Caulfield. Despite dropping in trip, his recent form stacks up.
Selections
(10) Cielao
(6) The Stalker
(4) Carbonados
(3) Snoopy Now
Suggested Bet: (10) Cielao – Each Way
Race 8
(2) Bold Secret has finished second at his past two starts and now looks likely to enjoy a better run from a lower barrier. If he finds the right position in transit, he should prove hard to beat. (3) Power Dancer won well two starts back before another strong second and should appreciate the rise to 1400 metres. (8) Australia Forever has found good form this prep and was unlucky not to finish closer last time after not getting into the right part of the track. (9) Extra Hot has a sharp turn of foot and can improve if settling closer than she did last start.
Selections
(2) Bold Secret
(3) Power Dancer
(8) Australia Forever
(9) Extra Hot
Suggested Bet: No bet
Race 9
(5) The Cosmic One was a dominant winner when resuming at Balaklava but couldn’t reproduce that effort last start when the conditions appeared against him. Improving ground looks ideal and he maps to enjoy a positive run from barrier two. (2) Prevailed drops in grade and has scope to improve. (7) Naralinga will likely get back but possesses a strong finish if the track is fair. (12) Polunin won impressively on debut before moderate efforts at his next two starts, but he looks the likely leader and could improve with a steadier tempo.
Selections
(5) The Cosmic One
(2) Prevailed
(7) Naralinga
(12) Polunin
Suggested Bet: (5) The Cosmic One – Each Way
