| Bet Type | Race | No | Horse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Bet | R4 | 10 | On The Prowl |
| Next Best | R6 | 1 | Touchdown |
| Best Value | R5 | 6 | Anchor Down |
Turf Talk:
- Rail is out 5m, having been true at the most recent meeting.
- Track is a Soft 6 after 4mm in the past 24 hours and 20mm in the last seven days.
- Cold day with a shower or two expected; little improvement likely.
- With the rail +5m it should play reasonably well; they may get a bit wider as the meeting progresses.
Race 4 – 1400m Maiden
There are some strong maidens on the card; this is not one of them. Good run down the back straight from the 1400m start before they begin turning.
Gavin Bedggood had two in; he’s scratched Sky Deel and is left with (10) On The Prowl, who looks awfully hard to beat. He got back on debut over 1200m at Bendigo and then dropped to 1140m, drew wide and again went back at Geelong. He has hit the line well in each run, including the 4th-best last 400m and 2nd-best last 200m splits last start. Two things are key: he now steps to 1400m and he can settle right on speed from gate three. This is the weakest race he has contested.
The danger looks Angelos. Her form ties in with On The Prowl through Pharoah’s Glory. She was strong late at this track and trip last time; the knock is she’s again drawn to spot them a start, but the smaller field post-scratchings helps.
Betting suggestion: Backing On The Prowl. Black odds are good odds.
Race 5 – 1400m BM56
(6) Anchor Down looks the best roughie on the card. He was terrific first up at Geelong, ripping home from the tail in a race dominated on speed. He was heavily backed at Wodonga last start before a plain showing, but he covered ground and reportedly pulled up with heat stress. Off his Geelong run he’d be near the top of the market; happy to forgive the latest and think he’ll be hard to hold out at double figures.
Betting suggestion: Backing Anchor Down each-way.
Race 6 – 1600m 0–62
Lindsay Park has a strong team in, headed by (1) Touchdown, who has been excellent in two Australian starts after beginning on the trial track in New Zealand. He was beaten on debut at Cranbourne in a high-rating maiden with first and third winning next start. He was excellent first up breaking his maiden at Sale, charging home with authority. The second horse Thinxzo has since won, while the third horse has subsequently run well.
From the wide draw they have a good run before the turn, so Nolen should find a reasonable spot without much issue. Touchdown appears a galloper who relishes his own space.
This is no pushover: (11) Dancing Dolly has always shown talent and, now that she’s broken her maiden, can go on with it; (12) Arizona Luck will relish the rise to a mile.
Betting suggestion: Keen Touchdown. The $2.90 available this morning appeals and he can start sub-$2.50. Small saver on Arizona Luck around $7.
