Summary of Best Bets:
| Race | No. | Horse | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | Piston Rebel | Nice win here last start and looks to have better upside than the rest. |
| 5 | 9 | Surprise Honey | Could back Surprise Honey if $2.40+ |
| 6 | 3 | Victory Flame | Too far back off a slow tempo last start. Easier here and hoping to map better from the barrier. |
Turf Talk:
- Rail goes out 8m for Wednesday.
- Need a bit of luck at the best of times at Ipswich, but that’s even more the case with the rail out.
- Being a tight-turning circuit, it’s rarely a disadvantage to be on speed.
The stats that matter:
- Jockey premiership winner Angela Jones has started the new season in great form. 43 starts with 9 winners already at 20.9% strike rate.
- Training wise the Munce stable have had 4 winners in their last 12 runners. They don’t look to have the strongest team here, but you have to respect and they might run better than prices suggest.
Race by Race Overview:
Race 1 – (5) Piston Rebel · (7) Trump Card · (8) Hurricane Rosie · (2) Linas Reel
Have to like what we have seen with (5) Piston Rebel so far. Only had the three starts to date and was a dominant winner on this track last start. Took off early from midfield and was still strong through the line. Has more wins in store and can handle the step up in grade. (7) Trump Card looks the main danger. Has always promised to be a decent horse but the win record of 1 from 16 doesn’t read well. Away from them it’s hard to make a case for something to win. (2) Linas Reel was poor last start but had been okay before that. (8) Hurricane Rosie has been okay in average races.
Suggested Bet – Win (5) Piston Rebel
Race 2 – (12) Trefoil · (2) Bombard · (4) Immediate · (3) Elltitude
No stars amongst this lot and not much would surprise. (12) Trefoil was $14–$8 on debut last prep. Was out the back and never a factor. Has trialled okay leading into prep number two but will need luck at the right time from that gate. Gollan has a couple of leading hopes. (2) Bombard got the blinkers on last start and over-raced. They come off and she could improve if she settles. (4) Immediate maps well and should get every possible chance. Not the strongest horse late so it might be heart-in-mouth stuff the last 100m. (3) Elltitude can be better for the debut run and the recent trial was pretty good.
Suggested Bet – No Bet
Race 3 – (12) Valedictorian · (11) Toro Chase · (4) Watertight · (6) Encrypted Feeling
(5) Watertight was good at his only career run to date. That was in October last year and he’s been off for a long time. Led and won a recent trial in preparation for this. Will take some catching. (6) Encrypted Feeling is on debut. Might need the run but liked the trial last week. Sat outside the lead, showed little turn of foot, and won. (11) Toro Chase can win without surprising. Went around in better races last prep and was good enough. Can be a better horse this time in work and the trial was fine. Might come down to where he lands from the awkward gate. Respect any money for (12) Valedictorian. Bumped into some very good ones down south and will find this a lot easier.
Suggested Bet – No Bet
Race 4 – (5) Enuff Pills · (1) Maximum Output · (2) Akaka Falls · (3) Palawa Kani
Very little between these and luck will be the major factor. Gates will also be a big help as they will be handlebars down and not wanting to be four wide on the bend. (5) Enuff Pills draws well and four of her five wins have come on this track. Yet to miss a place here in eight starts. (1) Maximum Output might be better over further but has ability. Is a seven-time winner and not far off in a better race last start. (2) Akaka Falls lacks some upside but is about the most consistent of them. (3) Palawa Kani draws the inside gate and has placed in all three runs this track/trip.
Suggested Bet – No Bet
Race 5 – (9) Surprise Honey · (3) No Name Frank · (6) Giliana · (4) Pareto
I have always liked (3) No Name Frank but thought he’d have won more last prep. Has the good on-speed pattern but is just a touch weak late. Could be a better horse this prep. (9) Surprise Honey is a consistent horse and was even money in a Saturday race last start. Effort was okay but no match for the winner. Blinkers go on and she should be hard to beat. (6) Giliana is also Gollan’s and she put in a career-best first up to win well at EF. Lang claims and has won on this track. Market the best guide on the rest.
Suggested Bet – Could back (9) Surprise Honey if $2.40+
Race 6 – (3) Victory Flame · (9) Toros · (5) Le Chocolat · (2) Sunlord
I think (3) Victory Flame is better than what we’ve witnessed his last couple. Got a long way back on a very slow tempo last start and I’m just putting a line through that. Fourth up today and I feel he can be strong late if they can hold a spot in front of midfield. (9) Toros has won three of her last four and gets Jones on top. Stole a break on the corner last start and should get it okay on speed again here. (5) Le Chocolat is Waller with Thompson on. Steps up from maiden grade but was a good winner last start.
Suggested Bet – Win (3) Victory Flame
Race 7 – (10) Zoufani · (5) Desiah · (11) Flying Shelly · (9) Velozes
Hard race to finish on. Blanket finish last start but (5) Desiah didn’t have the best luck. Can improve at his second run for the new stable. Gollan has (10) Zoufani and (9) Velozes. Maybe a lean to (10) Zoufani as she has won two from three and looks to be the one with the upside here. Draws the inside and will be right on speed. (11) Flying Shelly brings the Zoufani form and went over the line together last start. Thompsen rides for Vandyke and can win.
Suggested Bet – No Bet
