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Mitch Lewis Balaklava Preview & Best Bets | Wednesday racing tips

Mitch Lewis previews Wednesday’s Balaklava meeting with his best bets, value plays and full race-by-race analysis, including strong confidence around Safe Bet and Zatanna.

Matt Welsh by Matt Welsh
May 19, 2026
in SA Tips, Tips
Reading Time: 7 mins read
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Summary of Best Bets

  • Best Bet: Race 2 (2) Safe Bet
  • Next Best: Race 8 (1) Zatanna
  • Best Value: Race 4 (4) Artful Maximus
  • Best Roughie: Race 7 (1) Brave Action

 

Turf Talk

  • The track was rated a Soft 5 at time of writing and with only overcast conditions and a low chance of showers forecast, expecting the track remains at a Soft 5
  • The rail pushes out in only the one sectional of the track and will be +3m 950m – 450m & True Remainder
  • The track can favour on speed types who can stick to the rail in the straight when dry but in softer conditions the track generally plays fairer.

 

Stats that matter

  • Current leading trainer Garrett Lynch brings a big team to this meeting. He has saddled up 14 winners in his last 100 runners with a POT return of +31.9%
  • Michael Hickmott’s stable has been profitable for punters when they come to this track returning a POT of +28.3% with a winning strike rate of 25%
  • Tala Hutchinson continues to be a profitable apprentice for punters to be following having ridden 20 winners in her last 100 rides with a POT return of +35.1%. While Campbell Rawiller has produced a POT return of +17.9% in his last 100 rides and is +10% at this track alone

 

Race 1

Michael Hickmott looks set to unveil another talented 2YO runner in (3) Lynch who looked to have showed solid form when winning a recent trial under little pressure and looking like he could have continued to extent away from the field so kicking off here over the 1050m trip looks ideal.

(5) Samstorm is the only runner in the race who has race day experience having run 4th in a stronger race when on debut, she has had a spell since so expecting she could be capable of improvement.

(7) Damizer ran 2nd in the trial behind Lynch which looks the hottest trial form coming into this race so expect that could translate to a strong 1st up performance.

(6) Arizona Dreamer makes her debut here, she is light at the weights and this stable has a strong record with debutants so expect she could be capable of a strong run 1st up.

Selections:
(3) Lynch
(5) Samstorm
(7) Damizer
(6) Arizona Dreamer

Suggested Bet: No bet

 

Race 2

(2) Safe Bet disappointed in his last run at Morphettville Parks but potentially had some issues in that so happy to forgive him for that poor run and feel he is capable to bounce back here dropping down in grade and expect he will be well suited at this track racing up on speed, he rates highly in this field if he can get back to his better form.

(3) Sayersitisn’Tso was a breakthrough winner in maiden grade last start and looks likely to appreciate a rise in distance, he needs to rise in grade but maps softy and gets the right run to be every chance again.

(1) Impact Storm went to the paddock as a winner having taken out an Oakbank maiden earlier in the year. He resumes here off the back of 2 trials so appears to be coming into the race in good order.

(4) Cracken Good Time resumes today, he can race on speed which may suit and while he may appreciate a longer trip later into the prep, if he goes forwards and gets a soft time out in front, he could take catching.

Selections:
(2) Safe Bet
(3) Sayersitisn’Tso
(1) Impact Storm
(4) Cracken Good Time

Suggested Bet: (2) Safe Bet – Win

 

Race 3

(4) Platino was well supported when making his debut across the border at Horsham but raced greenly in the run which may have been costly and he had to settle for 3rd. His trial form prior to that run was strong and expecting he will be better for the race day experience and can improve enough to be a winning chance.

(7) Musical Sunset has placed in his last 2 runs and maps for run of the race here jumping from barrier 1, he looks likely to push forwards and race on speed which should suit.

(2) Extra Fling makes his debut having won a recent trial at Murray Bridge in easy fashion, he is capable of a strong 1st up performance if he runs up to that level.

(1) My Boy Willis ran into the placings when making his debut recently at Clare, he maps better today jumping from a lower barrier and can race up on speed which should suit.

Selections:
(4) Platino
(7) Musical Sunset
(2) Extra Fling
(1) My Boy Willis

Suggested Bet: No bet

 

Race 4

(4) Artful Maximus has run 3rd in both runs so far into his career and if he can show the same speed he has so far in those runs he will likely get to the front and lead up this field which can be an advantage here if the conditions suit, he is at peak fitness now 3rd up and looks ready to win.

(6) Green Summer showed improvement when rising in distance last start and remains at the 1400m trip again, he draws low so looks likely to get every chance again with an ideal run.

(11) Hell’s On Fire comes from the same last start maiden as the other 2 runners, she didn’t get the ideal run there last time so with more luck today I’m expecting she could find improvement as it looks the right form race to be following.

(10) Aliandra ran well on debut to run into 3rd behind a handy pair, she will likely have taken benefit out of that run but will need luck for the right run early jumping from the wide barrier.

Selections:
(4) Artful Maximus
(6) Green Summer
(11) Hell’s On Fire
(10) Aliandra

Suggested Bet: (4) Artful Maximus – Win

 

Race 5

(11) Sacred Chord has proven hard to catch through his career with only the 1 win to date, but liked the way he was hitting the line late last start at Bordertown so looks ready to rise in distance again and the winner of that Bordertown race has gone on to win again franking the form.

(1) Sir Panama has placed in his last 4 runs and surely looks close to a win off the back of those performances, dropping back to the 1400m trip could help him be stronger late.

(8) Chartin resumes in this, he has good speed and can race in an ideal position so could pinch this with the right run despite likely being better suited over more ground deeper into the prep.

(7) Born To Shine is another runner likely to race up on the speed, like her set up coming back to the 1400m trip which should give her a chance to be stronger through the line late in the race.

Selections:
(11) Sacred Chord
(1) Sir Panama
(8) Chartin
(7) Born To Shine

Suggested Bet: No bet

 

Race 6

(7) Harsh has ran into the placings in his last 2 runs and looks suited dropping back in grade and getting back to the 2200m trip having ran 2nd over this set up two starts back. He can take up the lead off a moderate tempo which could make him tough to catch late.

(10) Jackson Run will likely be much better suited in this today dropping back down in grade, he was a long way off them in his last start but that was in The Listed Port Adelaide Cup so this 56 rated race is a much easier assignment and he will be a likely improver.

(4) Valued showed improvement late in his last start after a moderate performance at this track prior, he gets a soft race map from a low barrier and is light at the weights again so gets every chance to improve.

(9) Bush Inference returns to a track/distance set up he has won over previously and will be suited dropping back down in grade.

Selections:
(7) Harsh
(10) Jackson Run
(4) Valued
(9) Bush Inference

Suggested Bet: No bet

 

Race 7

It looks likely that they will run this race at a quick tempo and with some of the key runners being drawn out wide, that could give run of the race to (1) Brave Action who drops back down in grade after a moderate run in town last start, he gets to his peak fitness for the prep now 3rd up and could set up for a surprise win with the soft run.

(5) You’Resogolden comes into the race fresh and is dropping in grade from her previous few runs, she is speedy so can push forwards and give them something to chase here.

(8) So Polite is dropping in grade and has a consistent record at this track/distance, she can go well in this set up but will likely need luck at some stage from the wide barrier.

(9) Artistic Angel won her maiden easily two starts ago at Murray Bridge before taking on a stronger race at Morphettville, she should be much better suited dropping in grade for this but may need to get back from the wide barrier and look to be hitting the line strongly if they over do it out in front.

Selections:
(1) Brave Action
(5) You’Resogolden
(8) So Polite
(9) Artistic Angel

Suggested Bet: (1) Brave Action – Each-way

 

Race 8

(1) Zatanna broke through for her first victory in sometime when winning easily at Bordertown in a handy country level race. She will potentially find this slightly easier and maps to get to the lead in a race with a likely moderate speed so she could prove tough to catch again if given her own way out in front.

(10) Taino Rocket resumes down in grade from where he finished last prep. He has previously performed well 1st up so expecting he will be capable of firing fresh.

(11) My Ruby was running on strongly late last time in a much stronger race and looks better suited dropping down in grade now, she has a quick finish so will likely be hitting the line strongly again in this set up.

(8) De Luca is another runner resuming who is capable of winning when 1st up into a prep, he maps for a soft run from barrier 5 and will be suited in the expected conditions.

Selections:
(1) Zatanna
(10) Taino Rocket
(11) My Ruby
(8) De Luca

Suggested Bet: (1) Zatanna – Win

Tags: BalaklavaBest betsHorse Racing TipsMitch LewisRacing TipsSA RacingSouth AustraliaWednesday Racing
Matt Welsh

Matt Welsh

Matt Welsh is the founder of Betsy and one of Australia’s most respected form analysts. A former executive at Racing.com and Racing Victoria, Matt has built a reputation for market-leading analysis, clear communication, and a deep understanding of both racing and wagering. With Betsy, he has assembled a team of trusted, high-quality form analysts dedicated to delivering expert analysis that will arm Betsy punters for a winning day at the races.

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