Summary of Best Bets
- Best Bet: Race 3 (4) Almaaz
- Next Best: Race 6 (4) Ceasar
- Betsy Roughie: Race 7 (5) Aix En Provence
Race 1
It’s hard to go past the progressive 2YO filly Rachini, who trialled impressively before a game debut run in a high-rating Reisling Stakes. She’ll take good benefit from that run and looks very well placed back to midweek grade.
Promenade was well backed on debut but was no match for the impressive She’s Extra. She strips fitter now and should enjoy a firmer track.
McDonald jumps aboard Japan, who was a savage drifter on debut. Look for him to improve significantly.
The stablemate and blue blood Universe goes in the mix. It was an okay debut and, like many of Waller’s gallopers, she can improve sharply second-up.
Selections: (9) Rachini, (8) Promenade, (5) Japan, (4) Universe
Suggested Bet: Rachini WIN
Race 2
Intriguing race. Solid enough speed is expected up front over the 1100m, with the Waterhouse and Bott duo looking likely to fight it out.
I’ll lean the way of Hallabella, but at $1.70 she does seem short. She has had smart trials and brings smart form lines around her from last prep.
Loreal Belle is the danger. She has been impressive in recent trials, draws well and should get her chance on debut.
Maluku looks big odds on debut for the Pride camp. It was a sneaky good trial and she should be in the mix.
Canal is next best with race experience and Berry in the saddle.
Selections: (5) Hallabella, (6) Loreal Belle, (7) Maluku, (2) Canal
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 3
Keen to side with the Waller x McDonald combination here with Almaaz, a progressive filly who defied the on-speed pattern to run on from near last start, putting a 3L gap back to third. She looks beautifully placed third-up now rising to 1600m. Best of the day.
Lilac Girl goes second-up rising in trip, which is a smart profile for the Waterhouse and Bott camp. Clark is booked and she will likely lead.
Decalogue gets the tongue tie on now. She was no match for Almaaz last start but is aided by the rise in distance.
Nordic Viking has a smart SP profile but just isn’t applying himself. Market watch again.
Selections: (4) Almaaz, (10) Lilac Girl, (3) Decalogue, (2) Nordic Viking
Suggested Bet: Almaaz WIN
Race 4
Competitive 1000m contest here. Wootton Lass was dominant when dropping back to 1000m last time out while also dropping in grade. She stays at the trip and maps ideally again.
Shirvington comes through some nice trials, 1000m fresh suits and he’s been well backed. The only concern was his work through the line in his latest trial.
Don’t Doubt Merlin has found a new lease on life since joining the Quinton camp and looks fit and in form at the 1000m.
Wondereach rounds out the numbers.
Selections: (6) Wootton Lass, (3) Shirvington, (4) Don’t Doubt Merlin, (1) Wondereach
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 5
Intriguing staying event. Keen to side with the Archibald combination with Cormac T, who has put together smart enough first and second-up runs before a sharp recent 1030m trial after 43 days off. He should be up to the mark and draws well.
Stylebender is racing in career-best form with two smart wins on the trot and is aided by the 3kg claim of Fitzgerald.
It is intriguing to see Golden Century come up $4 favourite. He looked one-paced fresh when thrown in the deep end. He is second-up, back to the trials and drops sharply in class, but still looks short enough.
The consistent Lunar Lover goes in the mix, draws inside and gets Lloyd in the saddle.
Selections: (5) Cormac T, (4) Stylebender, (1) Golden Century, (7) Lunar Lover
Suggested Bet: No Bet
Race 6
Plenty of speed is expected on paper in one of the bigger fields of the day. Keen to see Ceasar back at the races after a dominant fresh win. The form has already produced two subsequent winners in Aisle Two and Bryant. He maps a treat and finds McDonald.
Hay Street looks the danger after a smart last-start win, although he did find the fast lane, so he is a market watch late.
Ready To Shine broke through last start at Warwick Farm, stays at 1200m and maps for a gun run.
Zouripper has been specked at odds. He is a smart fresh galloper who draws well, but the query is the strength of the opposition.
Selections: (4) Ceasar, (10) Hay Street, (5) Ready To Shine, (3) Zouripper
Suggested Bet: Ceasar WIN
Race 7
Open contest with good speed expected. I’ll throw Aix En Provence on top at odds. He is better suited over further but I loved the zip in two recent 1000m trials. He maps ideally fresh and the Lloyd booking shows intent.
Formal Display is the danger. He was a smart fresh winner last prep, is in well with the claim, but does have a sticky gate.
Hopper is the bomb-proof type, coming off a sharp second-up win. He draws well and has been kept up to the mark with a trial.
Emirate was good against the pattern first-up, strips fitter now but draws wide again.
Selections: (5) Aix En Provence, (2) Formal Display, (9) Hopper, (1) Emirate
Suggested Bet: Aix En Provence EW
Race 8
Massive field to round out the program and a tricky race with a few without riders booked. Keen to stick with Maybe Moet, who was dominant second-up before being beaten by the bias third-up, with a similar story first-up. She peaks here fitness-wise and gets a beautiful run from gate 5.
Bubbles Up and Jagers will roll forward from wide gates. They should have a solid enough run to the turn to cross and their draws may look a little better with scratchings.
The fit and in-form Spaceballs is next best, draws inside and should eat up the tempo. Good race.
Selections: (2) Maybe Moet, (12) Bubbles Up, (7) Jagers, (5) Spaceballs
Suggested Bet: Maybe Moet WIN
