Albury, Mildura and Port Macquarie present us with some betting opportunities for Monday racing.
The Wizard of Odds is keen on a three-year-old gelding to notch up his debut win at Mildura for the best bet of the day.
Mildura Race 2
#3 Perficere
If everything could go wrong on debut for this three-year-old gelding from the Paul Preusker stable it did.
He dumped his jockey as soon as the gates opened and failed to finish the race after being well found in the market.
The two-kilo-claiming apprentice Tatum Bull opts to stick with the horse even though she had a tough time of it with him last start.
Sometimes loyalty in the face of a heartbreak pays off and this gelding gets his chance to atone for that letdown last start.
Should get a nice run from barrier five and be hard to hold out on an each-way basis.
Suggested Bet: Perficere win at $4.8
Mildura Race 5
#6 Bassons
Bassons is an old boy but he is still racing with verve and vigour considering he’s a ten-year-old gelding.
He went around in BM-72 level last start and did not disgrace himself at all to finish midfield, albeit beaten by five lengths.
Today, he gets a favourable barrier and steps down in grade to a much more suitable BM-58 over 2000 metres which is the distance range his last three runs have been over.
He is fit, he should settle in a midfield spot and hopefully put in a good effort.
Suggested Bet: Bassons each-way at $5 the win and $1.85 the place
Suggested Exotic: Boxed Trifecta – 3, 5, 6
Mildura Race 6
#7 Wasabi
Wasabi put in a nice effort to run third when first-up over 1000 metres at Mildura last start.
Stays at this course and distance here, and gets a big weight relief with the four-kilo claimer Zoey Lloyd hopping aboard.
That move from the trainer signals one intention; find the lead and run them into the ground.
If Lloyd can time her sectionals right and not overdo it as was the case with the first-up run, then this seven-year-old mare might prove too speedy for this lot.
Suggested Bet: Wasabi win at $4.8
Albury RAce 6
#6 Sharlie
Sharlie seems set to peak third-up into her campaign here after two nice runs to get her ready for this effort over the mile at Albury.
She was given a big task by her trainer Donna Scott to step up in distance from 900 metres first up to 1400 metres second up.
Despite the unfavourable set-up, she did a fantastic job to hold on and run fourth beaten just over a length.
Jockey Blaike McDougall is one of the best country jockeys in Australia at the moment and he will not die wondering here.
McDougall should be able to find a spot up on the speed to take the wide barrier out of the equation.
Suggested bet: Sharlie win at $3.3
Port Macquarie Race 6
#9 Faatinaat
Market is suggesting this is a race between French Marine and Faatinaat but we will be siding with the latter.
Faatinaat has had two runs at the track this preparation for one win and third-placed finish last start when making the rise in distance from 1100 metres to 1200 metres.
That run should see him perfectly conditioned from a fitness point of view to run out a strong 1200-metre race and he will be given every chance from a soft barrier.
Hoping jockey Ashley Morgan can settle this three-year-old filly a little closer to the speed than she was last start.
If that occurs, she is the one to knock off.
Suggested bet: Faatinaat win at $2.9
Suggested Exotic: Quinella – 2 & 6
