Our best bets from Sale and Goulburn ahead of Tuesday racing in Victoria and NSW.
The Wizard of Odds has honed in on a three-year-old to break his maiden status at Sale as well as another three-year-old to round out the program.
Sale Race 3
#9 Unvanquishable
This three-year-old gelding from the Matthew Brown looks primed to run the race of his career to date.
He’s had two runs back since being spelled after a debut run and both those efforts suggest he is looking for this step up in distance to the mile.
The advantage he has in this race is an extra run this preparation compared to the favourite Takatoka who is to deal with a mile run second-up.
Our selection should have a better base of fitness to be run a a stronger mile and he also draws the perfect barrier.
Expecting Takatoka to come across from the wide barrier and jockey BIlly Egan can get a nice sit just behind the favourite, peel off his back and then prove too good in the concluding stages of the race.
Suggested Bet: Unvanquishable win at $3.7
Sale Race 5
#8 Peskijen
Peskijen was very heavily backed upon resumption at Sale last start and just knocked up late in the race to run third.
She settled midfield in what was a very solidly run race and battled away to beaten just under two lengths by Gennady.
BIg jockey change for this event and step up to 1400 metres with Jye McNeil replacing Beau Mertens.
Trainer Doug Arnold has kept her at a similar level to the BM-64 she contested first-up by entering her for this Class 1 and she finds herself still carrying the 56kgs.
Suggested Bet: Peskijen win at $3.8
Suggested Exotic: Boxed Trifecta – 3, 5, 8
Sale Race 6
#10 La Spezia
Much like his progresive stayer Miletus, Jamie Edwards seems to have unearthed another middle distance/staying type that will give his owners some fun, this time in the form of La Spezia.
This three-year-old won her Benalla maiden over 2046 metres with a leg in the air after three runs to ready for the step up to the 2000 meters and beyond.
She goes up in distance again in this race and has to make the climb to BM-64 grade but she showed all the signs that she is capable of doing so.
We side with Jye McNeil again here who hops aboard this Toronado-bred galloper for the first time.
Suggested Bet: La Spezia win at $2.5
Goulburn Race 1
#6 cross creek
Interesting that trainer John O’Shea entered Cross Creek and Indigenous in this race but has opted to scratch the latter.
Might be a sign that Cross Creek is ready to fire first-up after two trials at Randwick on heavy tracks to get her ready for this maiden affair.
Her two career runs thus far, on paper, seem to be a bit lacklustre but there was money around for her at her second start when racing over 1200 metres in a much more competitive maiden at Newcastle.
Fitness may be the only slight concern, with the favourite in this race having had a run under her belt whereas our selection comes in fresh.
Hoping the two trials have been enough of a fitness base to get Cross Creek to run to her best.
Suggested bet: Cross Creek win at $3
Goulburn Race 6
#5 Young Heart
Young Heart drops back in distance and grade for this over 100 metres in BM-64 level at Goulburn.
The set up looks to suit him well here from the wide barrier with Sam Clipperton taking the reigns aboard this four-year-old gelding from the Robert and Luke Price stable.
There does look to be a fair bit of speed engaged in this race and that means Clipperton should be able amble out of the gates and find position midfield with some cover.
If they overdo it up front, which is what we expect will occur, then he will be launching his run home down the outside and climbing over the top of them.
Suggested Bet: Young Heart win at $4.8
Suggested Exotic: Quinella 4 & 5
