Friday’s best bets come from Wodonga and Cranbourne as we head into another weekend of Group One racing.
The Wizard of Odds is all hands on deck to find some winners with the best bets.
Wodonga Race 1
#4 Fengarada
Fengarada returned nicely at Kilmore last start and arguably should have won after being held up at a vital stage of the race.
After jumping cleanly from barrier three over 1200 metres when resuming from a spell, he was bailed up in behind runners looking for a way clear but unable to find clear galloping until the 200-metre mark.
By then the winner had made his run and Fengarada could only manage second but that run will have him ready to peak into this 1400-metre event.
He has drawn barrier four and hoping jockey Jack Martin can get him into clean air much earlier in the race than Ben Allen did last start.
If that occurs, he should winning this race with a bit up his sleeve.
Suggested Bet: Fengarada win at $2.15
Wodonga Race 8
#7 MEdusa's Son
Medusa’s Son found himself being a victim of circumstance last start after just missing out on making it his win number two in his career.
John Keating piloted him to sit in the first four of the BM-58 he contested at Wangaratta three weeks ago but as the race unfolded he kept getting shuffled back in the run.
The gaps eventually appeared for him as the field cornered for him, but he had to loop around to the outside and make his run while the horses inside of him were already full of momentum.
Thomas Stockdale takes the ride now and hoping he can settle in an on-pace position early in the run without losing his spot.
Suggested Bet: Medusa’s Son each-way at $11 the win and $3.2 the place
Cranbourne Race 4
#5 La Caresse & #8 Out of the cage
La Caresse showed a nice turn of foot at his most recent jumpout to suggest he is a sharp enough horse to be winning at 1200 metres on debut.
Matt Laurie has a knack of getting these first starters to run well early in their career and this looks to be exception.
Daniel Stackhouse will likely kick up to lead in this race and if that occurs he will be very to beat at this on-pace favoured Cranbourne track.
The runner to have a speculative each-way bet on in this race is Out of the Cage who jumped out well at Sandown.
He settled up on the pace of his jump out over 800 metres and was not really asked to do much but held his spot to the line quite nicely.
Not too sure where he gets to from the barrier but at $14, happy to take the risk to find out.
Suggested Bet:
La Caresse win at $2.25
Out of the Cage each-way at $14 the win and $3 the place
Suggested Exotic: Quinella 5 & 8
Cranbourne Race 6
#3 Hezafox
Hezafox steps up to the 2500-metre distance range for the first time in his career and he has a good enough fitness base to able to cope with it.
Raced well out of his grade at Caulfield last start when being beaten by three lengths to a genuine Saturday horse in Mahamedeis.
He does have a tendency to want to lay-in when under pressure so being drawn on the inside might be ideal for him as the rail can guide into the race.
Expect Jamie Mott to settle midfield with some cover and then save him one sprint up on the rails.
He’s probably got the best turn of foot in this field of handicap stayers and if he can have that energy saved for as long as possible and be given one crack at this field, he will be the winner.
Just needs the luck from that inside draw.
Suggested bet: Hezafox win at $3.4
Suggested Exotic: Trifecta – 3/ 5/ 2, 4
