Midweek racing from Ballarat and Randwick-Kensington as The Wizard of Odds continues to pile home the winners.
It’s a tough card at Ballarat but there is each-way value to be found, while Randwick-Kensington provides us with an opportunity in the first at big odds.
Ballarat Race 2
#6 Eclair Sunshine
Eclair Sunshine put in an absolute stinker on debut at Ballarat over 1200 metres.
She settled just in behind the leaders, on the rails and went backwards as soon as she was asked for an effort.
The inside of the track looked to be off that day but she completely lost her action and stride.
Trainer Dan O’Sullivan has since given her a mini spell and she comes into this race on the back of two very nice jump outs.
It was the most recent jump out on the Ballarat synthetic track which really caught the eye.
She showed great gate speed, settled well and travelled strongly without being asked to do much.
Big gaps to the rest of the field and at double figure odds she is a worth an each-way ticket.
Suggested Bet: Eclair Sunshine each-way at $11 and $4.2 the place (No Third Dividend)
Suggested Exotic: Quinella 3 & 8
Ballarat Race 4
#2 Real Feeling
Showed a spirit for racing in her most recent jump out after zipping to the front only to be beaten by Twist Of Fury who comes up the favourite in this race.
Both horses were asked for very little effort in their jump outs and Real Feeling comes double the price of Twist of Fury.
Josh Richards will take three kilos off this Jason Warren-trained filly and it might just prove the difference to defeating the current favourite.
She started $7.5 in a BM-70 up the straight at Flemington and was spelled immediately after that race.
Good enough to win this but we will play it safe and back her each-way.
Suggested Bet: Real Feeling each-way at $6.5 the win and $2.05 the place.
Ballarat Race 6
#4 Billy Mav
Hoping Billy Mav can get a lot more luck than he did last start.
Paul Preusker has this horse going well without winning and arguably should have finished much closer than he did when flashing home to finish third behind Zero Doubt.
After settling in the rear half of the field, he got buffeted for a run at the top of the straight and only hit top gear late in the run.
Senior jockey Declan Bates now takes the ride and the step up to what looks to be a slowly run 2000-metre affair is perfect.
Bates should settle him much closer in the run than last start which will enhance his chances of winning.
Suggested Bet: Billy Mav each-way at $6 the win and $2.2 the place.
randwick kensington Race 1
#9 Saiko
This two-year-old colt has been given absolute zero chance at this first two runs this preparation.
After jumping like a greyhound from a wide barrier first-up, he was reefed back to near last in a race and from then on in it was curtains.
He then copped a heavy track at Canterbury and his wheels spun when he was asked to let down with his run.
Happy to forgive him and from a nice barrier back onto a drier track it should see him improve enough to see him at least run a place.
Suggested bet: Saiko each-way at $26 the win and $5.5 the place.
randwick kensington Race 7
#1 Shadow Crush
Shadow Fox has some solid starting price profiles in BM-72 grade and we’re now getting a good each-way price to see if he can find a way into the winners stall.
He copped two wet tracks at his first two runs back from a spell when starting a $3.3 favourite first-up and $7 elect second-up.
Has since been given a freshen-up and Mark Newnham has applied the blinkers for the first time which should hopefully spark some improvement.
The predicted dry track conditions will suit him as will the map and race configuration.
There looks to be a fair bit of speed on up front and from barrier 10, jockey Tom Sherry should be able to amble across in what is likely to be a strung out field and find a spot with cover.
Suggested bet: Shadow Crush each-way at $10 the win and $3.2 the place.
