The Ballarat Synthetic season is in full swing with a seven-raced card today.
One of the best bets comes up in the first race of the day.
Ballarat Race 1
#5 Tax Free Prophet
A very solid jump out from Tax Free Prophet has him poised to win his maiden race.
He won his 900-metre jump out on the Mornington track with relative ease after barely being asked to raise a sweat.
Seems to have a nice, sharp turn of foot that is well enough equipped to be the competitive edge in this simple maiden race.
The danger is Raazou but if it as a leisurely run 1000-metre as predicted then Tax Free Prophet is the horse that will benefit from it the most.
Our pick looks to the sharper of the pair and being fresh over this distance range is always a positive.
Suggested Bet: Tax Free Prophet win at $2.25
Suggested Exotic: Boxed Trifecta – 5/ 2/ 6
Ballarat Race 2
#4 Ostracised
While there might be a few more talented horses in this race than Ostracised, he is the one who gets the perfect chance to break his maiden tag.
His two career debut runs thus far have been full of merit.
The most recent of efforts was a runner-up finish behind a smart type called Sudoko.
That effort is, in all likelihood, good enough form to be winning a race of this substance.
He gets the map to suit where he can roll along in the lead and use his fitness advantage over most of this field to full effect.
Suggested Bet: Ostracised win at $2.6
Suggested Exotic: Quinella 2 & 4
Ballarat Race 3
#6 Millenium Jewell
Would not even bother looking at the form guide for this three-year-old filly because it does not read well.
The silver lining, however, is that she had circumstances well and truly against her last start.
She was restrained from a wide barrier and was never a winning in a race where you had to be on pace.
Today, from barrier one and with the blinkers on for the first time, expect a big improvement from her.
Suggested bet: Millenium Jewell each-way at $7 the win and $3 the place (No Third Dividend)
Suggested Exotic: Trifecta – 4, 6/ 4, 6/ 2, 8
Ballarat Race 4
#9 Numpty
Numpty won her first jump out at Terang over 800 metres in fine style.
After settling one spot behind the lead speed, she darted through the inside and let down with a nice bit of acceleration.
She was only slipped a tiny bit of reign and could have won by more had her jockey asked for it.
Her second jump out at Burrumbeet she showed versatility by settling last start and then being asked to sustain a run to the turn.
Both these efforts suggests the makings of a horse who is ready to breakthrough for victory very early in her career.
Suggested bet: Numpty win at $2.45
Ballarat Race 6
#3 Lido Beach
Lido Beach takes a significant drop back in grade to BM-64 level after acquitting himself well in a much stronger BM-78 at Warrnambool last start.
He did a good job to go within two-and-a-half lengths of eventual winner Ocular who is a city-performed galloper.
His effort prior to that was in an unsuitable race first-up against Inn Keeper who would go on to win the Wangoom Handicap.
The form on paper clearly stacks well for a race like this and if they the young apprentice Kiran Quilty can find a spot in the run with cover then it will go a long way to winning this race.
Suggested bet: Lido Beach win at $3.5
