Sale and Gosford host competitive Thursday meetings as The Wizard of Odds selects his best best from both programs.
The blinkers going on first time for a two-year-old filly should do the trick at Sale, while Gosford represents us with a great betting opportunity in race two.
Sale Race 1
#6 The Cruiser
With the scratching of Musk Lollie, the next best option is the newly gelded The Cruiser.
His form lines for a maiden read quite solid with runner-up finish behind eventual city winner Curran being his last run before being tipped out for a spell.
Prior to the run against Curran, he was the victim of a vicious on-pace bias at Moonee Valley where he settled near the back of the field and was never able to make up ground.
His jump outs leading into this have been encouraging and he is drawn to get a very soft run from a low barrier.
Suggested Bet: The Cruiser win at
Sale race 2
#1 Castile
Castile put together two very impressive jump outs which will have him primed to run a huge race on debut.
His first jump out was run in a sharp 46.71 where he was barely asked to do anything behind Luna Cat who has subsequently run and unlucky second on debut at Cranbourne.
The second jump out was arguably even more stylish despite being run in a much slower 50.62 over 800 metres at Flemington.
After jumping cleanly from the barriers, he was restrained in behind horses and then was asked to peel three and four wide to make his run.
His jockey just slipped him a bit of reign as they corner and he looked set to explode.
Won that jump out with ease and he draws a perfect barrier on debut to use his early speed to full effect.
Suggested Bet: Castile win at $2.8
Sale race 8
#13 Feeling Good
Feeling Good has only won two races in his 25-start career but he does represent good value in this affair of 1200 metres.
He is building towards peak fitness and his run last start sounded the alarm bells after a nice runner-up finish on the Pakenham synthetic.
A return to turf racing on a track with give in it should be no concern given his only two career wins have some on rain effected ground.
Daniel Moor should be able to afford him a cushy run in transit and hopefully the pair are fighting out the win.
Suggested bet: Feeling Good each-way at $7.5 the win and $2.60 the place
Suggested Exotic: Boxed F4 – 4, 5, 9, 13
Gosford Race 2
#4 Premosphere
Premosphere comes into this race off a 223-day spell following two runner-up finishes to begin her career.
The three-year-old filly from the Gary Portelli stable has been given one sight-seer prior to this first-up effort.
She won a trial at Warwick Farm over 740 metres and looked quite sound to run a winning time of 43.80.
Interesting that Kathy O’Hara rode it in the trial but Brenton Avdulla has been booked to ride.
That should be a sign of it in itself to be confident this girl has something under the hood worth backing in this race.
Suggested bet: Premopshere win at $2.6
Gosford Race 5
#6 Maurice's Choice
Maurice’s Choice is bred to run a strong mile and steps up to the 1600-metre distance range for the first time in his career.
His sire, Maurice, was a champion miler and judging by the effort he showed at Warwick Farm last start, he should be going close, if not, winning his first race today.
He should have the map advantage over the favourite Sinba given his on-pace racing style compared to what we saw from his main rival on debut.
The Gary Portelli-trained colt also seems to have a better fitness base to run a strong mile compared to Sinba.
Suggested bet: Maurice’s Choice each-way at $5 the win and $1.60 the place
Suggested Exotic: Quinella – 5 & 6