Mornington and Warwick Farm greet us for racing on the Queen’s Birthday holiday.
The Wizard of Odds has prepared us for both meetings with the best bets across the cards.
Mornington Race 1
#9 Art Glass
Art Glass is ready to fire her best shot this preparation with a step up to 2000 metres.
The three-year-old filly by Sebring has improved considerably from her first-up run last start after bursting home on the Pakenham synthetic to be beaten by a whisker.
She will be reaching somewhere near peak fitness now and tumbles down in the weights despite the rise in class.
Michael Dee has ridden her at both starts this campaign and remains in the saddle in order to negotiate a passage from barrier six.
Dee should be able to blend the Graeme Begg-trained stayer into a midfield spot with cover off the rails and then launch down the middle of the home straight.
Suggested Bet: Art Glass each-way at $6.5 the win and $2.2 the place.
Suggested Exotic: Boxed Trifecta – 1, 4, 9
Mornington Race 2
#14 Arentee
Arentee had trialled up and jumped out sensationally prior to be scratched from her debut at Sale last week.
Trainer Chris Meagher opted to take his two-year-old out of the race due to the wet track and horrible conditions.
The colt now pops up at his home track and should find the front with consummate ease given the speed he showed at his jump outs.
He went toe to toe in a jumpout with impressive city winner Argentia and arguably had the better of that galloper.
Loved the professionalism he showed at his two most recent jump outs.
Jumped cleanly, showed great early speed, a fluid stride and a great head carriage when asked to settle.
Jake Noonan should have an easy time of it with this talented horse from a soft barrier.
He might not have had a race start but he is the best bet of the day given most of his opposition has convictions.
Suggested Bet: Arentee win at $2.35
Mornington Race 3
#3 Beagle
Beagle has had two jump outs in readiness for his debut.
His first was a 1000-metre jog around the Balnarring track where he flopped out the back was not asked to do much.
He picked his way through the small field to finish third in a professional manner.
A 900-metre Mornington jump out on May 26 is his most recent effort on the track and it was this run that showed he is ready for the races.
After settling midfield, he whipped around the outside of the field and under very light riding made up a stack of ground.
Eager to see what this horse has under the bonnet when Jamie Kah releases the brakes come race time.
Suggested bet: Beagle win at $2.8
Warwick Farm Race 2
#1 Kaapfever
Kaapfever stepped up to 2400 metres for the first time since a two-and-a-half month let up and, although he did not ordain himself in glory, it was a good enough run to suggest he is ready for a race like this.
He raced against Knights Order who has since come out and won the Brisbane Cup to add some substance to the form line.
Tyler Schiller now hops aboard this Joseph Pride-trained stayer to take three kilos of his back aside from having to lug around his handicap weight of 63.5 kilos.
The six-year-old gelding seems to enjoy racing at Warwick Farm with 12 starts registering three wins seven minor placings.
He also handles wet tracks which will only assist his chances given the wet track rating expected.
We can back him each-way at the price.
Suggested bet: Kaapfever each-way at $6 the win and $2.25 the place.
Warwick Farm Race 7
#7 Selburose
Selburose looked to be tracking nicely into her preparation after a solid first-up run but it all went amiss last start at Randwick.
She settled midfield in a much harder race than this and when asked for an effort she failed to let down.
That run came all the way back in April so something clearly went wrong but since then she has had a neat 900-metre barrier trial at Rosehill and looks ready to run her best again.
Interesting that the blinkers go on for the first time and hopefully that brings with it the length or two improvement she needs to win this type of race.
James McDonald takes and from barrier three he will either lead or take a sit one pair back off the leaders.
She will be hard to beat with clear running.
Suggested bet: Selburose win at $4
