Tuesday racing takes place at Ballarat on the synthetic track.
The best bets for the eight-race card are in and it looks as though an odds-on favourite is at risk!
Ballarat Race 1
#5 Star Stock
Loved the return of Star Stock when he resumed first-up off a 35-week spell over 1717 metres at Sale.
He was positioned in fifth place for the majority of the run and plugged away well to finish sixth to only be beaten by just over two lengths.
He is certain to improve again for that run from a fitness perspective and he would only have to increase his rating by about two lengths to be a serious threat to this odds-on favourite Girramay.
Craig Newitt is usually a very positive jockey and expect him to press forward in order to gain the upper hand from a speed map perspective.
Suggested Bet: Star Stock each-way at $5 the win and $1.8 the place.
Suggested Exotic: Trifecta – 5/ 3/ 6, 9
Ballarat Race 3
#12 Rock Melody
Rock Melody comes out of what, to the eye and clock, seems to be a strong form race for this type of level.
She ran second, albeit beaten five-and-a-half lengths, to Hurtle who subsequently started a $2.5 favourite in town on Saturday but failed on a heavy track.
This Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig-trained two-year-old filly showed good early speed on debut and with the rise in distance to 1200 metres it should see her settle in the lead from a nice barrier.
The run last start should see her come on at least another length or two and that has her rated on top.
Suggested Bet: Rock Melody win at $3.2
Ballarat Race 6
#6 Jyoti
The eyes lit up when $9 was posted next to Jyoti.
Clearly did not come up last preparation after copping a heavy track first-up and failing then drifting heavily second-up and finish last in a small field.
Tony and Calvin McEvoy opted to tip her out immediately and send her to the paddock.
She has to have come back in good order for a first-up assault in a much easier race than anything she has faced before.
Her form lines are behind horses such as Minhaaj, Mileva, Dirty Thoughts and Star of Uma who are all city-performed gallopers.
Young gun in-form apprentice Josh Richards takes the ride and claims three kilos which will assist the chances of this filly.
If she handles the synthetic track the $9 on offer might be luxury.
Suggested bet: Jyoti each-way at $9 the win and $2.5 the place.
Ballarat Race 7
#8 Show Some Decorum
Show Some Decorum has had zero luck at his last two starts when being hard in the market.
Copped a heavy track at both Moe and Warrnambool and just never got the right set up to show his best.
At Moe he draw the inside gate when you had to be out wide and then at Warrnambool he drew an outside gate on a leaders dynamite track.
He draws out wide in this race but he will get the fairness of a synthetic track to overcome any bias he has faced in the last two starts.
Damien Thornton is riding well at the moment and should be able to afford this three-year-old gelding a trouble free run.
Suggested bet: Show Some Decorum win at $4
