A lovely way to end the week with the best bets from a competitive eight-race card at Ballarat.
The Wizard of Odds is hoping an emergency can gain a start in race one and if this horse does he is expecting victory!
Ballarat Race 1
#16 Italian Poet
Praying Italian Poet gets a start in this race.
He is currently the second emergency and will need two scratching to gain a start but given we will likely be on rain effected ground he should be able to sneak his way into the field.
His two career runs to date have been full of merit with a debut run behind city winner Lightsaber and then a resuming run last start behind Barragunda.
He was not given much of a chance from way back in the field upon his return to racing three weeks ago after being reefed back to last.
The two-year-old gelding by Zacinto made up plenty of ground to suggest the rise to 1200 metres will be ideal.
His barrier draw in this race will ensure he lands within realistic striking distance of the leaders.
Suggested Bet: Italian Poet each-way at $8 the win and $2.70 the place
Ballarat Race 2
#1 Django Express
Django Express jumped out like a bomb on July 2 at Flemington over 800 metres.
The three-year-old gelding from the Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes stable left his barrier cleanly and travelled under his own steam throughout with a lovely head carriage and gorgeous stride.
His track-work rider had a tough time of holding on given how hard he was pulling at the reigns to keep his finishing burst hidden.
The jump out was in a sharp 47.16, which was one of the quickest on the morning.
Get the feeling when the plugs are released on debut we might see a very smart race horse in the making.
Suggested Bet: Django Express win at $3.10
Ballarat Race 5
#4 Bowing
Bowing has the blinkers applied for the first time in a bid to spark him back into his best form.
He seemed to be progressing well after a solid first-up run behind Cafe Tortoni but it all went terribly wrong at Swan Hill last start.
He was slowly away from a middle barrier and just never looked likely at any stage of the 1600-metre event at BM-64 level.
Mitchell Freedman has since given him a month to prepare for this run.
Senior jockey Dean Yendall takes over from Jack Martin which is a solid lead.
Suggested Bet: Bowing each-way at $8.5 the win and $2.90 the place.
Suggested Exotic: Boxed Trifecta – 2, 5, 7, 8
Ballarat Race 8
#8 Alovelybrownhorse
Alovelybrownhorse has been racing in super order without winning but today is her opportunity to get into the winners stall.
Her effort after a month off the racing scene when stepping from a 2600-metre BM-70 final at Cranbourne to a 1600-metre BM-58 at Pakenham was superb.
She had to carry 62kgs last start and battled away nicely to run fourth.
Greg Eurell has wasted no time getting her up in trip to 2000 metres which will suit her perfectly as will the drop in weight to only 55.5kgs.
She draws a gate that will allow Zac Spain to amble out of the gates without doing too much work to settle midfield with some cover.
Suggested bet: Alovelybrownhorse each-way at $5 the win and $2 the place.
