The Wizard of Odds analyses the best tips and previews from Benalla as we head into another big week of racing.
There is a filly who could potentially upset a well fancied favourite in race one.
Benalla race 1
#9 Star Waltz
Looks as though the blinkers have really switched this filly at the jumpouts.
She showed nice early toe in both her Flemington jumpouts leading into this debut over 1106-metre event.
It was the second of those which showed her ability to stay ahead of horses when the blinkers were applied and she showed really nice improvement.
She carried her head around the track like a smart horse and stuck her neck out under light riding to win the jumpout.
Jockey Thomas Stockdale will press forward from barrier three and either land in the lead or settle one pair back with cover.
Suggested Bet: Star Waltz each-way at $6 the win and $2.25 the place.
Benalla race 2
#8 Chia Pod
Chia Pod looks to have ability well above maiden grade after a solid enough jumpout at Tatura over 1000 metres.
The three-year-old gelding from the Ben & JD Hayes team was up the front of a solidly run jumpout and was barely put under pressure to find the line.
He looks to stride out nicely past the post and was maintaining his galloper strongly despite not being asked for an effort.
Draws the inside barrier and, given the speed he showed at his jumpouts, fully expect him to settle in the first four.
Looks hard to beat and expecting him to start the favourite.
Suggested Bet: Chia Pod win $3.9
Suggested Exotic: Quinella 5 & 8
Benalla race 4
#10 Gobbled
Gobbled spiked in his ratings when the blinkers were put on him last start and he looks ready to break his maiden.
He pinged to the lead over 1400 metres in a maiden at Geelong and was only run down late by Venting as the pair gapped the rest of the field.
The three-year-old gelding now has the perfect fitness base to run an even stronger 1400-metre race and Craig Newitt sticks with the horse as well.
The track should be favourable for this galloper given he faced a soft seven last start whereas here the surface should be drier.
He deserves the tag as favourite after that last start effort and if he can repeat that, he will win this by a space.
Best of the day.
Suggested Bet: Gobbled win at $2.8
Benalla Race 8
#7 Red Peroni
It looked as though Red Peroni just simply did not handle being put under pressure on synthetic surface last start at Ballarat.
The Lloyd Kennewell-trainer gelding had been very well punted in that race after being $12 into $5.
He was asked to sit outside the lead and just never came on after cutting the breeze the whole day.
Back onto a drying Benalla surface should see a bigger impact on this race than last start.
He does have to carry 63kgs, but the weight compression and scale in this field sees the ‘lightweight’ in at 59.5kgs.
Think Red Peroni is a fantastic each-way play.
Suggested Bet: Red Peroni each-way at $9 the win and $3 the place.
Suggested Exotic: Boxed Trifecta – 3, 6, 7
