We head to Geelong for a very competitive meeting ahead of Friday racing.
The Wizard of Odds provides us with his best bets and is excited by a handful of maiden races as we surge towards a big weekend of Group 1 racing.
Geelong Race 1
#6 Beagle
Beagle looks to possess talent, but has been unable to put it all together at his first two career starts.
The three-year-old colt from the Anthony and Sam Freedman yard now looks set to to break his maiden after running in a very highly-rated maiden race which has seen a few runners run well since.
He started a $3.9 elect in that race and looked a bit flat after having nearly three months between runs.
The stable has opted to apply the blinkers in order to really sharpen him up and it is likely to be the gear chance he needs to find those extra two lengths to be winning this race.
He also has race fitness on his side which is another tick.
Suggested Bet: Beagle win at $2.9
Suggested Exotic: Quinella 6 & 9
Geelong race 2
#7 Lady Audrey
Lady Audrey is ready to run a big race at double figure odds after her last start failure at Echuca over 1300 metres which saw her beaten a long way.
The set up for her in that race just under a month ago was all wrong having to contend with a rise in distance from 1000 metres to 1300 metres as well as a coming off a run at a heavy 10 rated track.
She looked to race sore and flat that day, but drops back in distance now and back onto a good track.
Mike Moroney has also applied the blinkers for the first time and from barrier nine she can find a spot midfield with cover and hopefully, at the very least, we see her running top three for a collect.
Suggested Bet: Lady Audrey each-way at $11 the win and $3.4 the place.
Suggested Exotic: Boxed First Four – 1, 4, 5, 7, 12
Geelong race 3
#2 Chain
It was a massive run on debut at Benalla over 1206 metres by Chain who arguably should have won had he not been shuffled back in the run at the home bend.
The Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes-trained three-year-old gelding scooted home up the middle of the course to just miss in a three-way photo finish, but was nosed out.
That run is going to do him the world of good and he should strip at least two to four lengths fitter which will see him incredibly hard to beat here.
Love the fact he draws a little bit further out from the rails so he does not get trapped in behind horses like he did last start.
Suspect this gelding has a bit of a motor and, if the way he hit the line a fortnight ago is anything to do, the step up to 1325 metres is only going to serve him better.
Making him the clear best of the day and rates a clear favourite in this race.
Suggested Bet: Chain win at $2.6
Geelong race 7
#2 Influential Jack
He is a starting to become a bit of a non-winner but Influential Jack gets a chance to find that elusive third career victory in this BM-64 event.
The five-year-old gelding ran around in a competitive BM-70 event at Sandown last start over 1400 metres and acquitted himself well as a $15 elect.
He was finishing off his race well and was only beaten by just over two lengths.
The drop in grade in going to help his winning chances significantly here.
He did start a very heavily backed $2.6 favourite when racing in Bendigo 1300-metre BM-64 two starts ago which must be respected in this race.
Jockey Damian Lane should be able to fit a midfield with cover and find his way into the home straight without too much of a headache.
Suggested Bet: Influential Jack win at $4
Suggested Exotic: Quinella 1 & 2
