We are only a week away from the Magic Millions as the Gold Coast Turf gets set for second biggest meeting of its racing calendar with the running of The Wave.
There is plenty of value and best bets to be found throughout the nine race card as our team pays particular attention to a John O’Shea galloper in the third.
Gold Coast race 3
#8 Hell I am
Hell I Am was really well fancied in the Wyong 2YO Magic Millions a fortnight ago, but could only a fifth-place finish.
He started heavily backed $3 favourite in that race and that form was also respected by the market on New Year’s Day with the winner of that race starting an odds-on favourite at its next start.
This two-year-old colt trained by John O’Shea showed the makings of a very smart juvenile sprinter at the trials and can easily atone for that debut defeat by breaking his maiden in what looks to be a fairly plane race on paper.
Get the feeling he has a big talent advantage over a lot of these horses and the natural elevation he should show from that first-up effort will see him improve at least another two to three lengths.
Nash Rawiller being booked is a great sign and he will ensure this colt is quickly away from the barriers to settle into a nice trailing spot.
Suggested Bet: Hell I Am win at $3
gold coast race 5
#3 boomnova
The eyes lit up when four-year-old mare Boomnova drew the perfect barrier.
She got a mile back at her last start from a very wide draw, but did a fantastic job to scorch home and almost grab victory on the line.
She showed fantastic sustained speed to do what she did and that is going to see her a very popular pick with the punters here.
Boris Thornton is likely going to settle this mare in the first four of the run and that will have her well and truly within striking distance of the leaders heading into the home straight.
We expect her to start a heavily-backed commodity closer to the race and anything $3+ is an absolute bonus.
Suggested Bet: Boomnova win at $3.1
Suggested Exotic: Trifecta – 3/ 1, 2, 4/ 1, 2, 4
gold coast race 7
#3 love tap
Love Tap is ready to rock ‘n’ roll heading into The Wave after a very nice effort over 1400 metres at Randwick last start.
It looked a clear set up run to keep his fitness levels and sharpness intact before a big attack at this clear target race.
Barrier five is perfect for him and Nash Rawiller in the saddle only has us even more excited.
The rise to 1800 metres for this gelding looks ideal and it should allow him to either lead or settle one-pair back off the fence.
Either way, he is a fantastic each-way chance.
Suggested Bet: Love Tap each-way at $6 the win and $2.25 the place
Suggested Exotic: Quinella 1 & 3
gold coast race 9
#7 mass destruction
The punters will be cheering home the Tony Gollan-trained gelding Mass Destruction in the last.
This four-year-old galloper showed the heart of a lion when hanging on to win after a gritty on-pace performance last start.
Not too fussed about the rise to 1400 metres given this looks like it will be a slowly run race and Ryan Maloney can even control the speed by leading this race.
Think he will get this horse to come back under him and take the sit with cover behind the leaders.
This horse’s turn of foot is better than anything in this race and gives him a big competitive advantage over anything in the field.
Suggested Bet: Mass Destruction win at $3.3
