A very confident bet comes up in the first on the program at Pakenham as our team gets for an eight-race card.
Analysis, tips and selections for Thursday night racing.
Pakenham race 1
#1 British Columbia
British Columbia looks to have come back a strong horse since his first preparation.
His two jump outs in the lead up to this resuming effort have looked solid.
The three-year-old gelding took out his most recent jump out with a win over 1000 metres and he was holding his spot past the post under very light riding.
Really like the way he strode through the line and it is surprising not to see him clear favourite over Silly Salmon who has to make the step up from 1000 metres to 1200 metres which is a completely different island.
British Columbia looks the stronger horse of the two and will get a gorgeous run in transit from barrier four.
Suggested Bet: British Columbia win at $2.35
pakenham race 4
#12 wahoo flyer
The three-year-old filly Wahoo Flyer resumed at her home track of Pakenham over 1400 metres and crushed the line to run second.
She settled a mile back in the run and ran a scorching last 800 metres to put the writing on the wall for second-up performance in this mile race.
She charged through the line and ahead the field 50 metres after the post, which give us the hint she has turned into a line chaser.
Barrier five is a great gate for her, so she can settle off the fence and be in clear air at the top of the straight as she builds towards top speed.
She will be fitter for the run and has experience at the track which will bode well for her.
Suggested Bet: Wahoo Flyer win at $2.40
Suggested Exotic: Quinella 9 & 12
Pakenham race 7
#2 no change
Going to give No Change another go.
We were heavily in his corner at a double-figure price last start, but after he was backed into a $5 elect, he simply failed to let down in the straight.
He went on to finish beaten five lengths, however, we are going to respect the market move for him there, which suggested he was going to run a huge race.
He is a big price again here and actually drops half-a-kilo for having been beaten a long way in BM-64 grade last start.
Arron Lynch takes the ride and should land in a plumb spot, midfield with cover.
Suggested Bet: No Change each-way at $12 the win and $4.6 the place.
Suggested Exotic: Boxed Trifecta – 2, 3, 4, 6
Pakenham race 8
#2 secretly awesome
Secretly Awesome takes a huge drop in class following his run in BM-100 grade at Flemington last start.
The Gavin Beggood-trained runner led the field up and packed up shop pretty quickly as a $9.5 elect with 51kgs.
He takes a sharp rise in the weights, but he will control the lead here and has a great fitness advantage over the current favourite Tavistorm.
His effort two starts ago at Sandown was a very similar set up to what he was here, however, the beauty about this particular event is he should get to the front without having to burn energy from a wide gate as he did at Sandown.
Expecting the market to firm with him later towards the jump and is the one to beat if he controls the race.
Suggested Bet: Secretly Awesome win at $4.2