The third on the program at Hamilton is where the best bets of the day races as prepare for an eight-race card.
After a massive weekend of Group 1 racing, it is time to let the action unfold for the beginning of another week of gallops.
hamilton race 3
#14 topeka
Topeka looks to have come back a stronger filly after two respectable runs in her first campaign.
The Tony & Calvin McEvoy stable has slowly but surely worked its way back into strong winning form and this looks like she will provide another winner.
She has won both her jump outs – one over 1000 metres on good ground and another over 800 metres at Colac on souft ground – and she travelled and cruised through the line with nice style on both occasions.
Looks as though she will be very wound up to give this is a crack and is the one beat here.
Suggested Bet: Topeka win at $2.20
hamilton race 4
#4 bellman
With the scratching of Whatafox, this race falls into the lap of first starter Bellman.
The three-year-old gelding out of Belardo jumped out behind some strong benchmark-winning horses, which gives us a good guide for this maiden race.
He may lack the race experience, but he jumped out against a big field and that will do him the world of good as he seemed to know how to deal with racing around other rivals.
The jump out over was over 1000 metres, so he should have enough residual fitness to run strongly first-up into his racing career.
Draws the perfect barrier and jockey Jarrod Fry should be able to settle him on the speed.
Suggested Bet: Bellman win at $2.25
Suggested Exotic: Boxed Trifecta – 4, 5, 12
hamilton race 7
#6 finance choice
Finance Choice is simply low-flying at the moment.
He knocked off his maiden race when resuming from a spell at Warrnambool after being a big market drifter and then progressed to BM-58 where he sprinted away on heavy going.
He has to lob up to BM-64 grade, but he looks to have the talent to make the progression and getting onto better going, we might just see what is truly under the bonnet.
He settles well in his runs, has a nice turn of foot and can make it three in a row with winning form at the track and distance.
Very hard to beat if she elevates another length or two as we predict.
Suggested Bet: Finance Choice win at $3.80
Suggested Exotic: Quinella 6 & 8
hamilton race 8
#13 i'll be gone
This looks the perfect race for I’ll Be Gone to break his run of outs from the winners list.
Jockey Will Price has got the best out of him in the last two starts and he can easily get him to win if he runs up to his last-start rating.
Price will be up and about after winning his first Group 3 race in Adelaide over the weekend, so he will be confident in his ability to ride this horse to victory.
The gelding will be a little bit tardy away, as he always is, but he has a liking for this track with one win from his two runs and has the finishing burst to run over the top of this field.
There looks to be a bit of speed engaged in this race, so the leaders and on pacers might collapse in a heap.
Suggested Bet: I’ll Be Gone win at $3.8
Suggested Exotic: Boxed Trifecta – 2, 12, 13, 14