The Warrnambool Carnival comes to an end with the last 10 of 30 races to be run on Thursday.
The Warrnambool Cup is the day’s feature event, and there is a heap of best bets on the program.
Warrnambool Race 3
#6 The General
He was moved around nicely in his two jump outs to prepare for this resuming run.
The Richard Laming-trained sprinter is a speedy customer with good tactical speed and an excellent first-up record.
He proved he could handle the wet going throughout his previous preparation, which was highlighted by a dominant win at Moe on the slop.
He is one of many horses who will be pressing for the lead, but he has the early burn to hold them all out.
With the rail potentially being off at this stage of the carnival, we may get an even better price about him.
Keep an eye on the pattern as the carnival goes on to determine whether the inside runners will be slightly disadvantaged.
The market can tend to overplay these ‘biases’ and open up good value.
Suggested Bet: The General each way at $6.5 the win and $2.40 the place.
Suggested Exotic: Boxed Trifecta – 2, 6, 11, 13
Warrnambool race 4
#12 pankhurst
Pankurst has undoubtedly come back a much stronger horse than her first preparation.
She is a horse who has had some niggling issues, which have kept her away from the races, but she seems to have overcome those now.
We saw her finishing burst when getting a mile back at Geelong over 1700 metres, and then she was ridden in the wrong part of the track at her third start.
The spell seems to have done her a world of good, and she could very well find the best going on the track being drawn out wide on day three of the carnival.
John Allen has been booked immediately, screaming that she is coming ready to play.
Suggested Bet: Pankurst win at $4.8
Suggested Exotic: Quinella 1 & 12
warrnambool race 6
#6 worsfold
Entirely and utterly set for the ‘Bool is this Nick Smart galloper named Worsfold.
His first-up effort when he had everything against him was sensational.
He was racing over the mile at Pakenham when he had to loop the field and be exposed way too early with a lack of race fitness and 61kgs on his back.
Now, the circumstances have changed.
The blinkers go on, his fitness will have come 10-fold from that resuming, which saw him sprint hard in the middle and final stages, and he gets the services of Johnny Allen.
He will be withering home down the outside fence, so hold your breath and watch him gobble them up.
Suggested Bet: Worsfold win at $3.2
warrnambool race 7
#6 vanguard
It is the race they have all to come to see – The Grand Annual Steeplechase.
Tuesday’s Brierly Steeplechase winner Vanguard had what caller Ric McIntosh proclaim as ‘the best Grand Annual trial’ he had ever seen.
He might right on the money given how well Vanuard won.
The five-year-old gelding stayed like a champion in a manically-run Brierly which saw his stablemate and eventual runner-up Brittanicus set a brutal speed out in front.
Vanguard was able to reel his stablemate in with only 75 metres left to go in a performance that would have sucked the air out of his lungs.
There is absolutely no doubt he is going to be so much better for the run and the quick back-up will dour him to the point where 5500 metres might even be too short for him!
The Symon Wilde stable has gone great guns this carnival and we expect it to make it back-to-back Grand Annual victories after success with Gold Medals last year.
Suggested Bet: Vanguard win at $3.1
Suggested Exotic: Exacta 6 & 7
warrnambool race 9
#8 angel rock
I am going for one at long odds here and siding with the locally trained Angel Rock.
She is a mare in career-best form and is under the guidance of Tom Dabernig, who is training the lights out.
He has placed this mare to perfection throughout this preparation and is poised to make the rise to 2350 metres after a decisive win in the Terang Cup.
The speed in this race does look to be quite solid, and the favourite Grandslam might not get the lead on his terms, which shapes up perfectly for Angel Rock to get the drop on the leaders.
She has a starting-price advantage and weight swing over Verve Not Verve and can quickly turn the tables on that horse which is hard in the market.
It looks an excellent each-way play for a horse who has not missed a top-three finish in her last eight starts.
Suggested Bet: Angel Rock each way at $21 for the win and $4.8 for the place.
Suggested Exotic: Boxed First Four – 1, 2, 3, 4, 8
