Eight races at Ballarat on a Tuesday means the Punter’s Prince starts his week with the best bets from the synthetic surface.
The best of the day comes up in the fourth with a first starter from the Tony & Calvin McEvoy stable looking the goods.
ballarat race 1
#7 northumbia
Has not had much go his way and gets a nice enough set-up here.
He showed he could handle the synthetic surface with a nice jump out on the all-weather surface at Flemington.
Blinkers go back on, and tongue tie is applied for the first time to spark him into winning form.
Suggested Bet: Northumbria win at $2.90
Confidence Rating: 7/10
ballarat race 3
#9 thornbirds
Thornbirds is ready to break through for a maiden victory.
He is hitting peak fitness now, and Archie Alexander applies the blinkers for the first time to find the extra few lengths this horse needs to be a substantial winning chance.
Suggested Bet: Thornbirds win at $3.40
Confidence Rating: 6.5/10
ballarat race 4
#11 navy black
As far as maidens go, Navy Black will not find an easier one to win at her first start than this.
Aside from the Corstens runner, most of this field have plenty of convictions to their names, and she has shown she has a good dash at her Terang trial on heavy ground.
Expecting a big run from her debut, she should be too speedy for this lot.
Suggested Bet: Navy Black win at $2.25
Confidence Rating: 9/10
ballarat race 5
#2 gingerson
He seems to enjoy racing on synthetic surfaces, and his resuming run was solid enough behind smart filly Mietta.
He will benefit from the first-up effort, and Shay Keating has a knack for getting these types of horses to run well at Ballarat – his local track.
Worth an each-way schilling.
Suggested Bet: Gingerson each way at $10 the win and $3.20 the place.
Confidence Rating: 4/10
ballarat race 6
#2 vahash
Races on the backup after competing in a BM-64 1400-metre event at Pakenham last week.
He finished midfield in a race that saw him have difficulty finding a clear run to the finish post.
He was drawn out a bit deeper here to have more galloping. He was drawing comes well back in grade.
Suggested Bet: Vahash win at $3.30
Confidence Rating: 7/10
ballarat race 8
#9 the bont
Usually has a good run or two on him at this time of the year on the synthetic surfaces.
Ran fifth of 10 runners when resuming last start over 1000 metres and should be running on late in the race.
Not a bet with huge confidence, but, at massive odds, he is worth a very small each-way punt.
Suggested Bet: The Bont each-way at $34 the win and $8.5 the place.
Confidence Rating: 3/10
