The Wizard of Odds is back to warm the cockles on a cold Tuesday with the best bets from the Pakenham synthetic meeting.
A dour stayer looks ready to break through for a victory, while there is one in race six at massive odds that looks set to run a cheeky race.
Pakenham Race 1
#6 Redsong
Redsong seemed to just over do it out in the lead with the blinkers going on for the first time last start and the shades now come off for this event.
That should allow him to settle and conserve his energy better than he did during the 2200-metre race he found himself in.
It was also his first time ever at the distance so having had the run it will probably have his fitness absolutely peaking.
Craig Newitt hops aboard for trainer Greg Eurell and his aggressive riding style late in the race is probably what is also needed to get this horse over the line.
Looks the clear best of the day on paper.
Suggested Bet: Redsong win at $2.6
Pakenham Race 2
#11 Sacred Cove
Having a slight throw at the stumps with first starter here in the form of Sacred Cove for trainer Francis Finnegan.
The El Hermano-bred three-year-old filly has had two jump outs to get ready for this debut over the mile and it was her recent effort that caught the eye.
She jumped cleanly at the start of her 1000-metre jump out at Cranbourne and was restrained to sit second last with cover in what looked to be a crawling tempo.
She was bailed up in between horses for most of the straight, but she pierced through a needle eye opening was asked for a small effort.
It was a sharp bit of work for a horse who is likely to get out of over the staying trips of 2000 metres and beyond.
Carleen Hefel is riding in good form after having a Saturday winner and should be able to give her an economical run from barrier five.
Suggested Bet: Sacred Cove each-way at $8 the win and $2.70 the place.
Suggested Exotic: Boxed Trifecta – 4, 7, 11
Pakenham Race 4
#4 Offshore Bandit
Offshore Bandit was very well fancied by the market at his only two career runs to date and that has to be considered here.
He did, however, fail at those two efforts when being a beaten a fair way on debut at Mornington after missing the start and then knocked up sharply at Colac.
Since then, he has been sent to the spelling paddock to freshen up and grow into a proper racehorse.
His two jump outs heading into this race have been super and he looks to have come back a much sharper sprinter.
Interesting to note that the synthetic hoof filler comes off which suggests what may have been wrong with his hoofs in his first campaign are now a thing of the past.
Fully expecting him to show his best today at a nice each-way price.
Suggested Bet: Offshore Bandit each-way at $11 the win and $3.5 the place.
Suggested Exotic: Quinella 4 & 7
Pakenham Race 6
#7 Commanding Witness
Forget this galloper ever went around at Moe over 1014 metres last start after copping a heavy track.
He raced outside the lead of a frantic tempo set out in the front and then his wheels started spinning when asked for an effort by jockey Jarrod Fry.
Gets onto the synthetic surface which will see him run much better than last start and the blinkers are applied.
His 800-metre jump out at Moe leading into his first-up effort was quite encouraging and looks to represent his form with a bit more depth than the last start failure.
Suspect he will boot to the front in this 1200-metre affair and try to get this field chasing from a long way out.
If Fry can get a few cheap sectionals out in front then he may just very well pinch this race at a long price.
Suggested Bet: Commanding Witness each-way at $26 the win and $5.5 the place.
