Kilmore, Newcastle and Pakenham host Thursday thoroughbred racing from across Australia.
It was an almost day yesterday with Star of Manhattan saluting and then a host of seconds thereinafter.
Time to bounce back with today’s best bets.
Giddy up, punters!
Kilmore Race 3
#5 Deploy and destroy
Deploy and Destroy went absolutely terribly when he was heavily backed to win his maiden at Stawell over 1600 metres.
He settled out the back of the field and attempted to loop them but gave nothing in the straight when asked for an effort, suggesting he just did not want to be at the races.
The two runs prior to that failure were quite encouraging and given the market sided with him last start that has to be paid it’s due credence.
Trainer Jamie Edwards has applied the blinkers to switch this horse on and it might just be the gear change this horse needs to break through for that so far elusive win.
Suggested Bet: Deploy and Destroy win at $3.3
Kilmore Race 5
#5 Ocean Drive
Ocean Drive has only won one race in her 22-start career but she gets a great chance to break through for another win in this BM-58 over 1100 metres.
Her last run ins BM-58 grade saw her start a well backed $3 elect over 1000 metres at Terang and after being restrained from a wide barrier, she flashed home to just miss out on victory.
However, it was the last start effort that caught the eye when she ran on well in BM-64 grade behind two smart fillies Okay To Pay and Yosemite.
The latter has since come out and won on Tuesday at Geelong to frank the form line.
Jockey Neil Farley needs to be positive from the barrier to ensure this four-year-old mare gets the best opportunity to win.
Suggested Bet: Ocean Drive win at $4.4
Newcastle Race 1
#9 Tillotson
John Thompson may have unearthed a sharp progressive filly in the form of Tillotson.
She is yet to run a race but has had three trials in preparation for her race debut with the most recent of those being a quiet 800-metre trial at Kemlba Grange.
Nash Rawiller, who rode her in the trial, is replaced by lesser known jockey Keagan Latham who gets a chance to show his worth aboard this sprinter.
There looks to be a fair bit of pace engaged early in this race and from barrier five, Latham should be able to sneak into a nice spot just behind the lead speed with cover.
Suggested Bet: Tillotson win at $3
Pakenham Race 8
#4 Trench Warfare
Trench Warfare pulled up lame after running in a brutal race at Sandown over the 2100 metres last start.
After settling just worse than midfield some ten lengths off the lead speed, he failed to let down after being a well backed commodity.
He comes into this mile race off a month freshen-up which should hopefully do him the world of good and his last start two starts over 1600 metres in BM-64 grade he has started a $2.5 and $2.6 favourite.
Damien Oliver takes the ride and from barrier one the four-year-old gelding should be afforded a much softer passage than what he had at Sandown.
Suggested bet: Trench Warfare win at $4.6
