Night racing returns to the Valley on Friday night with a bang, with an eight race card headlined by the Group l Moir Stakes (1000m), featuring a star studded line up. The weather is overcast, the track is good (4) and the rail is in the true position for the entire circuit.
Race 1. (18:30) Sporting Globe After The Last Plate 1200m
Not sure how well he is going but on class, 1 Kobayashi (Bet Now: $2.70) gets the win here. This bloke hasn’t raced since the McNeil at Caulfield where he led at a good gallop and weakened late behind Merchant Navy. Looks to map really well here and gets Moreira steering from an ideal gate.
9 Over Exposure (Bet Now: $4.80) is a Tony McEvoy trained colt who was backed as if unbeatable when debuting in a maiden on Balaklava Cup Day and the punters got it spot on with a commanding performance, running time and winning with plenty of improvement left. Obviously harder here, but I think he can measure up.
3 Coruscate (Bet Now: $10.00) is a talented colt for Godolphin that resumes here. This boy kicked off his career with a four run Autumn prep, ending it with a down the track effort in the St Albans at this track/distance by Doubt I’m Dreaming. Liked the way he trialled last week at Cranbourne and the runner up in the trial, William Thomas, won on debut at Ararat on Tuesday.
Race 2. (19:00) Strathmore Flowers Handicap (90) 1200m
11 So You Too (Bet Now: $3.70) is a SA raider, this one trained by the Macdonald/Gluyas yard. This bloke was kept very safe in betting when resuming over 1200m at Morphettville a tick under three weeks back and he was excellent from the back I thought when second to the consistent type Chamois Road. Good record second up and you only have to remember last season with night racing how well the SA runners went.
8 Labuan Star (Bet Now: $4.80) is a gelding who is absolutely low flying at the moment for the Darren Weir team. Ran a gutsy third to his high class stablemate Speedeor two back at Sandown before going to Mornington where Yendall gave him a sweet ride, getting three wide cover, clear momentum and got the job done nicely. Harder here, but in a real purple patch and with these Weir horses, once they find form, they generally hold it.
3 Well Sprung (Bet Now: $16.00) looks well placed here back to 90 grade. He has contested a couple of blacktype races to kick off his Spring, starting off here in the Chandler Macleod behind Brave Smash before going to the Testa Rossa last Saturday where he got back and couldn’t come on behind Bons Away. Good record at the Valley and this is the easiest race he has contested in some time.
Race 3. (19:30) Simpson Construction Scarborough Stakes 1200m
1 Houtzen (Bet Now: $1.40) on top, just. She will be much better for the look around here first up in the McEwen where I thought she got a definite pass mark. She has never not led in her life, so horses in front of her was new, first look at the Valley, taking on the big boys and girls…it was all too much and she looked gone, but somehow picked up to run third. Hopefully she pings the gates, leads and goes all the way.
5 Fox Swift (Bet Now: $12.00) was somewhat unwanted in betting when racing in the Cap D’Antibes at Flemington, but she looked to travel sweetly throughout under Mark Zahra and when he asked the filly for the big effort, she showed a lovely turn of foot and that won her the race. Bit more depth here, but hard to knock her.
3 Split Lip (Bet Now: $20.00) should go awfully close here. Smart filly for the Will Clarken team who was really good odds when racing in the Cap D’Antibes last time out down the Flemington straight, working home with real purpose late to run a narrow second to Fox Swift. Confident she turns the tables there and her work on Monday was very good.
Race 4. (20:00) Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge Heat 1 955m
10 Madeenaty (Bet Now: $4.40) is a speed demon for the Hayes/Dabernig team who ran well I thought in the San Domenico but I think 1100m against that class of horse was a bit much. The little freshen up should do her the world of good and her racing pattern is absolutely perfect for these 955m scampers. if she leads, and gets the rail, she wins.
I was heavily against 6 Super Too (Bet Now: $2.35) when she last raced at Randwick because I thought she was a one trick pony. I think she still is, but that trick was used to perfection from Shinn, who broke their hearts, ran a course record and spanked them. Much harder here, but over the 955m, she’ll give a great sight I think.
3 Rock ‘N’ Gold (Bet Now: $13.00) is an absolute beauty for the Ellerton/Zahra team. He resumed over 1000m at Mornington a couple of Wednesdays back and you could see he was a little unlucky not to get the job done, getting badly held up a crucial stage before eventually getting clear and savaging the line to run second to Labuan Star. Loves the Valley and has a really good record in this race.
Race 5. (20:30) MSC Signs JRA Cup 2040m
6 Foundation (Bet Now: $5.50) will be popular with punters for sure after a luckless effort at this track/distance last time out. Was absolutely bolting for a run behind them but just couldn’t get clear when looking the winner and with a clear run at the right time, he probably wins. If the breaks go his way here, he can threaten.
4 Star Exhibit (Bet Now: $5.00) got a pass mark for mine when resuming behind Hartnell in the PB Lawrence before going to the Dato here where he dumped Mark Zahra shortly after jumping. Looked to work in a recent trial at Coleraine this week and appears to have no mental scars. Leading chance on best form.
10 Etymology (Bet Now: $9.50) is a talented horse for James Cummings and Godolphin who was okay without setting the world on fire here last time out over the mile when midfield behind Stampede. Freshened up and looks spot on after bolting up in a trial last week at Cranbourne. Up to the 2040m a big tick also.
Race 6. (21:00) Zoustar Stocks Stakes 1600m
I think back to WFA and back to the Valley should see a return to winning form for the classy mare 7 I Am A Star (Bet Now: $3.60). Will say though that this is her D-Day. Let’s Elope run was mixed. Yes she was unlucky but she was out in time to finish it off, but she couldn’t, perhaps due to the big weight. Back to these conditions, gee she looks well placed.
1 Hell Or Highwater (Bet Now: $4.60) is a mare in a real purple patch for Hayes/Dabernig. This girl has been given a tick under four weeks off since winning the Heatherlie at Caulfield, where her race fitness and race pattern was the key factors in her saluting under Dean Yendall. Maps super again and should take some holding out.
11 Smart As You Think (Bet Now: $13.00) is a mare who is going really well at the moment for John McArdle. Loved her first up run behind Mr Sneaky before going to the Let’s Elope where she was excellent against the tempo when fifth to Sword Of Light. Won her lone start here and if they inject tempo here, she’s the one at odds who could blouse these.
Race 7. (21:30) Moir Stakes 1000m
I think the safe play has to be 5 Russian Revolution (Bet Now: $5.00 Power Play). Star four year old for the Snowden team who was confidently backed when resuming in the McEwen at this track/distance and the bets were landed where he proved too sharp for them and continued his brilliant fresh record. Different gravy here, but once again kept on the fresh side and has had a decent win at the track/distance already.
Enormous respect to the Slipper winner 13 She Will Reign (Bet Now: $4.60). The weight and her racing pattern just makes sure she has to go in the numbers. We know the record of Slipper winners when they turn three. It’s a graveyard. Her trials have been just fair IMHO, but with the lightweight, her speed, the way she has grown…I can’t ignore her.
2 Malaguerra (Bet Now: $11.00) is a star for the Gelagotis boys and he will be sure to run a ripper here fresh. Multiple Group l winner who last raced in the Goodwood and couldn’t really come on when a bit of a flop it has to be said behind Vega Magic. Last time he was at the Valley, he ran a record in the Australia Stakes, spanking Black Heart Bart.
Race 8. (22:00) Johnnie Walker Stutt Stakes 1600m
9 Wassergeist (Bet Now: $7.50) is a very promising three year old for the Busuttin/Young team who was given a lovely ride on speed by Williams to break the maiden at Sandown last time out, slowing them right up midrace before kicking strongly at the top of the straight for a comfortable win in a maiden which looked very strong. Confident he can measure up here.
4 Masculino (Bet Now: $5.50) is a tick under three weeks between runs for the Mick Price yard after doing a really good job to win over 1500m here last time out. Jake Noonan gave the colt a lovely ride on speed on a day where those on speed were advantaged and he just did enough to win. Form out of that was good on Saturday at Caulfield so he gets a tick there, and he will be out of trouble near the lead.
6 Toga Picta (Bet Now: $13.00) was a pretty good run first up behind Dracarys before going to the Exford at Flemington where he was wide no cover throughout and dropped out when down the track behind Royal Symphony. Happy to overlook him for that failure and on his best form, he’s certainly up to these.
Best Bets & Quaddie Tips
BEST BET: Race Six Number 7 I Am A Star
NEXT BEST: Race Three Number 1 Houtzen
VALUE: Race Five Number 6 Foundation
Quaddie Tips (Races Five Through To Eight):
Leg One: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10
Leg Two: 1, 4, 7, 11
Leg Three: 1, 2, 5, 6, 13
Leg Four: 4, 6, 9, 12
$50 Investment= 8.92% of the dividend if successful
Bookmaker | Why Bet | Sign Up | Full Review |
---|---|---|---|
Back Yourself with Ladbrokes! | Join | Review | |
Back a Winner with Neds! | Join | Review | |
Sign up to Unibet and start betting in minutes! | Join | Review | |
Sign up to swiftbet and start betting in minutes! | Join | Review | |
Sign up to Unibet and start betting in minutes! | Join | Review |