Welcome to our preview and horse racing betting tips for racing at Ballarat and Canterbury on Wednesday, May 22nd.
Ballarat is currently rated a Soft 6 with the rail in the true position, while Canterbury is a Good 4 with the rail out 3m.
We've picked out our three best bets from each track below!
Ballarat Racing Tips
Race 4
Two standouts I'm keen to back in this field of seven. (2) Lady of Flanders resumed with a sound run first up behind Swift Sis down the Flemington straight, beaten 2.7L. She's had nine weeks off since that run. She drops from Open mares company to a BM78 today, again against her own sex. Last prep she was only 1.7L off the likes of I Am A Star and Kenedna, so this race is well within her grasp. The slight query is the fact concussion plates go on for the first time, and with nine weeks between runs that might indicate that she's had a few issues since her first up run. Regardless, if she brings her best form, she'll go mighty close. (4) Something Silver is the value at $7.50. She comes into this fresh off a three-month spell and she's won two of her three starts when first up. Won over 1100m first up last prep so the 1200m shouldn't be too short for her, she draws well and has won on soft ground. Think she's a legitimate winning chance in a race with a few suspects.
Also backing: (2) Lady of Flanders $3.30
(4) Something Silver
$7.50
Race 5
Another race where two stand out. There's a few suspects in this one too, none bigger than (6) Cincinnati Red, who has won just one race from 15 starts, with a further nine minor placings. But she really does find a very winnable race first up here. She's been very competitive in races of far more quality than this. She won her only race first up last prep over this distance, and she cantered in by 4L, so hopefully she can produce a similar run fresh today. The value could be (8) Prahaar at $9.00. Again, another one that's not exactly a prominent winner (2/15) but she's had no luck in her past two starts. Three back, she went close over this track and distance, and then she was caught wide without cover at Bendigo before being held up the entire straight last start. I think she's going better than her form suggests and could be competitive.
Race 7
13 lining up here over the mile in a BM64. There's four worth highlighting. (1) Bronski comes across from South Australia, where he was beaten 1.6L resuming at Penola. He's placed in 10 of his 12 starts and has never finished out of the top two in this class. He's also never finished out of the top two in four starts on soft ground, so if the track is still soft by this race, he should be right in the race. He carries weight but looks a good each way chance at $7.00. (13) Room To Rhyme is the value at $11. She finished last, beaten 6L first up, but I think she'll come on plenty for that as it was her first start in 31 weeks. She's much better suited on soft ground here. She's never won from seven starts on good ground, but has won twice and placed three times from six starts on soft. She's also placed in all three starts when second up from a spell. (12) Pure Colour has come back in good form this prep, with a narrow defeat first up followed by a narrow win last start. There's already been two horses come out of the race she won last start that have also won since, so the form looks strong enough for a BM58 contest. She's up in grade today but is yet to miss a place on soft ground and looks suited. (7) Tee Train is third up today after two good runs. He's back down in class today but takes on the older horses. His best two runs have also both been on soft ground so he's suited too.
Value: (13) Room To Rhyme $11
Canterbury Racing Tips
Race 2
I rarely bet in these two-year-old races but I liked the debut of (2) Maddi Rocks for the Waller stable and she finds a very winnable race at her second race start today. She was beaten 1.5L on debut behind California Zimbol, who started favourite for a race in Brisbane on the weekend and ran really well despite having no luck. I think that's a really solid formline to follow, especially for a midweek maiden like this, so with James McDonald going on, she's definitely the one they all have to beat.
Race 5
There's only three horses in this race that bring recent metropolitan form. They are (2) Metamorphic, (3) Forever Newyork and the current favourite (9) Medovina. I'm quite happy to take on Medovina here; she's yet to place from three starts at Canterbury and yet to place from five starts in the class. Metamorphic goes on top. He's placed in three of his four starts first up, five from six at the track and distance, and has never finished out of the money on good ground. His recent trial was very good, going to the line with Ringerdingding. Forever Newyork looks the value at $8.00. I backed him first up and he ran well for 3rd behind Kolding, who looks a new horse as a gelding. Forever Newyork has won three from six when second up, four from seven at the distance and has won at the track too. Drawn awkwardly in 10 but he can be competitive in this field, which lacks a lot of form with any substance.
Value: (3) Forever Newyork $8.00
Race 6
Think there's a really good each way bet in the form of (4) C'est Davinchi at $7.00. He ran 2nd last start, splitting Kolding and Forever Newyork. We'll get a guide on how Forever Newyork goes in the race prior to this, but I think the form behind Kolding is pretty good. He's come back much better as a gelding and looks set to be competitive in Queensland. C'est Davinchi is third up today - both his previous third up runs have resulted in top two finishes and he's also got two wins and a 3rd from three starts at this track and distance. Up in trip today should suit and despite the wide draw I think he's at least a great place bet ($2.40 available).
