With most of the attention focused on Magic Millions Day at the Gold Coast this Saturday, January 13th, we’ve decided to just preview the best betting races at Flemington and Randwick on Saturday instead of previewing each meeting in its entirety.
You can check out our full preview of the Gold Coast meeting for Magic Millions Day here, and hopefully snag a few winners in Melbourne and Sydney from our selections below!
Also don't forget to check out this week's racing podcast for more in depth discussion of a big Saturday of racing!
FLEMINGTON BEST BETS
Race 7
The Chester Manifold Stakes looks a nice race for DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR, who put four wins together before a short let-up, including two during the Spring carnival in Melbourne. He’s undefeated at this distance and draws to get a suck run once again here. This will be his biggest test yet, as he has to lump 59kg rather than the 54kg he was carrying in his two Melbourne wins, but he won first up from an identical break back in October and has a great fresh record, so if he’s near peak fitness then he should once again prove very hard to beat. Think the $4 on offer is quite attractive. LITE’N IN MY VEINS is ready to win. He was well-backed first up when he had no luck, and bounced back from a flat second up run to run 2nd last start behind Ozi Choice (who is flying) despite sitting three-wide the trip.He’ll go back from barrier 10 but expect him to be running home very strongly. $6 is about right. Expect a bold run from GOLD SYMPHONY who tackles this third up from a spell and has been sent down from Sydney by Team Snowden. Keep BURNING FRONT and NIKITAS safe – both from the Weir yard and he generally gets horses to peak at Flemington for races like this.
TIP: Dollar For Dollar / Lite’n In My Veins EW
Race 8
Very keen on KEN’S DREAM here, who looks the best bet of the day at Flemington. He ran a very good race first up at Moonee Valley, when he got a long way back in the run but finished off strongly to get within 1.4L on a day where it was very hard to make ground. That was his first start as a gelding, and he ticks plenty of boxes here. Down significantly in weight, back to the Flemington straight, good barrier draw, second up and won’t mind if any rain falls. Looks a terrific chance in a somewhat thin race. $4.80 is a great price. I thought INVINCIBLE AL was the value in the race, but he’s since been scratched. That could leave BENZ as the biggest danger. He was backed off the map first up last prep but pulled up with a few issues, despite only being beaten a length. He’s still only a four-year-old so if he’s come back as well this time around as they thought he was last time around, then he should be extremely competitive at $6. THERMAL CURRENT is knocking on the door, PRINCEFAMOUS worth consideration.
TIP: Ken’s Dream
Race 9
Tough race, but think MOONLOVER gets her chance to win again here. I was against her last start and she led everywhere bar the post, eventually run down late by promising Tasmanian raider Life On The Wire. Prior to that, she ran 2nd to Widgee Turf, who has since won twice. She’s had five starts this prep for one win and four 2nds, so the $5.50/$2.30 we’re getting each way looks a terrific 1x3 bet. SHARING could be the value at $9.50. She didn’t get much luck first up and then ran well behind SOHO RUBY last start, beaten 1.75L. She gets a 2.5kg weight swing in her advantage here and draws nicely, so can turn the tables. SOHO RUBY is every chance once again given she draws barrier 4, and ROYAL FASHION looks ready to win. Good bet Moonlover each way and something on Sharing.
TIP: Moonlover / Sharing EW
RANDWICK BEST BETS
Race 2
Competitive little race this and my degree of confidence isn’t great, but I’ll be having a stab at two at each way prices here. ANOTHER SIN was talked up hugely before its debut in a Highway Handicap, which it won. That’s not easy to do at your first race start, despite the class not being as good as this. He then failed in Group 3 company and was sent for a spell straight away. He resumes here and if he’s as good as they talked him up to be, then he could be competitive in a race like this at this time of year. $8 is a decent enough price to find out from the good draw. LIGHTZ is a perennial trial blackbooker, but it doesn’t necessarily transfer into raceday performance. His first up record also leaves much to be desired, but he did run a narrow 2nd to a decent horse at the end of last prep following a maiden win. He’s once again trialled well and like Another Sin, could run a bold race first up at $9. PENDELOQUE and KENNEDY the obvious horses to beat.
TIP: Another Sin EW / Lightz EW
Race 4
Relatively keen to back TIP TOP here at $5. He did a good job first up to get as close as he did after jumping slowly and settling at the back of the field. He won second up last preparation and looks to find a winnable race here, particularly given he carries just 51kg. REACH FOR HEAVEN looks ready to go very close first up here with three trials under the belt. He won first up last preparation and although it was at Newcastle, it was a convincing win. BRATISLAVA has obvious claims after two good runs this campaign, while AGENT D’OR is another that can feature. Backing Tip Top and saving on Reach For Heaven.
TIP: Tip Top
Race 7
Very keen to bet here. The clear value in the race is CARELESS, who looks one of the better value plays of the day, but unfortunately the $26 that he opened at has been quickly snapped up and $14 is the best we’re getting now. He did nothing first u, but he never does (8 starts, 3 placings). His second up record (6 starts, 1 win, 3 placings) indicates he improves sharply, and he also steps up to the 1400m today which is his pet distance. The blinkers go back on and he’s won a trial since his first up run, so he looks primed to run a very big race at good odds. SIZZLING BULLET returns as a gelding here and is the other that appeals at good odds. We’re getting $7.50 and despite this being short of his best trip, he may be able to sprint well fresh here two stones lighter. SAMADOUBT won easily two starts ago and id a good job to hold down 3rd last week on a track that didn’t suit leaders. Quick back up into this race and should be very competitive. Backing Careless for a big result, also backing Sizzling Bullet and saving on Samadoubt.
TIP: Careless EW / Sizzling Bullet EW
Race 8
Not much to write here – SUGAR BELLA looks a complete moral! Hugely impressive in two starts this campaign, and she was our best bet when really stamping herself as a serious mare last start. This field isn’t much chop and she should be able to take care of this lot.
TIP: Sugar Bella
Race 9
Tricky sort of race with multiple Waller runners in the race over the 1800m – a formula which turns the race into a bit of a guessing game. VAUCLUSE BAY was very well backed late last start and ran well to finish 2nd, indicating he’s ready to win one. He’s fourth up here and proved last prep that when he finds form, he generally keeps it. Expecting him to go close today at $4.60. The value could be INVICTA, who I was very keen on last start at similar odds. The form guide will say he ran last, but he really should have been in the finish. He didn’t have any room in the straight, and just as he was starting to get into it, he got chopped out badly and was out of the race. Robert Thompson returns to take the ride, and when he takes a ride in the city it’s generally a sign that the horse will go well. The 1800m is some query but $12 is good enough odds to go again. Saving on NOTHING BOX.
TIP: Vaucluse Bay / Invicta EW
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