Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing on Friday, February 28th.
Friday caps off the midweek racing before we get ready for a huge weekend of Group 1 racing in both Melbourne and Sydney! Racing will take place under lights at The Valley on Friday night but before then, Sale and Wagga host meetings during the afternoon.
Luke Krahe has provided his best bets below!
Horse Racing Tips: Friday, February 28th
Sale Race 1
I was keen on (9) Indiscretion at Pakenham yesterday but she was scratched, not sure she looks as well in here as she will be back near last early from the wide gate taking on the boys. Happy to take her on and install (6) Cheyenne Beach as the top pick. He is a Robbie Griffiths trained debutant that has been to the jump-outs in three straight weeks at Cranbourne. Although the results show 6,6,7 at those trials, I did like the way he went about it, particularly in the latest. He jumped away well enough, never got out of second gear and moved nicely down the straight, only a couple of lengths off the winner and was never asked the question. He looks to have ability and won’t be in the maidens for long.
Sale Race 4
(3) Orrong Road has only placed at one of his 7 career runs, that was here at Sale two starts ago. That day the journey was 1400m, he settled mid-field before fanning wide into the straight. He ran on hard and missed by the narrowest of margins, you could say that he probably should have won had he not raced so green in the straight. He then went to the Valley in a much harder maiden, was slowly away and never got into the race, did get into fourth late, but the tempo certainly suited those up on the speed. He gets out to the 1700m for the first time and it looks to suit, love the jockey change also with Dylan Dunn legging up.
Wagga Race 2
It’s rare when the Hayes/Hayes/Dabernig stable bring a team to Wagga and don’t take home a winner. (12) Sundus is having his third race start, she debuted up the straight at Flemington back in September last year and wasn’t beaten far behind Mildred who has gone on to win again against some of the best 2YO in Victoria. She was off the scene for 20 weeks before resuming here two weeks ago in a maiden against the other babies. She was very heavily backed starting deep in the red, had a soft run and to be brutally honest, was disappointing that she couldn’t run past the leader. She gets a few gear changes here and draws out wide taking on the older horses. Hopefully the jock just sends her forward, carrying just the 54kg she should be able to sit parked and win. The other 2YO in the race, (11) Big Day Out looks the only danger, as long as Sundus has the tactical advantage early and is in front of him, she should get the chocolates.
Wagga Race 6
(4) Equally Wild is flying at the moment winning his last two. At Corowa in mid-January, he began well and took the sit behind the leader, eased around them and showed good acceleration to win easily after a terrific ride. He then went to Albury in a tougher Class 2, was slowly away before improving to be mid-field in the run on the rails. He saved ground and quickened nicely to lead inside the furlong, held the runner-up off late and there was a good gap to third. This is harder, loses nothing with Simon Miller taking the ride and maps well again.