Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing on Thursday, August 20th.
The Rowley Mile meeting at Hawkesbury adds plenty of spice to the day's racing action on Thursday, while over in the West there looks to be a standout bet on the card at Pinjarra.
Find Tim Geers' preview and betting tips for the day below!
Horse Racing Tips: Thursday, August 20th
Pinjarra Race 7 (Market)
I think the special of the day at Pinjarra is (7) Tycoon Storm. She’s a very talented filly who will contest better races than this. She’s won three of her five career starts and although she tackles a Class 5 first up here, I think she can handle it on her way back to racing in town. Trainer Lindsey Smith operates at about 27% here at Pinjarra and I think this is quite clearly his best chance of the day. She’s won two of her three starts at this track, with her only failure coming in the Magic Millions race when dropping back from 1500m to 1200m. She’s had two trials in readiness for this and I like the fact she resumes over 1400m rather than a shorter trip – fitness is no worry with this stable and she draws well in barrier 1. She can sit wherever she’s comfortable and so long as the gap comes, I think she’ll be winning this. I’m surprised we are getting $2.30 and it wouldn’t surprise me if she started closer to even money. Very keen. The only danger looks to be (1) Super Teroitoa who has placed in five of his last six starts, with the exception being when he was caught three-wide the trip. He should be right around the mark again and $8.00 looks a reasonable price.
Hawkesbury Race 1 (Market)
Two runners I’ll be backing to start the day at Hawkesbury. (5) Crosscheck was a big drifter in betting first up at Kembla and ran accordingly. Hopefully with that run under the belt, and a return to a firmer surface means he improves sharply. John O’Shea had a 26% strike rate here at Hawkesbury last season and this looks the better of his two chances on the day. (6) Fields Of Honour is the other horse I’ll be backing, from the Bjorn Baker stable and coming into this off a good trial. He’s had four in total but the latest of those was by far the best and he can give a good sight at $11. Chris Waller has the favourite in the form of (7) Game Royal but he only trained two winners from 34 starters here last season so I’m going to take him on.
Value: (6) Fields Of Honour $11
Hawkesbury Race 3 (Market)
Again, I’m siding with the Bjorn Baker runners on debut here and I’m going to have a decent bet at them too. (9) Russbuss is the clear top pick for me. His recent trial at Warwick Farm was outstanding, speeding along to lead all the way under no pressure. He should be able to find the front here with that tactical speed, and that’s often a big advantage here at Hawkesbury. (3) Tintagel was also good at both her trials. She was placed under a little bit of pressure but responded nicely and was strong through the line. Barrier 10 could be an awkward one for her – she isn’t necessarily a speedster like Russbuss so it remains to be seen what tactics they use. Bjorn Baker had a 23% strike rate here last season so hopefully one of these two continue his good record. Having a good bet at Russbuss at $4.80 and a smaller bet at Tintagel at $8.50.
Value: (3) Tintagel $8.50
Hawkesbury Race 6 (Market)
Gai Waterhouse is the trainer with the best strike rate at Hawkesbury, operating at 52%, which is just insane. One reason her record is so good here is because leaders can often be advantaged. One of her three runners today is (1) Elder Prince who is the designated leader in this race. He led all the way to win at Newcastle three starts ago but has since failed in two runs at Gosford and Goulburn. Those were both on heavy ground, while all his best form has been on good ground, so I wonder if the slightly firmer track today will help him. I suspect he’s going to outrun his price of $9.50 and he may start shorter so I’ll take those odds. The other in the race I’m keen to back is (4) Tectonicus who I was on last start when he won at Canterbury. He sat a bit further forward that day with the blinkers on for the first time and he shouldn’t be too far off them again today. He steps up to 1800m which should be OK based on the way he finished off last start. Gerald Ryan is another trainer with a terrific strike rate here, operating at about 32% for the past 12 months. (5) Malfy is the biggest danger to them.
Value: (1) Elder Prince $9.50
Hawkesbury Race 7 – Listed Rowley Mile (Market)
Not really that keen to bet here but I’ve previewed the feature race of the day in any case. It’s worth noting that before James Cummings won this race last year, Chris Waller and Gai Waterhouse had won the four previous runnings of this race between them. It’s also worth pointing out that mares traditionally struggle in this race. A mare hasn’t won this race since 2007. Based on that alone I could rule out five of the 12 runners. There are three runners that stand out to me. (2) Order Again won’t get a better chance to win a race for Chris Waller than he gets today. He’s on a five-day back up after racing at Randwick last weekend and his run wasn’t all that bad all things considered. Prior to that he was close up in three Listed races in town. JMac goes on for the first time since Waller took over training of the horse and he’s come up with barrier 1, so everything points to him being exceptionally hard to beat. (6) Rapido Chaparro is the horse I think is a big price at $18. He doesn’t normally fire first up from a spell but I think Waterhouse/Bott will have him ready today. I’ve already mentioned their outstanding strike rate at this track, and their good record in this race. A firm track would be ideal for him but I still think he might give this a shake at big odds. (8) Spencer would probably also prefer a firm track but he’s run some very good races on the bog tracks this Winter. He ran 2nd in his only prior start at this track and he could be a blowout chance at $23.
Value: (6) Rapido Chaparro $18
