Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing on Wednesday, September 11th.
It's a solid day of metropolitan horse racing this afternoon and we've provided our best bets for Bendigo and Canterbury below, as well as a look at today's Balaklava Cup!
Horse Racing Tips: Wednesday, September 11th
Bendigo Race 4 (Market)
(2) Miami Bound returned to the races here at Bendigo first up where she broke her maiden over the 1400m. She really charged the final furlong and was very strong through the line so the step up to the mile today looks a suitable next step. Her only other start was as a juvenile back in May, when she ran 3rd to Sebrekate at Flemington. The race she won first up has already produced a subsequent winner to frank the form so from barrier 4 with Damien Oliver on board today, she looks hard to beat.
Bendigo Race 7 (Market)
(5) Shaq is a decent each way bet here at $14. This horse always needs his first two runs back from a spell before he starts to hit his straps. From 11 starts when first or second up, he's only placed in three of them, but from three starts when third up from a spell, he's got a win and two placings. He's won once before over this track and distance and the mile is his best distance overall, with three of his five career wins coming at this distance. Craig Williams is an eye-catching jockey booking and from the good barrier, I expect this horse to really improve sharply today. (14) Anubis looks the danger.
Bendigo Race 9 (Market)
(11) Hurricane Fighter only raced two times last preparation but both resulted in dominant wins. The most recent of those was a 3L win over 1400m at Ballarat in BM64 company. He resumes in BM70 company today over 1300m, but he won at this trip first up last prep so it should be OK. He should roll forward to sit in the first four or five from barrier 8 and hopefully from there he'll take plenty of beating. He looks a horse with more wins in store. (1) Cuban Toonite looks the main danger to him at $5 so I'd be saving on him. Happy to take on (2) Mean Mister who has never won from eight starts on Good tracks.
Save on (1) Cuban Toonite $5.00
(11) Hurricane Fighter
$3.30
Canterbury Race 2 (Market)
(2) Dance Hall Girl is favourite here in a small field and I think she'll take plenty of catching. She resumed with an impressive victory at Warwick Farm when she led all the way to win by 1.8L. Her other career win was a 6L demolition job at Kembla at the end of last prep. Both wins have been at this distance and being right up on the speed tends to be advantageous at Canterbury. Trainer Tim Martin has a good record here so I expect Dance Hall Girl to go very close to winning again today.
(2) Dance Hall Girl
$1.75
Canterbury Race 5 (Market)
(7) Erno is yet to finish out of the top two from four career starts to date. He resumed with a tough effort when 2nd to Full Recognition at Warwick Farm and that could prove to be relatively good form, especially for a midweek race. He'll go forward from barrier 9 and Canterbury favours those on speed so it's just a matter of if he can hold off the challengers. James McDonald chooses to stick with him after he rode him first up, which is another positive. He will be very competitive once again.
Balaklava Race 8 - Balaklava Cup (Market)
This is a good little race. There's no question that (1) Waging War is the best horse in the race and brings the best form to the race, it's just a question of whether he can carry an extra 4kg+ than every other horse. He's ran 3rd to Dalasan and Scales Of Justice two starts back, and he should have won last start when he had no luck at all. I tend to take those horses on if they have to carry so much extra weight, so I'll be betting around him. (6) Handsome Return produced exactly that when he won first up. He's won two of his four starts when second up from a spell, including a dominant effort last preparation. At each way odds, I'll be having a bet on him. (10) Dexter You Devil produced a good win first up as well and can measure up here, while (3) Wasabi Bob looks ready to do something third up from a spell. He always needs a few runs at the start of each prep to come good, but he ran 2nd last start and drops down to the minimum weight. He's already a Listed winner over further, the only thing that puts me off is the booking of apprentice Jerry Chau. (5) Charossa is absolutely flying and will be right in the finish once again.
(6) Handsome Return E/W
$11
