Moonee Valley hosts eight races on Friday night with many Christmas parties sure to be hosted.
Race one gets under way at 6:15pm and gallopers will be running on a Soft 6 surface, with the possibility of an upgrade to a Soft 5 if Melbourne gets no rain on Friday.
Brendan Bunworth has dissected the fields and come up with four best bets of the program.
Moonee Valley Racing Tips: Friday December 16th
Race 2
(2) Mugen for Clinton McDonald and Blake McDougall should be right in this after a promising debut run (2nd) at Sandown Lakeside three weeks ago.
On that occasion the Deep Field x Little Favours gelding got done by a nose after having a good run on the Soft track. He will have benefited from race day experience, and he is the one to beat in this. McDougall, I am tipping will be having a big weekend, starting on Thursday at Kyneton.
(5) Read My Lips looks to be the danger for the Hayes team. They have put Jamie Kah on top and she has accepted, so the horse must be showing promise.
(10) Miss Russia is a filly having her first start for Peter Moody so must be respected.
(8) Miss Titeline made up a little ground late when running second on debut and is a definite place chance in this.
(2) Mugen WIN
$2.40 (2 Units)
Race 4
(1) So Unusual was strong to the line when 2nd at Sandown Hillside last start and if he doesn't get too far back in this race, he should be hard to beat. There is a bit of pace from out wide so from barrier two he can hopefully sit around midfield with cover and have one last crack at them.
(6) Reservoir Dog has the inside barrier and is very consistent. He has finished in the top four on his last five runs and a placing should be on the cards here again.
(2) Reigate is another who ran on quite well last start (3rd) but does climb 400m in trip which is a small query. Bred by Tavistock though, he should run it out.
(8) Celtic Glory won her maiden and hasn't been too far off them since. Ran home for 2nd (beaten a nose) last start at Warrnambool over 2000m.
(1) So Unusual WIN
$3.30 (2 Units)
Race 7
*SCRATCHED* (4) Incentive won on Soft ground at Albury last prep and comes over from NSW for the 955m challenge after two good efforts (1st and 2nd) when starting odds on.
He only knows one way and he will try and lead throughout, so hopefully he can get one sectional during the race that isn't too explosive, so he has enough petrol in the tank late.
(5) Philosopher is down in class after his Morphetville fifth but does have to carry 60kg.
(1) Okay to Pay is one of the best horses in the race for Philip Stokes but has to carry 60.5kg still with the claim and does have a wide barrier in 13. He has won at The Valley before and does go well second up.
(3) Mir is an ex- Hong Kong racer who is up in class but was an easy winner over 1000m last time. Will try to sit outside the leader or in the one-one.
Race 8
(10) Syncretism has a nice barrier in 2 and Kah will try and sit just behind the leaders before hoping for a gap down the home straight. As expected over the 1000m journey, there is quite a bit of pace in this one, but after a six week freshen up for the McEvoy Stable, she could show up fresh.
(8) Senegalia will need luck from barrier 16 but did win her maiden easily and form around that race and races prior has held up.
(6) Enfolded is first up from a spell but has Damien Oliver on which is a plus and he has trialed up well for this. He has won on the Soft before and the Hawkes stable does have an opinion of him.
(3) Sparring has drawn 14 which is a negative but has shown promise at Sandown on a couple of occasions after getting backed in to win. Craig Williams takes the ride which is a plus.
(1) Syncretism WIN
$10 (1 Unit)
Quaddie Tips
Leg one: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg two: 1, 4, 6
Leg three: 1, 4, 5
Leg four: 6, 8, 9
