Welcome to our preview and horse racing betting tips for racing at Moonee Valley on Friday, March 15th.
We have an eight-race card on a Good 4 track with the rail out 7m. The Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes is the feature race of the meeting, supported by the Listed Abell Stakes.
We have betting tips and comments for every race below.
MOONEE VALLEY RACING TIPS
Best Bet: Race 5 Divanation
Best Value: Race 7 Play Me Now
RACE 1
Two I’m interested in to kick things off. Judy In Disguise resumes from a spell here and if she returns in the kind of form she did last preparation, she’ll go very close to winning this. Last prep she resumed with a comfortable win at Geelong over this distance, and that was fresh off more than a year off the track. She went straight back out for a spell so she’s obviously had issues. First up from a 19-week break tonight and should prove hard to beat with the inside draw and light weight. Kings Brook also comes into this first up. She also won first up last prep and did it easily, saluting by 2L. She’s trialled well enough leading into this to suggest she’s going well. She’ll be coming from the back of the field and should be hitting the line very hard. Happy to back both.
Also backing: Kings Brook $5.00
RACE 2
Not a keen betting race for me. In this race I’ll be looking to the Lindsay Park operation, as they typically go well in these juvenile races. They send out Gentlemen’s Words with Jamie Kah aboard. This filly debuts with the blinkers on which is a promising sign. I’d also expect Cridlington to go well for the McArdle/Mott combo. Draws well in barrier 4. Been a stack of money for Oh So Rewarding but interesting to note Ethan Brown rides that and Damien Oliver rides the stablemate Lucifer’s Reward at longer odds.
RACE 3
Tell Me returns from a break tonight as the winner of three from eight starts. All three wins came last preparation in Sydney and she concluded her preparation by running 3rd in the Gosford Guineas. I don’t particularly like the jockey booking of Michael Poy but the stable’s going great guns of late and I’d be surprised if she wasn’t right in the finish. Non Paear looks the hardest to beat. She’s already a winner at this track and distance and has been in the top two in four of her five starts this prep. Should go well from the good draw.
RACE 4
Winkelmann has had two very quiet trials leading into this but the booking of Craig Williams really suggests that she’s ready to win first up. She won first up last preparation and has drawn well to get the good run tonight. Keen to back her. Music Of The Night has had an odd preparation. She dropped back from 2000m to 1400m last start and now goes back up to the mile tonight. She carries no weight on her back with the 3kg claim and she won her only start at this track. Include her in numbers.
RACE 5
Very keen on Divanation here for the McEvoy/Currie combo. She’s just had the two career starts, resulting in a win and a 2nd. The 1600m first up tonight won’t be an issue – in fact she will probably be looking for longer the further she gets into her preparation. Drawn well and looks open to plenty of improvement, which you can’t say about a lot of these. Tongsai Boss comes across from Adelaide and should be ready to go close third up from a spell. That’s probably the value at the $6 mark. Shoplifter continues to run well and draws the inside here so should be around the mark again.
Value: Tongsai Boss $6.00
RACE 6
Competitive little race. Mystyko might get his chance to break through in stakes company tonight. He was given absolutely no hope last weekend behind Superhard but comes here on the quick back-up and Williams retains the ride. Prior to that, the horse had finished in the top two at all six starts this preparation. Princeton Spirit gets the concussion plates off his feet for the first time tonight which is a positive sign. If he’s able to produce his best here then he’d take plenty of beating. He’s won three of his four starts at the track. Kemono gets blinkers on for the first time, while Thermal Current continues to run well and can do so again.
RACE 7
Stars Of Carrum didn’t feature in the Guineas last start but is probably looking for this step up in trip now. He ran 2nd in the Derby last prep over 2500m so the rise from the mile to 2000m is obviously a positive. Cossetot did a good job to run 2nd last start after dropping from 2200m to 1800m. Back up to 2000m now and the blue silks are absolutely flying at the moment. Global Exchange goes on top after a scintillating win last time out as our value selection. Happy to stick with him tonight based on that effort. He’s drawn awkwardly but has the ability to round them up with a devastating turn of foot. Play Me Now looks the value in the race at double figure odds. He’s two from two so far and has trialled well once again in the lead up to tonight. He should be able to find the lead and if he does, he’ll take plenty of catching.
RACE 8
Going to end the night with Manning Road on top. She was good first up in BM58 grade, winning easily, before running 2nd last time out over the mile here in this grade. Up in trip tonight to the 2000m. Just needs a good ride from the sticky draw. Slick Back was sound last start and the step up in distance is normally a positive with runners from this stable. Mark Zahra keeps the ride. Kardashing has run 2nd in three of her four starts at this track. She’ll go forward from the wide gate and should be in the finish once again.
