Welcome to our preview and horse racing betting tips for racing at Moonee Valley on Friday, October 25th.
The Group 1 Manikato Stakes headlines tonight's eight-race card.You can find our comprehensive runner-by-runner preview of the feature race HERE!
The track is rated a Good 4 with the rail in the true position, though there is a little bit of rain predicted tonight.
Check out our preview and betting tips for the whole card below.
Moonee Valley Racing Tips: Friday, October 25th
Best Bet: Race 2 - (1) Widgee Turf
Best Value: Race 7 - (5) Vital Silver
Race 1 (Market)
Very competitive race to kick things off with and it may pay to sit back and watch to see what the track does. (5) Hearty Lass ran 2nd to a very handy horse in Garner first up and then backed that up with a win over 955m here last start. If she can run up to that sort of form again she'll be competitive. (1) Amelia's On Fire comes across to Melbourne having won last start in Perth. She tends to race up on speed so will kick through from barrier 2, but she carried 54kg last start and carries 60kg tonight which is some concern. (2) Sizzlefly should enjoy a good tempo on up front. She's unbeaten from three starts over 1000m and with the rail true, she might be able to round them up from off the pace. The form out of her last start is questionable though. (6) Ruuca was beaten less than 0.5L last start after sitting four-wide without cover throughout. That was his second career start, with his debut being a good win at Ipswich. The query is the strength of the Queensland form. (8) Dane Clipper started close enough to favourite at Flemington last start when 3rd behind Sisstar, but pulled up with the thumps so had an excuse. Competitive race!
Race 2 (Market)
Happy to be with (1) Widgee Turf here. He's one of the most consistent horses going around, with 24 placings from 33 starts. He's raced over this track and distance three times for two wins and a 2nd and he drops out of G1 company after finishing 9th in the Toorak Handicap last start. Prior to that he ran 3rd in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and first up he raced against the likes of The Inevitable over 1200m here. This is much easier, he's drawn well and the 61kg isn't so much of an issue with the compressed weights. (2) Iconoclasm did beat Widgee Turf over this track and distance in this same race last year and they carry basically the same weights tonight as they did then. But I'm not sure he's going as well.
Race 3 (Market)
I'm going to stick with Paddy Payne and Billy Egan here with a horse that's been very good to us this prep, and that's (5) Double You Tee. He's absolutely flying, with four wins and a 0.1L 2nd from five starts this preparation! He's undefeated at this distance and he drops form 60kg to 55kg with the rise in grade tonight. He's drawn a bit sticky in barrier 10 but you can't knock his form and he'll give us a good run for our money once again. (7) Jaguary is another horse in terrific form with four wins from six starts this prep. Probably would appreciate if the track was a bit softer than Good. (4) Morton's Fork draws softly and is nearing a win.
Race 4 (Market)
Two I'm keen on here. (1) Celtic Blast has a terrific winning strike rate with six wins from 11 starts. He resumed with a good win in Adelaide and should prove hard to beat with a goodd draw. The littler query is the 59kg he has to carry given the next highest is 56.5kg. (5) Fill The Flute can probably find the front here and prove difficult to run down. She's had three runs back from a spell now and she's won two of her three starts over this track and distance. (6) Morrissy will obviously be tough to beat, while (8) November Man will be flashing home but might not be ideally suited at the Valley.
Value: (1) Celtic Blast $6.00
Race 5 (Market)
Keen to be with (9) Heart Of Grace. She had her first run for new trainer Anthony Freedman at Bendigo last start, where she ran 3rd over 1500m. She now steps straight up to 2000m,which is the distance she won her maiden over in the UK. Drops from 61kg to 55kg, Damian Lane sticks with her and she's drawn well in barrier 4. I think we'll see her go very close tonight. (6) No Effort is flying and should lead from the inside gate. She's won her past five starts so it's hard to tip against her. (3) Oceanex has had no luck whatsoever in recent starts and with any luck goes close to winning.
Value: (6) No Effort $8.00
Race 6 (Market)
Hoping they can make ground as I'm with (6) William Thomas on top. He's drawn barrier 10 so will probably have to settle back in the field, but I expect him to go well tonight up to 1200m. He was super impressive first up over 1100m before dropping back to the 1000m last start, which found him out. He hit the line well but is obviously looking for 1200m now, so provided he can get into the race, he should go close. (5) Parsifal is racing in terrific form and hasn't been given the best rides lately, he's been without luck. Drawn well, D Lane goes on tonight and he'll have his chance to win.
Click here to view our runner-by-runner preview of the G1 Manikato Stakes!
Race 8 (Market)
Hard race to finish off with. I'll be with (1) Reseve Street each way at $6.00. Ryan Moore jets in and he has the ride tonight in the lead up to tomorrow's Cox Plate. This horse ran 3rd two starts ago behind Rox The Castle and has since won his next two starts. He goes up from 54kg to 60kg tonight but he looks a nice each way price. (4) Cuba will be hard to run down from the front. Nash Rawiller takes over the ride and the horse is racing very consistently, but I don't have much luck backing John Thompson runners at the best of times, let alone when he brings them to Melbourne. (7) Muswellbrook won well first upm while (13) In Hearts Wake gets a run after bolting in last start. On that she can be competitive but she's drawn awkwardly.
