Moonee Valley Racing Tips for Saturday, January 21st

Racing returns to Moonee Valley in Melbourne this weekend and we have a 9 race card to look forward to as we offer our racing betting tips for Saturday, January 21st.

The track is a Good 4 and the rail is in the true position.

We have had a good deal of success at the Valley recently and it looks as if it could be a day for the favourites here with many very well placed to win.

Moonee Valley Racing Tips

Race 1

Good race this with about 5 winning chances from 8 runners. Pretty keen to back STRICTLY LEGIT here from the Hayes/Dabernig yard and he's my second best bet on the card. He looks a promising young horse - he won on debut by over 3 lengths before finishing 3rd at Caulfield last start. He got way too far back on that occasion and worked home well, and the step up to 1200m should really help him. We should see him a bit closer from barrier 2 and Zahra taking over from Murray is a big plus. Just needs to handle the tight track and even luck and he will be a big chance here. Scratched from a race at Flemington last week and saved for this race so the $4.60 is a great price and I don't think that will be around much longer. Also worth noting this is David Hayes' best of the weekend.

Tip: Strictly Legit

Race 2

Really only looks like there are three winning hopes here but the favourite LA SPECIALE only needs a decent ride to win this. She's at full fitness now and simply got given no hope last start by Murray. Williams on board today is a significant jockey change, and from barrier 1 she won't be as far back. ZASORCERESS is definitely a horse to follow but may just find La Speciale too slick over 1600m, but when she gets up to 2000m she is definitely worth backing, while AURORA GLOW won over 1300m last start and jumps up to the mile and will be thereabouts.

Tip: La Speciale  

Race 3

Three that interest me here. Found the top two hard to split but leaning towards WHEAL LEISURE here who comes out of a very strong form race at Flemington last start where she recorded the fastest final 400m and 200m of the race. The second horse that day was Crocodile Rock who has since come out and won in a canter over 2400m and looks the real deal. This filly is looking for the extra ground here and hopefully settles closer from barrier 5. Drops in grade back to her own age group here and looks a great chance, but she's been well found and the $3.70 is as low as I'd want her price to go. ATLANTIC EXPRESS is the main danger for mine - you can basically put a line through all four of his runs previous to his win last start. He's had absolutely no luck all prep but finally had things go his way last start and won. From barrier 1 he will box seat and the claim gets him down to a winnable weight. The other one worth mentioning is IGITUR for Darren Weir who played up pre-race last start and finished 2nd last, but previous to that broke his maiden with a 5 length win. I'll be backing Wheal Leisure and savering Atlantic Express.

Tip: Wheal Leisure

Race 4

Hard to go past BURNING FRONT here who is extremely well weighted in this. He's reached peak fitness and bounced back to his best last start at Caulfield. Has never finished outside the top two at this track and distance and should be winning this.

Tip: Burning Front  

Race 5

I've got this between two but the clear standout is DOMINO VITALE who comes off a very strong win at Flemington last start when ridden perfectly by Williams, and in good time too. Looks well weighted to me and the barrier should see her roll forward once again, in which case she becomes very hard to get past. Main danger looks to be SEE WHAT I BRING who ran 3rd in what was a farcically run race last start which favoured front runners. Historically her best runs have come after at least three runs, so fourth run back from a spell at a distance she's never missed a place at and with the flyweight of 52kg, she could run a great race here at each way odds. IN FAIRNESS has a great record at the track and must be respected. 

Tip: Domino Vitale

Race 6

Another favourite very hard to beat here. BIG DUKE has the form on the board and looks the best suited at the distance here with a number of his rivals possibly looking for even longer. He absolutely bolted in last start at Caulfield and showed a serious turn of foot, winning by over 4 lengths with a further 3 lengths back to 3rd. Provided he gets a good ride from the sticky barrier he should be winning again. Expect COOL CHAP to go to the front from the wide barrier and if things don't go well for the favourite then he will have every chance of leading start to finish.

Tip: Big Duke (Best Bet)

Race 7

Tough race with a number of chances and on this occasion I'm happy to take on the favourite Crystal Dreamer. Three main chances I want to be with here. RUNSATI looks a decent each way bet at the $9 mark. She's only ever missed a place once from 10 starts over this distance and never missed a place over track and distance. From barrier 5 I think she may be able to get a nice sit on the hot tempo expected and she's racing in great form. ANGRY GEE is another that maps to sit off the speed battle up front and from barrier 6 should be able to peel to the outside and get home late. Didn't get much luck last start and down considerably in weight here but with Williams on board, he should get his chance. LADY ESPRIT beat Angry Gee last start and actually gets in better at the weights. My slight concern is her getting strung up from barrier 1 but if the breaks come she can win again. Happy to have something on Runsati and Angry Ge each way with a saver on Lady Esprit. Big watch on MANOLO BLAHNIQ who resumes after racing in Group 1's last prep.

Tip: Runsati (Best Value) / Angry Gee

Race 8

Another tough race to narrow down but the form from SMART DART's last start reads strong here. He finished 3rd in the Christmas Stakes last start and the 2nd horse Grande Rosso has since come out and won at Stakes level. He may have been ridden a touch close last start so he may well be ridden colder from barrier 8 today but the 2kg claim brings him to a winnable weight. At $6.50 he shapes as a nice each way bet. 

Tip: Smart Dart

Race 9

Looks as if AMERISTRALIA has struck another very winnable race here and can atone for her first up defeat. Much better suited up to 1200m here with a run under her belt and provided she finds cover from the barrier she should be hard to beat. Two at longer odds that could run a race are MOSSIN' AROUND and MUST BE MINK. I still think Mossin' Around will win a nice race one day because she has the talent. The money said she wasn't ready first up but Williams sticks with her and the blinkers go back on today, so if she's met with support she could be ready to perform. She'll get her chance from barrier 4 and at $10 is worth keeping safe. Must Be Mink didn't have a lot of luck first up in a decent race and gets up to a distance she's only missed a place once at from 5 starts. She might still be looking for 1400m but she will be better suited here at her second run back and draws to get a good run. Weir runner at $26 is worth keeping safe.

Happy to back Ameristralia pretty confidently at $2.30 and a little bit on Mossin' Around and Must Be Mink at the prices.

Tip: Ameristralia