The Horse follows on from a successful Thursday, with his best bets from around the country for Friday, 4 December. Today, The Horse finds his best racing tips from Mornington, Moonee Valley, Randwick Kensington and Devonport with his free previews below. For race-by-race coverage, including race fields, odds comparisons and tips for every race today, head over to our dedicated horse racing site at www.racingbet.com.au.
Mornington Race 4
The Dabernig/Hayes runner (5) Sense Of Doubt goes on top here after a decent second place at this track and distance last start. On that occasion he ran only strongly albeit outclassed by the winner by a couple of the lengths. He can improve on that showing with Daniel Stackhouse staying on-board and drawing a good gate.
The threats are everywhere with (7) Crafty Bob the most likely after a first-up place. The increase in distance is a positive with assumed increased fitness. (10) Alterno next.
Mornington Race 8
We need to wait until the closer to find the Best Bet on the card in (5) Quesadilla. Five starts for one win and four places, she comes back presumably fitter and stronger. She arguably should have had more wins last preparation and progressed through the grades, but we find her here still in a bm58. She rates on top but gets a pretty ordinary gate, where she’ll need to come across and find a spot in running (ideally alongside the leader). The query is an apprentice jockey—yes it comes with a claim, but a senior rider here would have been ideal (given Walker and Kah both have one ride at Mornington before heading into town for the Moonee Valley meeting).
(9) Mosscon leads the other runners while (3) Major Patterson is the one at odds.
Randwick-Kensington Race 1
The favourite here, and our top selection, (1) Belieber gets absolutely smashed by the deductions and comes into very skinny odds. The Waterhouse/Bott runner was great first-up and looked to have something in-hand considering he would have come-on from that run with fitness and experience. He gets a friendly gate can lead them a merry-dance here again. The threat was (8) My Ruby who was scratched this morning—and there is not much else in contention here.
Your call on taking the odds, but he can tie together the multiples.
Randwick-Kensington Race 5
There are a number of quality horses in this field—and it is wider than it looks at first glance. But we really like the Chris Waller galloper (3) Nyami who we have successfully followed to date. She has built a solid record with seven starts resulting in three wins and two places. She has been racing in this grade recently (last three starts) and has already won, while she is unlucky not to have finished closer in the others. She is proven at this distance and can handle the Good-Soft conditions, gets a good gate, and should have every chance with Hugh Bowman maintaining the ride. At the price we’ll have a decent crack at her here.
The threats are everywhere, with (1) Ulusaba the class runner in the field. He has competed in bm88 graded races and won at bm78. This is really well within his grasp. Another positive is the three wins at this distance. (5) Monserrat has been progressing through the grades but meets overall tougher competition here. He was second to Nyami last start by a nostril. (11) Petaluma paid my mortgage foe a few weeks while competing in country level cups, but is outgunned here. Still one for the exotics. The other Waller runner (6) Sacred Suite could be right in the mix too.
Sticking with Nyami but keen to save with Ulusaba (at 3 units to 1).
Also backng: Ulusaba - $5.00 at Sportsbet
Moonee Valley Race 4
Pretty tough card at Moonee Valley tonight, but the Best Bet on the program may well be (5) Night Witches who raced here over the 1600 metres last start, in this grade, where he rounded them up with complete class. The jump in distance is a positive and he will have come on slightly. James Cummings has Oliver on board which is always a good sign of intent.
There are no major class runners that pose a huge threat, but can’t ignore (2) Influential Girl and (5) Sophie’s Revenge who have both been running well in this grade.
Devonport Race 6
The Golden Mile at Devonport is a competitive little affair, but there are a couple of standout runners in the field. (1) Newhart won by the slimmest of margins first-up but will have come-on from that race. That was over 1400 metres and he steps up t0 the 1600 metres today. He won the Davenport Cup last year and is presumably set for this race. He has already proven himself against a few in this field, (2) Zatacala (6) Cabarrus & (5) Aspirate, and they are unlikely to turn the tables.
The threat is clearly (3) Gee Gee Fiorente who is looking for four wins straight. He has trialed alongside (and finished behind) some of the horses Newhart has decisively beaten, but he seems to go to another gear on race-day. If we take the trials into consideration we need to have Newhart on top.
