Back to headquarters again this weekend with a solid 9 race program at Flemington on Saturday, December 17th - for which we have our latest racing betting tips! The track is currently a Good 3 and the Rail is out 9m the entire course.
Race 1
Always hard in these races especially with 4 of the 9 races not having had a public trial. It could be worth sticking with AMERICAN GENIUS who ticks a few boxes here. He's got experience up the straight and strong formlines from both of his two starts so far. His debut in particular down the straight here behind Madeenaty (beaten 2.75L) would be strong enough to win this I'd think, but it's hard to be certain. He goes on top but not with much confidence.
Tip: American Genius
Race 2
Tough race where not much really stands out but prepared to side with LADY SELKIRK who did enough first up despite finishing 10th of 12. With that run under her belt and the step up to 1400m she is much better suited, especially on this track where she has won twice from three starts. Blinkers go on for the first time, draws a good barrier and the claim brings her down to the minimum weight. All that suggests she has been set to win this and I expect sharp improvement from her. MOSSBEAT ran well at big odds for us last start and will go well again, while the value could be Darren Weir's runner HIJACK HUSSY who started to show some form last start.
Tip: Lady Selkirk
Race 3
If MISS WONDERLAND reproduces her last start performance in Group 3 company she should win this despite having to carry 60kg. She won by 6 lengths on debut before going for a spell, and returned with a solid 3rd placing behind the VERY talented Spright during the carnival. That formline is enough to see her rightly installed as the short priced favourite here, but I wouldn't want to be taking anything less than $2.00 with the weight.
Tip: Miss Wonderland
Race 4
SNITZSON was our best bet of the day last start and saluted for us at $8 and there's no reason he can't win again here. He goes up to 58kg in weight after the claim and draws a wide barrier but I think this horse is going places and the 1400m at Flemington should suit him. There's been no early money for him but he's at a price now ($4.60) that's worth backing. SASSOON is one at longer odds to keep an eye on. His debut win at Bendigo was quite good and he strikes me as a horse that could be competitive in a race like this.
Tip: Snitzson
Race 5
BOOM TIME looks one of the best bets of the day here. I really like the way this horse is going and he's won his past two starts at $10 and $7 for us and I think he can make it three in a row. He is racing like the extra ground will suit him and he did run 3rd in the Group 2 WA Derby behind Delicacy which was over 2400m so he should handle it. With the claim he gets in with 54kg and this looks a nice race for him.
Tip: Boom Time (best bet)
Race 6
If the track was soft I'd be all over Odyssey Moon but it will be a Good 3 and Odyssey Moon has never won from 10 starts on Good tracks so I'll be taking him on. I'll be having a small bet on both DANUKI ($9) and LONROCKSTAR ($16). Danuki has won his past three and the past two have been in good style with big weights. Down to 52kg after the claim here and importantly he draws wide which is the place to be down the Flemington straight. Lonrockstar returns from a spell and always runs well first up. The booking of Nolen is a noticeable one and he's won his only start over track and distance. He also draws wide and comes up big odds.
Tip: Danuki (best value) / Lonrockstar
Race 7
GALLIC CHIEFTAIN looks extremely hard to beat after his huge win at Pakenham last start. The horse he beat, Goathland then came out and won by a few lengths last week so the form has really stood up. The tricky thing today is barrier 15 so there's the chance he will get a long way back but if he can tag the back of something into the straight then he should get a chance to let down and run over the top of them. He's hit his right price though. Others at longer odds that stand a chance of winning are HIPPARCHUS, PRIMA and ZADON, who is now 3rd up after a long break and drops from 62kg to 53kg.
Tip: Gallic Chieftain / Zadon EW
Race 8
MIHANY deserves to be favourite here after bouncing back with a dominant win at Pakenham last start but I just wonder whether he will get as soft a run here as he did then. There's a chance they'll try and butter him up but from barrier 6 he should be able to get the lead quite comfortably and his record at both the mile and Flemington are outstanding. If they do butter him up it could set it up for BURNING FRONT or LOYALTY MAN. Burning Front looks to have found form again and it would be no surprise to see him win, and Loyalty Man won the Wodonga Cup last start after a luckless run behind Boom Time two starts ago.
Tip: Mihany
Race 9
Looks as if STELLAR COLLISION can bounce back here after a tough run first up at Moonee Valley. Drawn wide here but that's advantageous down the straight and the claim gives him some weight relief. Ran 3rd over track and distance behind Super Cash and Sooboog last prep which is good form for a BM78 race. ANGRY GEE looks the value in the race after a good first up run but this isn't a race I'm overly keen to get involved in.
Tip: Stellar Collision
Take note: Any of the tips in this article are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always gamble responsibly. Also be sure to check out the Before You Bet Twitter Page for all our thoughts in the lead up to bets! Happy punting!