Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing on Friday, February 7th.
It's a huge Friday of racing with no less than eight meetings across Australia throughout the day, leading into tomorrow's blockbuster day of Group 1 racing.
Luke Krahe has focused in on the meetings at Wodonga and Canberra and offered his best bets below!
Horse Racing Tips: Friday, February 7th
Wodonga Race 2 - (Market)
(1) Red Maestro has placed at two of his three career runs, he is only lightly raced, a 5YO stepping up for career start number four. He was on the sidelines a long time before resuming at Stony Creek a few weeks ago. He sped through to lead, kicked into the straight and was only run down late in a track where it is difficult to lead throughout. The third horse out of that race has since come out and won its maiden buy almost 4 lengths (albeit at Hanging Rock), second-up off a long break I expect he will have taken plenty from that fresh run. Should lead for a long way. Watch for any money for the first-starter (3) Next Edition who has trialed well enough, if there is serious money for him, don’t have him going around a loser.
Wodonga Race 5 - (Market)
(2) Montalbano has been up for a long time but is racing so consistently. Three starts back he sat outside the leader and won, again was forced to sit parked two starts back and stuck on well in a much harder race that has been a good form reference. Last start at Ararat he was very heavily backed from black figures into red, led, kicked a few lengths clear at the top of the straight and bolted in by more than 2 lengths with another 3 lengths back to third. The second horse that day has since come and won a BM58 leading all the way, from the middle draw I expect him to bounce to the front and never be headed. This one I do expect them to back so monitor the prices as to when it starts to go off.
Canberra Race 2 - (Market)
Normally I would be steering clear of maidens in Class 1 races, especially ones that have been to the races 28 times and still yet to win, but that is not the case with (8) Supa Hong Kong. He was in a C1 at nearby Queanbeyan three starts back and probably should have won. He was then back in maiden grade and trapped four-wide no cover throughout and stuck on well to place. Last time at the Sapphire Coast he led them up and stuck on well for third, only run down late. The small field doesn’t have a lot of speed and looks to be able to get an uncontested lead. If he does, there are certainly no stars chasing him and he will give a sight at the double figure odds. Wait until late to back him as 28 start maidens that are 7YO and racing in a C1 are not exactly the types the big teams like to back!
(8) Supa Hong Kong E/W
$12
Canberra Race 5 - (Market)
(6) Wicked Willy is a 7-start maiden that gets a very winnable race to break the duck. He is third-up today after a 20-week break and should be rock hard fit. First-up at Bathurst he got well back and ran on ok in a race where it was more favourable to be up on the speed. He then went to the city to Warwick Fam three weeks ago in a much harder maiden and started cricket score odds. He was green and over-raced, forced to sit up outside the speed three-wide no cover for the duration. He was only a length off them at the top of the straight and stuck on well for third after a torrid run. He will find this a lot easier and have him mapped to get a perfect sit on the leaders and ready to explode at the top of the straight.
