Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing on Wednesday, February 19th.
Racing takes place at three of the premier midweek venues this afternoon, with Sandown Hillside, Randwick Kensington and Ascot each hosting meetings.
Find our best bets of the day below!
Horse Racing Tips: Wednesday, February 19th
Sandown Race 4 (Market)
Pretty keen on the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained filly (1) Seatonic here. She won three of her six starts last preparation and all three of those came on wet tracks. It was absolutely pelting down at Sandown yesterday and at the time of writing, the track is rated a Soft 7, and I don't see that improving into the good range, so the deck should be soft enough to suit her. She's first up but gets a nice claim for Teo Nugent here, draws well and all three career wins have come over the 1000m. It looks a suitable kick off race for her. (5) Write Enuff also appears suited by the wet ground. She's a bit of a non-winner but her only win was on soft ground and it also came first up.
Sandown Race 5 (Market)
Another one for the Maher/Eustace camp here with (1) The Mobot, who is a winner of four from five starts. Her only failure came in Group 3 company during the Flemington carnival in November. She resumes in BM70 company here and notably, resumes with the blinkers back on instead of the visors. She's already won a race on heavy ground so the wet won't be an issue. Don't be surprised to see her start shorter than $4.50. The other horse I'm not dropping off just yet is (4) Paris. She was only plain first up at Moonee Valley, but she might improve second up here. She's never placed from three starts on good ground before, but she's had three starts on heavy ground and has never finished out of the top two, so she should appreciate the wet track. She also gets brushing boots on her hind legs for the first time, which might indicate she clips her own legs when galloping, possibly another excuse for her poor first up run? Damien Oliver sticks with her after that first up run and her only career win came second up. I think she'll improve at $6.00. The one with the best form line is (2) Modear, who ran 3rd to How Womantic last start, but 3kg claimer Nathan Punch takes the ride and she'll have to come from near last.
Sandown Race 6 (Market)
Two-horse play for me here. (12) Sweet Gold ran 3rd to the smart Rebel Racer last start and prior to that, ran 3rd to Bacchus on his Australian debut. Those are both pretty strong formlines and the key today is the step up in trip to 1800m. I saw her staying at 1600m last start as a major negative because I think she's a horse that needs ground. She also wasn't given the best of rides last time out, but Craig Williams jumps on today and third up, at 1800m, she should prove tough to beat. (8) Call My Agent should be up on speed and I think he's an each way chance at $7.50. He ran home well from the back of the field on debut, before going forward and fighting hard to hol off Vallauris at Geelong last start on soft ground. Vallauris came out and won its next start which franks the form. Going forward is no disadvantage here so he looks a decent chance.
Value: (8) Call My Agent $7.50
Kensington Race 6 (Market)
Somethiing small on two at good odds here. First of all, I'll be taking on this favourite (2) Lifetime Quest, who was extremely disappointing last start at Canterbury, where he failed to run a place for the first time in his 11-start career. He's proven to be a bridesmaid throughout his career (he's run 2nd seven times) and the fact he could only manage 4th last start despite a good run suggests to me he's worth taking on today as the $2.80 favourite. (4) Herzegovina is a decent chance at $9.50. He ran well from the back of the field first up behind Yitai Synergy, before being ridden further forward last start when 2nd over 1200m at Warwick Farm. He's got a good third up record, has won at 1400m previously, and looks to find a nice race. (8) A Touch Of Luck is a blowout chance at $20. He was beaten 0.3L first up at Kembla Grange, his first run back from two years off the track!I'd be concerned that run might flatten him, but he's had six weeks off since then so he should be nice and fresh. Both career wins have come second up from a spell and both have been at this distance, so I'll be having something small on at the big odds.
Value: (8) A Touch Of Luck $20
Kensington Race 7 (Market)
Again, two horses I'll be playing here. (3) Lewis has been entered for a few races in recent weeks but has been saved for this race first up from a spell. He was actually entered in another race today but they've come to this race instead. He's been given two quiet trials to get him ready for this, JMac goes on straight away and he's won at both this distance and this track previously. Would expect him to go well here. (7) Island Missile was entered to run last week and I was keen on him then, but he was scratched and runs here instead. He's a horse that typically needs his first two runs back from a spell before coming good third up. He's run top-two in four of his five starts when third up. He improved nicely from his first run to his second run, Kerrin McEvoy sticks with him, and the only concern I'd have is the fact he's yet to place from four starts at the distance. $10 is a reasonable price, but he's much more of a place chance than winning chance.
Value: (7) Island Missile $10
Ascot Race 6 (Market)
One bet from Ascot today comes up in Race 6 with (4) Excellent Dream for Lindsey Smith and Jarrad Noske. He was a dominant winner first up at Bunbury before being run down late as the odds-on favourite last start here at Ascot. That was over 1200m but he drops back to the 1000m today. Most times I see that drop in distance as a negative but with this horse I think it's probably more suitable for him. The horse that ran him down last start was She's Alight, who then came out and won again last week. The form looks strong, the race looks suitable and despite there being a bit of speed, he should jump to the front and take some catching.
(4) Excellent Dream
$2.60
