Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing on Wednesday, March 18th.
Midweek racing takes place at Sandown Hillside and Randwick Kensington on Wednesday, with several good betting opportunities.
Check out our best bets for each venue below!
Horse Racing Tips: Wednesday, March 18th
Best Bet: Randwick Race 4 - (5) All Time Legend
Best Value: Sandown Hillside Race 6 - (1) Takumi
Randwick Kensington Race 2 (Market)
John O'Shea has a 32% strike rate on the Kensington track this season and he sends around (1) Significance here. He was beaten 3L first up at Kembla where he led and was run down by All Time Legend, which I think is a strong form line. Drawn the inside gate here so he should roll forward to take up a position on speed again, in-form jockey Tom Marquand takes the ride, and the step up to 1550m second up should suit. At $5.00/$1.85 he looks a strong each way chance.
Randwick Kensington Race 3 (Market)
James Cummings has a 28% strike rate at Kensington this season and his only runner of the day is (5) Duenna. She's got three 2nd placings from six career starts and although they've all been on the provincial tracks, she resumes in the city today on the back of two encouraging trials. She's won both of her trials at Warwick Farm leading in and both have been on heavy ground, so she will handle the wet conditions without any issues if the track remains in the soft range.
Randwick Kensington Race 4 (Market)
(5) All Time Legend started $4 on debut but had a complete forget run when nothing went right. He atoned for that and justified the respect in the market when bolting in by 3L at Kembla last time out. He settled right up on speed on that occasion so from barrier 2 today we should see him in a smilar position. Les Bridge has five winners and four placings from 16 runners at Kensington in the past 12 months, with a ROI of 72%. I think All Time Legend can handle this rise in class and make it back-to-back victories. The favourite won well first up at Newcastle but I question the strength of that race and how short he is in today's market.
(5) All Time Legend
$3.30
Sandown Hillside Race 6 (Market)
Two runners of interest here. (9) Playoffs comes off a sound first up win at Terang, where he sat three-wide the trip and still proved too strong. The step up to the mile looks ideal second up and he should get a good run from barrier 4. This looks a relatively weak race so he may be able to win again. (1) Takumi is the interesting runner at double figure odds. The UK import was luckless on his Australian debut first up at Flemington, where he ran up backsides for the entire straight. It was hard to get a gauge on that run as he really didn't get clear running for any of the final 400m, but Melissa Julius looked to have a bit of horse underneath her. Teo Nugent takes over today which is a very positive jockey change. The slight query is the fact he remains at 1600m, given he got up to 2400m in the UK. Again, this is a weak race and I think the double figure odds is worth taking.
Sandown Hillside Race 7 (Market)
I had (8) Hidden Legend on top last week but he was a late scratching when he was due to start favourite. That's always a query when they line up the very next week, but I have to stick with him. He was very good first up at Moonee Valley when ridden negatively, struggled for clear running and then hit the line strongly. He'll be back again from barrier 11 but hopefully the Hillside course gives him his chance to wind up and get home over the top. (9) Aree Al showed quite a bit of talent in his first career prep and probably should have more than one career win. He's had a change of stable and resumes here with the blinkers going on for the first time in his career. Damien Oliver is a notable jockey booking. He's worth having something on at $6.50.
Sandown Hillside Race 8 (Market)
Plenty of depth to this race with a number of winning hopes, but I really liked the return of (4) Killavally, who worked home strongly over 1300m first up here on the Hillside course. Both of his career wins have come over this distance and he should only strip fitter for that first up run, so with Mark Zahra taking over from apprentice Teo Nugent today, he should prove hard to hold out. (9) Orleans Rock looks the value in the race at $12. He didn't do much first up in Adelaide, but he is undefeated from two starts when second up from a spell, and his first up run last prep was uninspiring, before he then came out and won easily second up. Both wins have also been over this distance. Ben Melham is a notable jockey booking, he draws well and overall represents good value in an open race.
Value: (9) Orleans Rock $12
