Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for the final day of the Warrnambool racing carnival on Thursday, May 2nd.
There's 10 races on the card, with Day 3 headlined by the Grand Annual Steeplechase and the Warrnambool Cup! The track is rated a Soft 7 with the rail out 4m from the 1200m-300m and true the remainder.
Check out our preview and betting tips for every race below.
Warrnambool Racing Tips: Thursday, May 2nd
Best Bet: Race 6 – (10) Bea Tempted.
Lay Of The Day: Race 1 - (4) Refectory
Race 1: Champion Novice Hurdle Set Weights and Penalties 3200m
With the scratching of our top pick, (2) Chequered Flag picks itself. He looked to have plenty in the tank when making ground late first-up on the flat, has trialed well over the jumps and the last time he raced over the obstacles, he was runner-up almost two years ago. Since then he has contested some of the best staying races in Victoria, he looks too good for these. (4) Refectory won its maiden hurdle last July, didn’t finish the Grand National and has only been fair on the flat since. Very happy to bet around him.
Race 2: Super VOBIS 2YO Handicap 1200m
Tough race with so many unknowns. (11) Kuramae gets the winkers for the first time, Pikey goes on and she will be carrying plenty of money no doubt. She was good on debut then all over the shop last time, hopefully the gear change does the trick, the ability is there, she just needs to have improved her manners and she can run over the top. Watch for any smart money obviously for those on debut, particularly those with the bigger saddlelcloth numbers (13) She’s A Karaka and (14) Splendoronthegrass. Bet small if you need to bet.
Race 3: Fillies and Mares BM78 Handicap 1400m
(9) Oracabessa looks a great each-way bet at what will likely be double figures odds. She was ok here fresh then was sent across the border to Mt Gambier last tome and was brilliant winning an easier race. She had a soft rails run before swinging wide around the dogleg (what is left of it) and really attacked the line. Getting out to the 1400m looks ideal third-up. (5) Minyinga ran on well to score last time but was suited the way the race was run, (2) Loricain gets the bar plates off which has to be a positive and (3) Kings Brook gets blinkers on taking on the older girls here.
Race 4: BM78 Handicap 1100m
With four early scratching’s it has left a field of six, all of them looking to have a chance. (3) Satori flies fresh, he is a perfect 3/3 when resuming as he is today. He has not been seen at the races in more than 5 months but he was heavily supported that day in a similar grade race. Without any recent trials or jump-outs it is hard to bet with any confidence. One that has jumped out well at Terang is (5) Run Gypsy Run. She is also first-up and has a good record fresh, she has been really good at two recent jump-outs, she looks ready to go.
Race 5: BM64 Handicap 2000m
(16) Skyway Star ticks a lot of boxes here. The capacity field should ensure that there will be hard luck stories, Skyway Star will not be one of those. He has good tactical speed and will make his own luck, she was forced to chase the leader hard last time and didn’t shirk the task. She pulled up lame but has obviously got over that no problem. She takes on the boys here but looks well in. (11) Miss Damita has been up a while but is very consistent, she comes through a decent form reference last start where she wasn’t far away. (10) Dunman looks a good risk after winning his maiden last time, he draws the extreme gate and will get back. Surely, he has to be a big drifter?
Race 6: BM70 Handicap 1700m
(10) Bea Tempted could have not have been more impressive winning a similar race at Pakenham last time. She was slowly away, eased to the middle of the track at the top of the straight before charging to the line for a comfortable win. She is only lightly raced and a winner at her only other second-up run, the jockey selection may be the only reason she is not in the red? With even luck she looks the best of the day. (9) Accreditation can improve with the blinkers on for the first time, (3) Robbie’s Star will get back and may need to be ridden for luck.
Race 7: Grand Annual Steeplechase 5500m
(1) Zed Em can turn the tables on his narrow loss to Gold Medals here last year in the feature. They featured in a stirring battle where the winner actually had 6 extra whip strikes and the margin was the shortest possible. Zed Em is fresh off a dominant Great Eastern win at Oakbank over the carnival while (2) Gold Medals was runner-up here on Tuesday in the Brierly, unable to get the result overturned in the steward’s room. These two had two classic duels last year here in the Brierly and Grand Annual, let’s hope this edition is as memorable for all the right reasons. Happy to lay (6) Slowpoke Rodriguez, his win on the flat was good last time but he has been away from the high fences here at the Bool for two years when he failed to get around safely in this race in 2017.
Race 8: Handicap 1400m
(8) Artie Dee Two has had three runs this prep since coming from the Weir yard, he ran on well at the first couple before winning at big odds over the border in SA last time. He looks suited again out to the 7 furlongs and will get a cheap run in transit, Mitch Freedman looks to be bringing him along nicely. (10) So Far Sokool will have plenty of support, he will be up on the speed but can over-race. If he settles well in the run and finds the top, he may be worth a bet at the 800m mark.
Race 9: Warrnambool Handicap 2350m
(6) Grand Dreamer continues a pattern of backing Ex-Weir runners over the carnival, he has only had the one run with the new yard where he chased steadily in the Terang Cup without really threatening. He has been given a trial leading into this second-up run which was very encouraging and does have a good record this pattern. He maps well and has been given plenty of time with the new yard, looks a great each-way bet at double figure odds. (1) Furrion is the class runner and comes through a nice form race in town last time, just hard to take the short odds about him. (4) Sheezdashing comes through that same formline and was making ground late.
Race 10: BM64 Handicap 1300m
Let’s hope you are not relying on this to get you out for the carnival! Tough tough race. (10) La Lova was good in an easier race resuming, she was forced to sit wide on the speed and didn’t shirk the task. She knuckled and lost the rider last time, maps well and looks a good each-way chance. Other chances? Most of them. Not a lot of confidence here, hopefully you have the field going for plenty in the Quaddie and can watch and appreciate the last at the Bool carnival, and begin to plan next years trip!
