Welcome to our preview and horse racing betting tips for racing at Geelong on Wednesday, October 23rd.
The Group 3 Geelong Cup headlines the nine-race card, with Melbourne Cup spots on the line! CLICK HERE to read our runner-by-runner preview of the feature race.
The track is rated a Good 4 with the rail in the true position, and you can check out our preview and betting tips for the card below.
Geelong Racing Tips: Wednesday, October 23rd
Best Bet: Race 7 - Supernova E/W
Best Value: Race 8 - (8) He Is
Race 1
Tricky little race to kick off with. I'll stick with (2) Vellaspride who has run second on four occasions from six starts this prep, including his past three. In fact, he's been beaten less than 2L in all three of his last runs. They've all been in this grade so he's well and truly capable of winning one. He's never finished out of the top two at this distance, he's drawn well and he's versatile, so should be fighting out the finish again. The Chris Waller-trained (3) Fields Of Yulong has improved with each career start and still looks fairly unexposed. He comes off a demolition job last start, trouncing his rivals by 7L at Mornington. What I will say is two starts ago he ran 2nd to Bedouin King - that horse was then beaten 9L in the same race that Vellaspride ran 2nd in (beaten 0.2L), so we can tie Fields Of Yulong and Vellaspride together through that formline. But Fields Of Yulong has obviously improved since then and looks on an upward spiral. (4) Olympic Oath hasn't really gone on with it in recent starts against his own age group. He now takes on the older horses and jumps from 1800m straight to 2400m which is a query.
Race 2
Pretty uninspiring race. I'll stick with (1) Zouy's Comet who comes off a first up win at Bendigo in this grade. That was over the mile so the 1700m second up here shouldn't be much of an issue. Two of his career wins have come when he's been first up so the query is whether he's as sharp second up, but he also had no luck second up at Flemington last prep when he was held up for the final 100m of the race, so it's a bit inconclusive. A lot of these runners are in ordinary form so I'll back him to get the job done again. (2) Linguist has only beaten one runner home in her first two starts this prep, but she did come into this prep off a long spell so maybe she's just needed a couple to find her feet again. She's got a terrific third up record so if she's going to start showing something, today could be the day. (3) Ridgewood Drive has had early market support but comes off a last-placed finish behind Zouy's Comet last start. He was better two starts ago but its hard to tip him. (4) Midas Prince has returned in good order and comes off a win last start, but the horse he beat then finished last at its next start. (6) Maclairey has had enough chances and looks short enough.
Value: (2) Linguist $9.00
Race 3
Only a small field with eight runners and it looks a race in two, but it also wouldn't shock me to see one of three others win. (1) Mr Tipla is first up this prep with 4kg claimer Campbell Rawiller on board. While I typically avoid 4kg claimers at all costs, I'm going to side with this horse due to his terrific first up record. He's won three of his four first up runs leading into today and the stable has also been flying the past few months. Rawiller hasn't taken long to hit the ground running either. (4) Chicago Club won first up before running 3rd in what looks a pretty good form race last start. He ran 3rd behind Marcel From Madrid and Ruban Bleu. From the good draw he deserves to be favourite and looks a very strong winning chance. (3) None Better has a good first up record and did win first up from a long spell last preparation. He resumes from another long spell today but Ben Melham has a good record riding for Mitch Freedman so it wouldn't shock to see him go well fresh. (5) Honeywine is racing well, while (6) Toolbar bolted in second up last prep and shouldn't be discounted.
Race 4
A tricky little race. I'll be very interested to see the tactics on (4) Blue Tycoon here, because if he leads he will probably go close to winning. His past five wins have all come when sitting outside the leader or leading himself, including two starts ago at Swan Hill. But when he's ridden off the pace, he's not as effective (although has run well). Craig Williams goes on board today and it wouldn't surprise me to see him ridden aggressively. With that said, I'll be having something on (3) Big Reel. He was outclassed first up at Moonee Valley but that was an extremely strong race behind the likes of Humma Humma and God Of Thunder. He then came out and ran his rivals into the ground at Hamilton. He's got a reasonable first up record and has won his only previous start here at Geelong, so if he can find the front again he'll take some beating. (6) Ruban Bleu will be the one to hold out. He bolted in three starts ago before failing over 1100m at Flemington when fresh from a six week break. He bounced back with a good run for 2nd last start at Ballarat, where he charged through the line after having to weave his way through traffic in the straight. That was a strong form race and if he can get a clear run today, he'll be hard to hold out. (7) Adversary might find this a touch sharp first up but can be followed later in the prep.
Race 5
There's not a great deal to this race either. (2) Into The Abyss is the short-priced favourite with Kerrin McEvoy riding for John Thompson, but I won't be taking $2.00 about her. She comes off a dominant Warwick Farm win two weeks ago after racing in some blacktype races in New South Wales, but she doesn't win out of turn. (1) Smart Coupe returns from a spell today ad she's a mare we know has plenty of ability. She's never missed a place when first up and Damian Lane jumps off last-start winner (5) Gina's Hope to ride her. Drawn soft in barrier 2 and can give this a good shake. Gina's Hope certainly isn't hopeless. She was a horse that showed huge potential last preparation and she broke back into the winners' circle last start.
Race 6
This is a mouthwatering contest between (2) Harbour Views and (8) Impi, who are both undefeated. Harbour Views resumed with a phenomenal win at Caulfield, coming from the back of the field to cruise home over the top of his rivals in what was the fastest final 200m and 400m of the entire day. He had plenty more left in the tank and will only improve with the step up in trip. He's been mentioned as a possible G1 Railway Stakes horse later this year and looks a very good race for him again. Impi will be up on speed and will have a headstart on Harbour Views. He's got a 14.75L combined winning margin from his three career starts and he's already proven over a mile, so his first up victory over 1200m was impressive. The step up in trip is ideal and if Harbour Views is off his game, Impi will win.
Race 7 - Geelong Cup
Click here to view our runner-by-runner preview of the G3 Geelong Cup!
Race 8 - Geelong Classic
The Listed Geelong Classic looks a competitive affair. I'll stick with (4) Southern Moon who should have won two starts back at Flemington behind Adelaide, before he broke his maiden at Donald last start. He's drawn wide but will settle back off the speed and be hitting the line hard. (2) Long Jack finished midfield in the Super Impose at Flemington last start but he was awfully worked up pre-race. He gets blinkers on for the first time and ear muffs on pre-race to help keep him settled. (3) Relucent returns to Melbourne after a few starts in Sydney. He's burnt me enough times so he'll go around without my money but there is the chance that he's crying out for 2200m. I think the value in the race is (8) He Is. He had no luck at all at Caulfield last start, when held up until the 150m mark, where he was practically last. Craig Williams notably sticks with him here and he's worth another chance. (15) Sign Seal Deliver isn't hopeless at huge odds.
Race 9
(3) Living The Dream produced a big effort when winning last start after sitting three-wide the trip throughout. He still cruised home to win by 1.75L and he remains at the 1400m today third up from a spell. This isn't a hugely deep race so if he's improved again he can take the step up in grade. (11) Sophia's Choice draws softly after her nice first up win at Cranbourne. Should get an easy run throughout the race and should be in the finish. (2) Spartan Flame ran home well on the inside first up and can improve.
(3) Living The Dream
$3.00
