Welcome to our preview and horse racing betting tips for the best betting races at Gosford, Sandown Hillside and Bunbury on Wednesday, March 21st.
We’ve taken a look at all three cards and selected the races we’re keenest to bet into, and you can find our tips and comments on each of those below.
Best Bet: Sandown Race 6 #1 William Thomas
Best Value: Sandown Race 7 #6 Near Queue
GOSFORD RACING TIPS
RACE 1
Short-priced favourite to start off here with (8) Tchaikovsky, who comes out of two very strong Saturday form races behind the likes of Golden Slipper contenders Santos and Aylmerton. That form should see it go very close to winning this but Chris Waller’s (6) Plenty catches my eye at $8.50. There was a lot to like about his trial win back in November, but he wasn’t seen again until a trial at Warwick Farm a couple of weeks ago. That wasn’t nearly as impressive as his first, but we often see Waller runners bounce off those trials come race day. Looks to be in the same connections as Performer, and with McEvoy booked for the ride, I’m interested in an each way play at the odds with $2.25 available for the place, which is a bigger price than we’re getting for Tchaikovsky to win.
TIP: (6) Plenty EW
RACE 5
Another Waller runner I’m keen on here in (2) Mazaz with Brenton Avdulla in the saddle. This horse has hit form and his recent performances suggest there’s no signs of him losing it. He goes up significantly in weight but I think this is an easier race than what he’s been contesting lately, so if he brings his recent form to the race then he should be very hard to beat at $2.50, despite the 60kg impost.
TIP: (2) Mazaz
RACE 7
Keen on a couple here. (4) Pioneering was very well backed at the death last start in Group 3 company and was only run down late. Goes up in weight here but draws softly in barrier 2, and the only concern would be the amount of speed there could be in this race. $5.50 is a fair price to have something on. Brenton Avdulla jumps off Pioneering to ride (8) Irithea, who has run 2nd at its past two starts. From the wide draw it will be on that will press forward. Has won its only start at the track and is knocking on the door for another, so $7.50 appeals.
TIP: (4) Pioneering / (8) Irithea EW
RACE 8
Backing (3) Marsupial here who is second up from a spell after running 2nd to I Am Excited, who has since gone on to frank the form by winning again in Saturday company. That form looks very strong for a race like this and over this trip I’d prefer to be with him rather than (2) Manhattan Mist, who is yet to win below 1350m. (7) Smart Amelia is second up for the Snowden stable and was a little bit luckless first up in Group 3 company. McEvoy takes over from Costin so I’d be keeping her very safe at the double figure odds.
TIP: (3) Marsupial
SANDOWN RACING TIPS
RACE 2
Keen to oppose this favourite (15) Sweet Mischief, who is first up from a spell after finishing down the track in the Oaks over the 2500m trip. I’m always very keen to oppose fillies that are first up after failing in the Oaks, especially over 1400m. If she wins, so be it but I’ll be playing around her. Keen on (3) Merrimen at $8 for Weir/Rawiller. The wide draw isn’t ideal but she comes to town after two starts in the bush to open her campaign. She hit the line hard last start and it indicates to me that she’s fit now and ready to be very competitive over the 1400m. (8) Olympic Lad is also third up and gets Mark Zahra booked for the ride, which catches the eye. (9) Rossman ran 3rd on debut in the same race that Olympic Lad finished 2nd in, so has to be considered a chance. Big watch on this debutant 6) Cochada for Cranbourne trainer Alexander Rae. I don’t know anything about the trainer but Craig Williams is booked for the ride on an unseen debutant. I’d expect it to start shorter than $7.
TIP: (3) Merrimen EW
RACE 3
Backing two here. (6) Divertente comes out of a couple of good form races, finishing 2nd to Holy Blade two starts ago before running 3rd to Scuzi last time out. She’s just struggling to get another win on the board but she’s drawn well and has a good record over this track and distance, so with Zahra retaining the ride, she should be competitive. (7) Kirk Ella resumes from a spell and was competitive in this sort of grade last preparation. Drawn well, Ethan Brown on board and if she’s taken improvement from last prep, she’ll be hard to beat. Probably starts shorter than $4.80. Backing both.
TIP: (6) Divertente / (7) Kirk Ella
RACE 6
Nice little race but (1) William Thomas looks hard to beat here. He won well on debut last preparation before running 3rd at Flemington behind Prezado and Bandipur. He trialled well behind Theanswermyfriend leading into this race and despite the 60kg, he should be hard to beat from the good draw with D Lane on board. Taking $2.60. (11) Crystal Wings won well first up and could be the value, while (9) Riel Reward was good in a better race than this last start and should be competitive.
TIP: (1) William Thomas
RACE 7
Three I like the look of here. (6) Near Que looks over the odds at $8 for mine. She was good when running 3rd to Dreams Of Paris two starts ago at Caulfield, before winning dominantly at Bendigo over 1600m last time out. She’s drawn well with Fred Kersley a nice booking, and the 1700m will be no issue. (7) Cedar Grande hit the line hard over 1400m first up and Zahra jumps on second up today, while (8) Moscow Red is third up here and won a trial nicely since its last start so has to be included.
TIP: (6) Near Queue EW
BUNBURY RACING TIPS
RACE 1
The favourite (1) Rebow looks very short here to my eye. He was only run down by a very smart type in Pearls And Prawns last start, but is he a 1000m horse? They dropped him back to 1100m last start after he failed over 1400m but I have my doubts over 1000m. I’ll be with (8) One Oh One who is less exposed and went close on debut, beaten 0.25L. Barrier 1, Pike and $4 available.
TIP: (8) One Oh One
RACE 3
As alluded to above, the form line of Pearls And Prawns is very strong and (5) Frosty Beverage ran 4th behind her last start. Prior to that, she was narrowly defeated by Abdicator, who goes around in a Listed race later on in the day. If Rebow does win Race 1, expect Frosty Beverage to really shorten in the market. Third up from a very long spell, drawn well and should be hard to beat at $2.80.
TIP: (5) Frosty Beverage
RACE 5
With the scratching of Hoboken, (2) Father Knick is very, very short at $1.70. On his best form, he’d be very hard to beat but his first up run was slightly below par for mine. He finished 6th in a field of 8 as the favourite, and so far he’s shown no signs of getting 1200m. All his wins have come over 1000m-1100m, and that first up effort over 1100m was sceptical. I wouldn’t be taking $1.70. (3) Southern Tern at $5.50 looks appealing. He ran 2nd to the smart Snow Blossom two starts ago and was only beaten 1.5L behind Blackline at Ascot last start. Drawn well and can give this a real shake.
TIP: (3) Southern Tern
RACE 8
(3) Abdicator looks hard to beat here on the back of some great recent performances. He won well first up at 1100m at this track and followed that with a win at Ascot over Sally’s Realm, who then came out and won her next start. Abdicator then ran 3rd in the Listed Challenge Stakes last start after doing some work, and that was behind Private Dancer and Showcase, which is very good form. Drawn to do no work here, back in trip slightly to 1400m and should go close.
TIP: (3) Abdicator
RACE 10
Two I’m interested in. (1) Paradise Square put two wins on the bounce before running 5th to Private Dancer last start. He was held up until the 150m mark and although he didn’t exactly hit the line strongly when he got out, he can be given another chance here. (5) Red Noire was luckless behind Sally’s Realm last start when held up until the 75m mark. Third up from a spell here, drawn well and if she gets clear running she could give this a shake. (2) Sigil is knocking on the door but with just two wins from 28 starts it’s hard to be confident at $2.80.
TIP: (1) Paradise Square
