Welcome to our harness racing preview and betting tips for racing at Albion Park, Menangle and Melton on Saturday, May 4th.
We've picked out our best bets from each track below with five selections in total.
Albion Park Best Bet
Race 6 – 7:54pm AEST
Winning by 25.1m last start, (7) Tulhurst Ace looks a great price in the early market at $7. That was a C2+ event and this is a C4+ event. The 7YO entire was able to lead on that occasion from barrier three and was expected to win at a $1.45 quote. This will be tougher, but the times that he posted were excellent with a 1:54.2-mile rate and 55.9 last half. His start prior when fourth from the breeze was very good and he should go close at a nice price. Happy to take $3.50 or better.
Melton Best Bets
Race 1 – 5:22pm AEST
The inside barrier will see (1) American Zest lead over the 1720m which is a great place to be at Melton. The price looks about right for the horse so not keen on backing. 4YO mare (9) Our Bare Knuckle looks to represent the value in the race from barrier nine. She is extremely consistent with five minor placings in a row. The distance suits and trainer-driver Kerryn Manning should give her every hope in the moving line. I’m happy with $6 or better for the mare.
(9) Our Bare Knuckle
$9.00
Race 5 – 7:30pm AEST
The Group 3 Make Mine Cullen (1720m) looks a terrific contest and I like class mare (10) Tell Me Tales who has won 17 of her 24 career starts. She last raced in the Group 1 Ladyship Mile (1609m) at Menangle. Prior to that, Tell Me Tales had won the Group 2 Robin Dundee Stakes (1609m) in 1:49.3 which is flying! She should be flying home here and looks hard to stop first-up from a spell. Happy with $2.50 or better.
Menangle Best Bets
Race 5 – 7:50pm AEST
Victorian trotter (11) Dance Craze is having her second start at Menangle; she won a Group 2 event at the track back in 2017. She will have to overcome barrier 10 but is the class trotter in the field. The race is the Group 3 The La Coocaracha (1609m) which is named after star trotter La Coocaracha. It would be fitting if Dance Craze can salute as La Coocaracha is her mother. (10) Red Hot Tooth and (1) Sassy Pants are the other leading contenders in the race. Happy with $2.40 or better for Dance Craze.
Race 8 – 9:15pm AEST
Another Victorian trotter interests me on this Menangle program with (4) Majestic Player drawing well. He loves to lead in his races and comes off a TM1-TM3 victory at Melton back in March. There is gate speed inside with (1) Drop The Hammer and (3) Kowhai Monarch. Majestic Player has won half of his 24 starts, including three of his past four starts. He should be a strong contender here and is my top pick in the race. (8) Maorisfavouritesun and (9) Glenferrie Typhoon also have claims in a competitive event. $3.80 or better is backable for Majestic Player.
(4) Majestic Player
$5.00
