Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing on Friday, August 21st.
Just two selections catch the eye from Taree and Bendigo on Friday afternoon, leading into a huge weekend of racing in Australia, headlined by the Group 1 Winx Stakes!
Tim Geers has highlighted his best bets for Friday below.
Horse Racing Tips: Friday, August 21st
Taree Race 3 (Market)
I think the best bet at Taree today is (5) Sharpay Ruler for Nathan Doyle. The stable had five winners from 14 starters here last season and this is their only runner of the day. I can’t say the jockey booking has filled me with much confidence but the rider did win on his only ride for Nathan Doyle leading into today. The horse trialled at Gosford leading into his debut today. He led and was under the whip in the straight but kept responding, eventually being pipped right on the post. The horse that beat him was Reaching who ran 3rd at Newcastle behind the smart Jet Propulsion, and the horse that ran 3rd in the trial came out and won first up at Gosford. So I think that’s a very good reference for a Friday maiden at Taree. I expect he will lead and be very hard to run down.
Bendigo Race 6 (Market)
This one is a bit of a query but I’ll still be backing it. (2) Hinchpin resumes from a spell today and if he can rediscover the form from his first preparation, he will be very hard to hold out. He didn’t come up last preparation, failing in two starts at Flemington and Moonee Valley, but they were in Listed and Group 2 company. He resumes in a Class 1 today. Back in his first prep he was beaten a nose at Group 3 level behind She Shao Fly. He jumped out against the likes of Russian Camelot leading into this and while his jumpout wasn’t outstanding, it was a pass mark. Tony McEvoy had a 32% strike rate here last season and John Allen has five winners from 10 rides for the stable. They elect to carry the full 62kg first up rather than claim and provided he handles the heavy ground, he should be the one to beat.
