Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing on Friday, October 18th.
Our final weekday of racing sees us focus on racing at Warrnambool, Taree and Bathurst, before a blockbuster weekend featuring The Everest and the Caulfield Cup! Luke Krahe has given his best bets for Friday's racing below.
You can check out our comprehensive race previews of The Everest HERE and Caulfield Cup HERE!
Horse Racing Tips: Friday, October 18th
Warrnambool Race 4 (Market)
A maiden set weights race at 1700m gets us underway, (7) My Taranaki has been to the races five times and got right out past 2200m at his first prep. He resumed at Geelong in a harder race than this over the 1400m, settled up handy behind the leaders and chased hard but basically just followed them up the straight to be a little over two lengths back when they finished. Now local trainer Lindsey Smith who puts the polish on Black Heart Bart and Scales Of Justice, races the mare here at her home track for the first time. She is drawn well out in 9 as she can ease across and find a spot just off the speed, I expect there to be a bit more speed in the legs when they ask her to go here second-up out to the 1700m. (4) Wild Vitality will start near the top of the market, to show you the depth of the race he is a 19-start maiden! My Taranaki looks to have more upside than these and would love to see the money come.
Warrnambool Race 6 (Market)
With all the rain around I wouldn’t be surprised if the track is downgraded to a heavy by this stage of the day, we know from the carnival time the track can chop up very easily. (6) Radiant Success won his maiden on a heavy track, only by a small margin, but there was daylight to third. He was sent to the paddock and resumed ok at Moe after a torrid run right of the track all the way, he then placed at Kyneton in a harder race than this when sitting up outside the leader. He maps a lot better here and gets a winnable race, hopefully back on the rain-affected track is the key.
(6) Radiant Success
$3.10
Taree Race 5 (Market)
(8) Are You Dreaming had two runs at her first spell and then obviously had issues, she was off th scene for 70 weeks! She resumed against the girls at maiden grade at Dubbo, led all the way after giving a good kick early in the straight. A horse that was beaten more than 2 lengths that day backed it up next start with an on the speed win at Newcastle, making that form look ok. Are You Dreaming had a month off and went to Dubbo, she was up on the speed again but off the rail, left a little flat footed but stuck on ok. Happy to forgive that run second-up after such a long break, she looks the leader here which is a big advantage around Taree, hopefully we see what she produced fresh, that should be good enough.
(8) Are You Dreaming
$4.40
Bathurst Race 3 (Market)
(5) Maibeasy had three runs at her first prep as a 3YO filly, it is fair to say she didn’t light the world on fire although her last run at Newcastle before going to the paddock was good enough. She was off the scene for the best part of 6 months, resumed as a solid favourite at Orange around the 5/4 mark. She settled in the back half of the field before easing to the middle of the track approaching the turn at the Orange track, let down brilliantly and put them away in what seemed like a couple of strides. The official margin was 3.28 lengths with another length and a quarter back to third, it really was a demolition job. She looks to have come back well, this is obviously harder but the way she hit the line in that maiden, stepping out to the 1400m from the good draw on the bigger track looks ideal.
