Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing on Monday, July 29th.
We commence the new week with a focus on the meetings at Taree and Casterton. Luke Krahe has provided his best bets for each track below!
Horse Racing Tips: Monday, July 29th
Taree Race 1 (Market)
I have stated in these articles before how I like to target the Class 1 and maiden races over the middle distances, you will find maidens that are struggling to win over shorter looking for something outside the square and have to race up in grade, usually amounts to a red pen job. (5) Veganza has placed at all four runs this prep, she finally got her maiden win out of the way up the Highway at her home track of Port Macquarie a little over a month ago. That was over 1500m where she ran on hard from the rear, she then came here 10 days ago and also got back in the run. She was awkwardly positioned approaching the turn back nearer the inside before finding gaps between runners and storming home to narrowly miss. It was a bunched finish which is a little concerning but it was at BM58 grade. The small field looks to suit and getting out to the 2000m for the first time in her career, the way she has savaged the line at her last two, looks ideal.
Taree Race 3 (Market)
(4) Monterey Lad has had enough chances to break the duck, he lines up today at career start number nine. All but two of his runs have been at the provincials, admittedly he has been very costly for punters and a huge friend of the bookies, beaten at a short quote at his last five runs. But, I am a big believer in SP profiles and he clearly has the best of these, drops in grade from a harder Wyong maiden and has been given a 7-week freshen-up. Not officially a spell, he was seen at the Newcastle trials two weeks ago, jumped fairly but was snagged out the back and very wide. He was stoked up in the straight when still last and ran on well. He was very solid when eased down late and was as good as any through the line> He is drawn well and shouldn’t be too far off the speed which is a key factor here at Taree. Surely this is his race to lose and he won’t get a better chance to chalk up win number one.
Casterton Race 4 (Market)
(4) Sir Pellias was ok at his first prep, four starts and although he didn’t get the maiden win, he did place twice and showed promise out to the 2000m and beyond. He resumed at Pakenham on the synthetic three weeks ago over an unsuitably shorter trip. It was his first go on the syntho track, was fresh and needed longer, very willing to forgive him that run. The Freedman team have taken the blinkers off him today returning to the turf, straight out to the 1800m second-up against the older horses looks a good move. He doesn’t have much brilliance but will keep grinding home, he should be better than each-way odds so he looks a safe bet to nothing. He is no star but looks to have some upside getting out in distance. (5) Stinging Remark will start the favourite, he ran on well enough two back then didn’t handle the heavy track last time. Happy to risk him though, he hasn’t shown enough to be starting a short quote and with Maher/Eustace next to his name, will only see him start under the odds.
(4) Sir Pellias E/W
$6.00
Casterton Race 7 (Market)
(1) Fabian’s Spirit won on debut but has failed to get that tough second win in five starts since. He has had four runs this prep, all of them at 64 grade and today drops back to the 58 mark. He does have to carry the 60kg, he draws out and sometimes John Allen can be a little negative when not drawn closer in. He has been over-racing at his last couple and the blinkers go on today for the first time. Hopefully ridden positively and settling better than he has been, the drop in class will see him get win number two. A big tick also is that he has been here at the track and almost won when placing here fresh this campaign. He will be very hard to beat, but we need our little Irish friend J Allen not to be negative early and ride him like the best horse in the race!
(1) Fabian's Spirit
$2.65
