Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing on Sunday, August 16th.
Tim Geers is seeing them well at the moment, with a $6.00 winner on Friday, followed by all nine of his top selections finishing in the top 3 at Randwick yesterday! He's spreading his wings right around the country on Sunday, selecting five races to bet in from Port Augusta, Devonport Synthetic and Kalgoorlie!
Find his preview and betting tips below!
Horse Racing Tips: Sunday, August 16th
Port Augusta Race 1 (Market)
I see no reason why (2) Lofty Tycoon can’t win again here. He’s been in great form since coming to Port Augusta, with two wins and a 2nd from his past three starts, all at this track. He returns from a six week break since his last win and drops back to the 1200m, but I think he can find the front here and lead all the way. Wally Bencic has had four winners and two 2nds from 11 starters at Port, and Eran Boyd has had three wins and a 2nd from four rides for him. They team up and it looks a winning combination. I thought his biggest danger was (3) Pandeia but Lofty Tycoon beat Pandeia by 1.6L last time they met and he meets him 0.5kg better at the weights today.
Port Augusta Race 4 (Market)
Probably the best bet of the day is (2) Desidero here at $2.20 which could prove to be an absolute gift. He was battling away before he came to Port Augusta three starts ago and bolted in by 7.2L, before coming out at his next start and doing the exact same thing, posting a 7.3L margin, once again here at Port Augusta. He went to Murray Bridge last start but failed badly and finished last, but that was on soft ground, which he’s never won on before from 15 attempts. Back to the Port Augusta dirt today, back onto firm ground, he should find the lead easily from barrier 1 and be exceptionally hard to beat. If he can reproduce what he’s done in his two starts at Port Augusta to date, the $2.20 will look a ridiculous price.
Devonport Synthetic Race 8 (Market)
Leanne Gaffney might not be a trainer known to most, but she’s probably the most in-form trainer in Australia right now. She’s had six winners from nine starters this season, and seven from her last 10. All six of this season’s winners have been on this track, where she operates at about 38% in the past 12 months. She has three runners for the day and two of them line up here. They are priced at $5.50 and $8.00 and I’ll be backing them both. (3) Balearic won first up over 1350m here and he has a great second up record, with two wins and two placings from five starts. My main query with him is the drop back to 1150m as he’s never won below 1350m, but he may be too good anyway. (10) Cranbrook also won first up here and he too has a great second up record, with two wins and a 3rd from three starts. Draws the inside gate here and although he steps up in grade here, he carries no weight and gets a gun run. Have to have something on at the $8.00. Back both!
Kalgoorlie Race 1 (Market)
Dion Luciani brings four horses to Kalgoorlie today and I think two of them can win, starting with (7) Muds Too Hard in the first. He’s only had the two career starts, both when he was a 2YO, and both were in Listed races in town, so he’s clearly shown some ability. He was well-beaten in both of those but he’s been out for a spell and returns in what’s obviously much easier company today. His recent 400m trial at Belmont was good and the inside barrier should allow him to do no work. He has decent tactical speed so he should be able to take up a position near the pace. With even luck he should be very hard to beat.
Kalgoorlie Race 6 (Market)
The second horse from the Dion Luciani camp I’m keen on is (3) Sliced Bread here. He’s got a decent record overall and as a three-year-old, he actually beat Assetro and Angelic Ruler, which is exceptionally strong form! He’s first up today and while he’s never won first up before, he did go close last prep and this is the easiest race he’s contested for a while. He draws well in barrier 3 so should sit somewhere around midfield and from there, he’ll be able to unleash at the top of the straight. The likes of Sigil are among his competitors today and that says plenty about this race. I think he’ll prove too strong. (8) Unbreakable could be his main danger.
