Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing on Thursday, January 23rd.
Five meetings take place in Australia today. We'll be focusing in on the afternoon racing at Tamworth and Doomben before Pakenham hosts their meeting later in the evening.
Find Luke Krahe's best bets for those three meetings below!
Horse Racing Tips: Thursday, January 23rd
Tamworth Race 7 - (Market)
The feature of the day is the Country Music Cup, what a great time to be in the town! (12) Pat’s Nipper had a super prep when last in work, winning three races including a Class 3 Highway at his last start. He has been off the scene for a long time, almost six months, he may need the run but I am hoping his class will get him through. HE has had two trials and may need further, but I love the fact he has the inside draw and will be ridden for luck. They could go hard here and he is a natural back-marker, look for him late. With his pattern and being first-up I expect him to be a big drifter in the betting so wait until late, closer to jump time, he looks a great each-way bet to nothing. There looks a stack of speed drawn wide on the track, the feature race of the day could be handlebars down early setting it up for those from the back.
(12) Pat's Nipper E/W
$5.50
Doomben Race 1 - (Market)
There are obviously a few unknowns with some of the babies stepping out for the first time, unless there is a stack of money for one that is having it’s first start, I want to be on (1) Moonan Me. He debuted at the Sunny Coast 11 days ago, opened up short I the betting but was a big drifter in the official prices. He copped a big bump at the start resulting in settling mid-field, got a split at the top of the straight and ran on well into second beaten a length. He is drawn beautifully in four and with a better getaway, should be able to race in the speed. He looked like he needed further and the extra furlong suits. (6) Queen Sweeper has placed at both of her runs, she has been given gun runs at both starts and certainly had her chances. Drawn out, I can see her giving the tactical advantage to Moonan Me and hard to see her running past on what I have seen. Obviously as stated earlier, respect any serious money for those on debut.
Doomben Race 3 - (Market)
(13) Our Ariana had 38 weeks between her debut run and when resuming at Doomben 5 weeks ago. She was very heavily backed off a good trial and started favourite around the 2/1 mark. She began well and was up outside the leader when they settled. She got the better of the inside horse and hit the lead before getting run down in the final few strides. She did all the work and was brave in defeat, she draws well and should be up on the speed for a long way. She gets the tongue tie on suggesting there may have been an issue last time, giving her run more merit. She has trialed well between runs also.
Pakenham Race 4 - (Market)
A great judge told me that a good thing from an extreme barrier just results in a better price! Hoping that’s the case with (9) War Games here drawn 16 of 16. He debuted at Werribee back on Xmas Eve, was well back in the run and then held-up when they quickened approaching and into the straight. He balanced up well and made good ground late into third. He then went to Hamilton and was heavily supported, he opened the betting well into black figures but was odds-on by the time they jumped. He was again mid-field in the run before easing wide and again running into third. He has found them a little bit brilliant over those shorter trips but looks perfectly suited out to the 7 furlongs here. Love the jockey change with Jamie Kah going on, hopefully she can get up outside the leader and dictate, or even better one-out and one-back and be ready to pounce. Think the barrier will see him not start any shorter than quoted, wait until later in the betting.
