Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing on Thursday, January 2nd.
Racing takes place at five venues across Australia this Thursday and we'll be focusing on the meetings at Geelong, Taree and Townsville. Get our best bets for each track below!
Horse Racing Tips: Thursday, January 2nd
Geelong Race 1 (Market)
(4) Personal is a debutant from the Hayes/Hayes/Dabernig yard, she hasn’t been to the trials officially bit has contested two jump-outs in December, both at Flemington. The latest she was only fairly away but mustered early speed, sat wide ad went around the outside fence. She was never out of second gear winning the jump-out and looked to have plenty up her sleeve. The video of that jump-out (heat 4) can be found here. The other first starters are a little worry, particularly the stablemate (5) Ransom Trust and (1) Fresh from the Snowden yard, but I was happy enough with what I saw with our tip at the jump-outs to have her on top. (3) Lai See is the only horse that has been to the races before, she was ok at the Valley on debut but was entitled to get closer than what she did at the finish.
Taree Race 4 (Market)
(6) Wandzel had been given plenty of time to get to the races, he had trialed five times going aback to an early season 2YO before debuting here at Taree a couple of weeks ago. He was just in single figures in the betting but a drifter late, after drawing wide he was slowly away and last early. Well back on the rails mid-race, he angled clear before coming four and five wide at the turn. He never really looked like winning but ran on hard into second beaten almost three lengths, but there was a good gap to third also. He gets out to the 1400m today and champion country hoop Aaron Bullock takes the ride. Hopefully he can begin better than he did on debut and settle closer, he may want a mile but I am certain the maiden win is not far away.
Townsville Race 5 (Market)
(2) Reagan was beaten as favourite when resuming at Cairns, but I am willing to forgive the run. He began well but was over-racing when in behind the leaders caught up on the rail. He was only fair in the run home and entitled to get closer than the 2.4 lengths he was beaten, but the pulling mid-race really looked to take the edge off. He bolted in to win his second-up run last campaign following a 5 length maiden win, he has placed at both runs here at the track and loks well drawn again. I expect him to jump and find the front today and be very hard to catch.
