Another day in Australian racing, another round of best bets! Check out our best picks from some of the key races at Doomben, Stony Creek and Geelong this Thursday, the 9th of January below.
Horse Racing Tips: Thursday, January 9th
(6) Khanjar is on debut for the Robert Heathcote yard, he has been to the trials twice, winning his latest. He jumped ok from a wide gate, was five-wide on the speed early and stuck out there. He was three-wide approaching the straight, ambled up past the inside horse and although he layed in all the way up the straight and had to be straightened a couple of times, was way too good and eased right down late. He looks to have plenty of talent, if the money comes for him, keep betting. The latest trial (heat 11) can be found here. The stablemate (4) Ready For Magic showed plenty of speed on debut and was heavily backed, will be interesting to see which of the two they come for.
Stony Creek Race 1 (Market)
(4) Amalfi Star is a first-starter for the Richard Laming stable, the son of Star Witness was good at his latest jump out at Cranbourne. HE began well and was stuck three-wide without cover before ambling up to the leader and sitting parked. He travelled well into the straight under a grip, cruised past the leader until a swooper lurked on the scene at the 200m mark. He was then asked for an effort for a few strides and responded, back under a hold again when they went stride for stride over the last 100m. He looks ready to go. (6) Tsar Star has had enough chances, he was 50/1 in a Cranbourne maiden last start and they want us to take 4/1 today? (1) Colliver looks the only danger, he has good tactical speed but a little worrying that an on-pacer can run second three in a row, afraid of the finishing post?
Stony Creek Race 4 (Market)
It’s not often that you will see a horse that has been unplaced at all four starts come up possibly in the red, but it really does look the right race for (5) Able Warrior. It is certainly not the strongest staying maiden you will ever see, her SP profile also doesn’t read well. She has gone from 1300m resuming to the 2100m here today in four runs, last start at Yarra Valley in a much better race he settled behind the leader, kept coming along the rails but was held-up for a run over the last 100m. He should have finished closer than the 1.55 length official margin. He doesn’t have a lot of brilliance, hopefully the jock can get him mobile from the 600m mark and he should be able to put a gap in them. If he doesn’t win this, where does he go!
(6) Zipspur will have to improve on his poor first-up record but I really like the way he finished off his last prep. He was heavily backed and won his maiden on a soft track at Echuca when sitting on the speed, went to Mildura and raced wide and was still battling out the finish. His last start before going to the paddock he didn’t really feature after getting further back than expected in the run. He hasn’t been seen at the official trials but has had two jump-outs in preparation for his return. The latest of these was at Cranbourne, he jumped ok and held the spot behind the leader when settling. TH eleader rolled off the fence around the turn and he ambled through, was under double wraps all the way to the line, the further they went the further he was going to win by. It was a very impressive jump-out (heat 8), a replay of which can be found here.
