Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing at Wangaratta, Moree and Hawkesbury on Thursday, May 23rd.
Luke Krahe is back with his preview, with five selections throughout the course of the day! Check them out below.
Horse Racing Tips: Thursday, May 23rd
Wangaratta Race 4
An interesting 2000m race for the maidens to kick it off for us at Wangaratta today, there will probably be only three chances in the betting. (1) First Water is only lightly raced, he is having career start five and did get out to the 2000m last prep. He gave the solid tempo a huge start that day and although he finished off ok, was never likely and his two runs back have only been fair. (2) Fort Knox looks the leader and should be able to get some cheap sectionals early. He steps up in trip which doesn’t look ideal in theory with a horse that got run down over shorter last time, but there was a lot to like about how he finished that race off after being headed. (7) Amerikaniki comes through that same form line at Geelong, she was well back at double figure odds and also chased ok late. Too many question marks with her lining up for only her third career start today. With the tactical advantage and the likelihood of a soft lead, Fort Knox should lead for a long way.
Wangaratta Race 8
There are certainly no stars here as you would imagine in a Wangratta BM58, but (10) Time For Tea has the consistency and looks an each-way bet to nothing. She was close-up at her first three runs this campaign before heading to Benalla where I was keen on her with the claim. She was slowly away, well back and no closer than four-wide throughout and without cover. She didn’t shirk the task and kept coming out wide to only be beaten under three lengths after a torrid run. She then went to Mildura and placed and kept coming the whole straight. Getting out to the 1300m looks ideal, there is plenty of speed on paper which she will appreciate. She will get back, with the right three-wide cart into it she should be able to finish best.
(10) Time For Tea E/W
$7.00
Moree Race 4
(1) Augusta in April has been up for a while but is racing very consistently this time in. He has won twice already this prep then was ok when doing a bit wrong in a good form race out of Muswellbrook late last month. His latest run he went to Dubbo and was hit with a soft track, probably not his best surface and got well back. He struggled to gain momentum and was still a mile off them straightening before finally making some ground late. He has plenty of positives with him today, he gets out to a mile, drawn well, back on a good track and gets G Ryan on from the claiming apprentice last time. Expect Greg to be closer in the run and finishing all over the top.
(1) Augusta In April
$3.90
Hawkesbury Race 1
A small field which should suit the import (1) Loveisili now with the Kris Lees yard. The former UK trained galloper has had one start in Australia, a runner-up finish at Newcastle at 64 level three weeks ago. He was well back in the run, held-up approaching the furlong pole before hitting the line well when getting the split late. He was first-up for 32-weeks that day so no doubt needed the run, stepping out in trip looks ideal as he has placed out to the 2400m. He could have plenty of upside and if there is money for him, I would expect it to be very late. His main danger looks to be (5) Wild Impact from the John Thompson yard. He was a good maiden winner on debut but has had no excuses when beaten favourite at two starts this time in. First time out to the trip here, he looks a huge risk and a great lay.
Hawkesbury Race 2
Some will say that (5) Royal Anthem has had enough chances, she is now a 12-start maiden, placing at eight of those. I like the race that both she and (7) Killer Instinct come through at Newcastle last time. Royal Anthem was poorly away which is not the norm for her and was forced to settle well back in the run. She never looked comfortable when looking for runs inside horses and saving ground, and although the other filly got to the outside and travelled well, she had every chance. From the good alley today and the huge jockey change, Hyeronimus on, expect that she will be closer in the run and have the tactical advantage over her main rival. Being such a non-winner at this stage of her career, wait until late in the betting as surely she will drift.
