Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing on Wednesday, December 18th.
There's a number of good midweek metropolitan race meetings today, with racing at Caulfield, Randwick Kensington and Ascot. We've selected a few of our best bets throughout the day below!
Horse Racing Tips: Wednesday, December 18th
Caulfield Race 7 (Market)
I feel like I'm asking for more pain here but (5) Iowa Hawkeye gets one more chance today. He looked to find the perfect race last start and I was less than impressed with the ride by Dwayne Dunn, who waited until he was passed by other horses before getting serious. The horse was held up until the 300m mark as a result and then charged home when it was all over. Jockey change today with Michael Poy going on and hopefully that's the trick to getting him back in the winner's stall. (3) Donndubhan has been racing well all prep, with his only failure coming on heavy ground where he pulled up with a throat issue. Outside of that run, he's finished in the top two in his other four starts and hasn't been beaten more than 0.4L. (8) Sleepless was very green winning first up at Hamilton but had a bit left under the bonnet. He can improve and run well. The favourite (7) Mr Stylish trotted in by 7L at Pakenham last start but I often query that form and he finds a competitive race today so at the short odds I'll take him on.
Randwick Kensington Race 4 (Market)
(10) Skymist makes her debut today for the Waterhouse/Bott stable after impressing at the trials. She's had four trials and has won every one of them. Her first two were back in April and May, but she was given a break before coming back to the trials in November. Nahs Rawiller is a positive jockey booking, look for him to lead on the filly and the way she's been going, she should run a big race. The even money favourite is (6) Let It Pour, who returned at Gosford where she was rolled at $1.10. There has to be some queries about her being so short here given she couldn't win that.
Randwick Kensington Race 5 (Market)
I was keen on (8) Yamazaki last week when she was scratched at the barriers. She was set to have her first run for new trainer David Pfeiffer after a couple of nice trials. She's raced well fresh in the past, including a solid victory first up last prep at Doomben. Kerrin McEvoy was booked to ride her last week but Tommy Berry is booked today. Given she was well backed last week and I fancied her then, I have to back her in again today. (4) Blazing Miss had no luck at all last start in a strong race, caught wide without cover throughout. Prior to that she'd won her first two career starts so she can bounce back with the good draw today. (7) Voila next best.
Randwick Kensington Race 6 (Market)
A little throw at the stumps here with (4) Impavido at each way odds. He's had two runs back from a spell and has done very little in either of those, but that's not unusual for him. He has one win and two placings from 10 starts when first or second up, but he tends to improve third up, with three placings from as many starts. The blinkers go back on today and Nash Rawiller is booked, so it wouldn't surprise me to see him ridden a touch further forward. He's not the most reliable horse but at $12 I'll have something small on.
