Plenty of quality midweek racing around Australia on Wednesday, with meetings at Sandown, Randwick-Kensington, Ipswich and Gawler. ‘The Horse’ has run his eye over the day to find today's best bets from each track. Check out his horse racing tips below.
For in depth analysis, including tips for every race, odds comparisons and other betting tools, head over to our dedicated horse racing site at www.racingbet.com.au.
Horse Racing Tips: Wednesday, February 3rd
Sandown Race 2
There are two runners here who had decisive victories in their respective last starts, (6) Miss Five Hundred and (3) Beachgoer. They both went into their last starts with a few queries around whether they could step-up; however they not only won, but did so convincingly enough to be the main contenders here. Miss Five Hundred went around 3000 metres at Cranbourne in a BM64 grade race to win by 3.4 lengths. She was ridden hard quite early, and looked in trouble, only to hammer them in the final stages. She now steps up in grade.
Beachgoer on the other hand went around the 3000 metres at Moonee Valley in a BM70 grade race. He ran around the entire field after running last throughout the race. His performance surprised me more than Miss Five Hundred. The common denominator is (5) Fields Of Light who came second in both those races. If you compare the two runs, Miss Five Hundred won by a greater margin, so she gets the nod here.
Also backing: (3) Beachgoer $4.60
(6) Miss Five Hundred
$3.40
Sandown Race 5
The Danny O’Brien runner (7) Safe Passage was taken around Pakenham by Damian Lane over 1200 metres last start. He led them a nice little dance, and quickened down the straight to fight off four other horses gunning for the win. Considering none of them could round her up, it was a tough win. The jump to 1300 metres is not necessarily a positive, but with increased fitness she may find it an easy increase to manage. I like that she is drawn wider and can sit outside the lead horse, rather than sit up front in a vulnerable position. She is the top selection.
The one at odds worth a small side-bet is (11) Just Stellar who is going for the hat-trick. Craig Newitt stays on the veteran galloper who steps up in grade—hence the $20-1 odds.
Also backing: (11) Just Stellar $20 E/W
Sandown Race 8
This is a pretty open affair, so there is going to be money on offer. I have always had time for (7) Galactus throughout this preparation—and good thing too! The Ellerton/Zahra runner has returned in great form, and has been in the money every start, 3 wins and 2 places. By far this has been his best preparation. He is 1 from 1 at this track and distance, winning last start here in a BM64. Today he jumps to the BM70, but he just keeps improving through the grades. There is no reason he cannot continue to race well. Of course, this is his hardest test to date.
The 7yo (2) Wyangle has been racing well this preparation too. Jumping around the tracks from Wangaratta to Wagga, he has had 7 attempts at this distance for 0 wins and 0 places. You would argue he has no chance, but he had a freshen-up over Christmas and this is his second run since. He’s worth a sneaky peanut.
Also backing: (2) Wyangle $26
Randwick-Kensington Race 6
This is actually a wide open race, but like always, that means good odds on offer! Not overly confident due to the track condition, but keen to follow the Matthew Dale runner (1) Mossman Gorge despite the top weight. He has already at this grade this preparation, and was unlucky not to have made it two last start at Canterbury—he was cramped for room and only saw clear running late, where he flashed along the inside but was beaten by a head. His BM78 start was a complete forgive on a Heavy track, which he clearly hated. So that’s the catch with doing early selections, if the track is Soft 6 or worse, than I am looking elsewhere. If we see the track improve to a Good track, than he goes on top.
When looking elsewhere, the low-weighted (10) Zeftabrook takes my interest. With 1 from 1 on Heavy, she clearly goes okay on rain affected tracks. And with a solid first-up record, I think she is going to be right in this. The support has already come, where you could have gotten around $26—now she is quoted at $10.
Also backing: (10) Zeftabrook $10
Ipswich Race 3
With a Heavy 8 already reported at Ipswich and plenty of rain forecasted, I am going to bet on an absolute bog. And there’s no better time to upset a short-priced favourite than when Mother Nature wants to interfere. The problem is (2) Iamican was super impressive first-up (on a Soft track), when she spaced them by over 5 lengths. She has clearly come back a better horse. At the price there is little excitement, but all she needs to do is put in a similar performance to win again. The long-shot (4) Princess Cavallo has won on Heavy going and could be one at value.
Gawler Race 4
(1) Siberian Route for the McEvoy stable goes around at short odds here (standard McEvoy odds in SA). His first up effort was an absolute flogging, where he put over 5 lengths on the field. Second-up he was declared lame, so that’s a complete forgive run. For me, he is potentially a class or two above this lot, and if he performs to that first up run, than he wins. No need to get clever, just taking him outright.
