Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for Moonee Valley on Friday, March 13th.
The Valley hosts eight races under lights, with the track rated a Good 4 and the rail in the True position. The G2 Alister Clark Stakes headlines tonight's program.
Moonee Valley Racing Tips: Friday, March 13th
Best Bet: Race 6 - (3) Influential Jack
Best Value: Race 5 - (9) Sayasuri
Two I'll be backing in the opener here. (11) Universal Lady jumped out very well recently and draws a good gate for her debut tonight. Looks talented so should be going close. I think the value could be (6) Zorro's Ghost who represents the Hayes/Hayes/Dabernig team. They've been in super form with their two-year-olds this season so don't be surprised to see him measure up on debut.
Value: (6) Zorro's Ghost
(11) Universal Lady
$3.00
I backed (3) Vungers first up at big odds and he ran well, just as he has in his two starts since, but I think tonight's a good opportunity to jump back on. The price is short enough for a horse that's only won three times in his career, but the senior jockey jumps back on tonight with the drop in weight and rise in grade. Drawn well, will be right up on the speed and should be in it for a very long way.
Going to back the Hayes/Hayes/Dabernig horse (7) Zayydani who is undefeated coming into her first up run tonight. Last time we saw her, she ran a 21.84 final 400m and ran down Petruchio, who is a smart horse in its own right. She draws awkwardly in barrier 10 and she will need to come from a fair way back, but with closing ability like that she should be able to put herself right in the finish if she's close enough on the turn. (5) Contrition was a dominant winner first up at Wangaratta and won by nearly 5L second up last prep. (2) Melodean is the value. She's won two of her past three and was unlucky the time she didn't win.
(1) Cliff's Edge finds a very winnable race tonight. He's gone off the boil a bit recently and it was October 2018 the last time he won, but he's first up tonight and gets back to a track and a distance that he's got a phenomenal record at. His recent trial was good enough to suggest he could run a good race tonight. I think the favourite (5) Gift Of Power has some vulnerabilities. She doesn't have a good second up record so despite the good draw and light weight, I'll take her on. (3) Dr Drill is unsuited at 1200m but he's a horse that knows how to win.
The two favourites will be tough to beat here in the 955m - (7) Human Nature with the blinkers on for the first time and (11) Vivaro coming off a win here over 1000m - but I'm having something small on (9) Sayasuri at $51. She should probably lead here and she should peak third up from a spell. Her first up run was good and although she was flat last start, seems to bounce back third up, with three wins from six starts. She might give a bit of cheek from out the front.
This looks a very good race for (3) Influential Jack, who last ran in the G2 Caulfield Autum Classic, where he ran 4th and was beaten under 5L. That was on a day where frontrunners and those on the inside her heavily advantaged. Big drop in grade tonight, Oliver goes on, he draws the inside and should be very hard to beat.
(3) Influential Jack
$2.80
(1) Adelaide Ace was an impressive winner of the G2 Caulfield Autumn Classic last start, where he led all the way. He got everything run to suit on that occasion, with no pressure in the lead on a day where you had to be on the rails and on speed. It will be interesting to see if he crosses to lead again or if (2) Nonconformist tries to keep him out from the inside gate. Tipping Lindsey Smith's horse to win again - he should relish the step up in trip and he had misses a bit of work earlier in the prep so he's only going to improve on last start. (8) Miami Bound was poor first up and might be looking for 2400m already.
(10) Foxy Lady did a good job winning here first up over track and distance and should improve with that run under the belt. She can win again with the good draw. (2) Cuban Toonite could be a bit of value at double figure odds if he can pick up the kind of form he displayed last preparation. (12) The Stylist ran super first up before an unlucky run last time. Can bounce back.
