Welcome to our horse racing preview and betting tips for racing at Moonee Valley on Friday, February 28th.
Eight races under lights at The Valley tonight, with the track rated Good and the rail in out 7m. Hopefully build a bank before tomorrow's big day of Group 1 racing!
Check out our race-by-race preview and betting tips below!
Moonee Valley Racing Tips: Friday, February 28th
Best Bet: Race 6 - (6) Rainbow Girl
Race 1
(3) Montia is a Vancouver filly on debut here for the Hayes, Hayes, Dabernig yard, who are always a stable to respect in these two-year-old races. I suspect the favourite (4) Oregon Pinot might be back in the field like it was on debut, so if Montia can land ahead of her up near the speed, she should take plenty of running down at The Valley with the rail out 7m. Happy to back the second favourite here at the prices.
Race 2
(3) North Trek returned with a solid effort for 3rd first up, which was his first run as a gelding. He landed on speed and had every chance, he might well come on from that run but he looks short enough in the market. (5) Sovereign Legend is a horse on debut for John Sadler and Linda Meech. The booking of Meech suggests to me they'll be positive out of the gates, possibly looking to sit outside North Trek. At $5.50 he represents a decent price and if he's firm in the betting it will be a very positive lead.
(5) Sovereign Legend
$5.50
Race 3
(5) Overkill is unlucky not to be undefeated from two career starts. On debut he sat wide without cover the entire race and only went down by a head, before coming out second up and bolting in by 3.25L. He went straight out for a spell after that and returns tonight with Ben Melham in the saddle. Should prove hard to beat. (12) Deep Dive draws the inside and probably leads. He won well first up before running 2nd last time out. Damian Lane takes over tonight and from up on speed, he should run a bold race. (6) Sea Dragon has good form from last preparation and will come on for his first up run at Pakenham.
Race 4
(1) Star Missile carries all the weight but I'm going to give him another chance tonight. If he's going to the All-Star Mile he'd want to be pretty competitive in this. I thought he was very ordinary first up but I'm going to forgive him on the proviso that it was a soft track, which he's never placed on from four attempts. Back onto a firm surface tonight should suit him much better. The drop in grade will also help but he will need to improve as he has to carry 61.5kg and will be coming from back in the field.
Race 5
Going with the favourite (8) Excess Funds on the basis that I think it's the best horse in the race. It won well enough first up down the straight at Flemington and if he's improved from that run, he'll be the one to beat here. Second up last prep he ran 3rd in a Listed race in Adelaide behind Assertive Approach and Behemoth, which is very good form for this. Will need a good ride from barrier 10 but there looks to be a bit of speed in the race so hopefully he can get a tow into things and swoop home over the top.
Race 6
Pretty keen on (6) Rainbow Girl here, who comes into this on the back of a 2nd placing over the 1000m here at The Valley last start. She's third up off a very long break tonight so should be getting somewhere near peak fitness, she draws perfectly, Melham retains the ride and she finished off the race well last start, so the step up to 1200m should suit. If she brought her old form to this race, she'd win with something in hand.
Race 7
Sticking with (7) Tatalina here, who travelled up into the race last start like she was going to go straight past them, but she just found one stronger late. She'll sit off the pace again and swing wide on the turn, but the form she's racing in, she has to be included once again. (3) Civil Disobedience could be the big improver. Forget his last run where he pulled up with a heart irregularity. His first up run prior to that was encouraging. (2) Dark Pearl has been racing well in Sydney and has to be respected.
Race 8
(7) Pina looks a decent each way bet here at $8.00. She has run 3rd in both starts over this track and distance and she just didn't see out the 2500m last start so the drop back to 2040m is more suitable. Two starts back she was beaten less than a length here and on that occasion she was held up at a crucial stage and had no time to wind up, so if she can get some room to wind up, she should be finishing off strongly. (3) Ignored and (10) She's A Karaka have to be respected.
