Welcome to our preview and horse racing betting tips for selected races at Sandown, Warwick Farm and Ascot on Wednesday, May 9th.
We’ve taken a look at all three cards and selected the races we’re keenest to bet into, and you can find our tips and comments on each of those below.
BEST BETS
Best Bet: Warwick Farm Race 4 #3 Hoof Hustler
Best Value Bet: Warwick Farm Race 6 #3 Realise Potential
SANDOWN RACING TIPS
RACE 4
I’m rarely interested in betting in these types of races, but (3) Hardington looks ready to win a race at his third start this preparation. Often we see these imports improve in their second preparation in Australia and his last-start 3rd was his best run here to date. He’ll only get better as he continues to rise in distance – his two career wins have both been over 2000m+, but he finds a race he can be competitive in today at each way odds of $5/$2.
TIP: (3) Hardington EW
RACE 5
We’ve got four runners basically within 50c of each other here and I’ll be backing two of them. (4) Groovin’ was good first up when only beaten 0.6L over 1300m at Bendigo. Comes into this second up and she’s won second up once before. Her record at this distance is three starts for two wins and one placing and Damien Oliver sticks with her for the ride. Carries a big weight but looks a big chance of winning at $4.20. (5) Tiffany’s Lass won well first up at Pakenham and then wasn’t far away last start at Flemington. She did draw barrier 1 and carried only 51kg on that occasion, so today is a bit tougher with 56kg and a wide draw, but she’s won third up previously and looks to have come back very well this prep. Also backing her at $4.40.
TIP: (4) Groovin’ / (5) Tiffany’s Lass
RACE 8
Competitive way to finish the day at Sandown. (14) Silentz has returned from a long spell in decent form. He was sound first up at Ballarat before a completely luckless run at Kyneton second up, but he bounced back to win nicely at Echuca last start. He came from the back of the field on that occasion and will have to do the same today from barrier 12, but with his country win under the belt, he’s now ready to tackle a city race. (15) Rat With Goldtooth was sound first up at Ballarat when finishing 4th and now tackles this race second up. He’s got a good record overall and probably should have won three races last prep but for a luckless run at Murtoa. The rise in trip today will certainly help him and he’s drawn well with a big jockey change with Jordan Childs taking over from Puls. Backing both horses at $6.
TIP: (14) Silentz / (15) Rat With Goldtooth
WARWICK FARM RACING TIPS
RACE 4
Not a great little race but I thought (3) Hoof Hustler could win again now that he’s got a win under his belt. He really did find the right race at the right time when saluting over 2400m on the Kensington track last start, but he’s found another winnable race today and the fact he won over this distance last start is a big plus. Bowman off but McEvoy on and happy to take $2.90.
TIP: (3) Hoof Hustler
RACE 5
Two main chances that appealed to me here. (4) Gresham goes on top after finally breaking through for a win at Gosford last start. He’s since been back to the trials and looked good in winning that trial, so third up and remaining at 1600m, he appears hard to beat. $3.50 seems about right but wouldn’t want much shorter for a horse that’s run 2nd five times from nine starts. I thought the obvious value in the race was (9) Marabel but the horse has since been declared a late scratching, which leaves Waller’s other runner, (11) Enlightened Boy, as a value chance at $8. This horse trialled well before winning at Wyong first up. McEvoy goes on today and the only real query is the jump from 1350m to 1600m.
TIP: (4) Gresham / (11) Enlightened Boy EW
RACE 6
Keen on (3) Realise Potential at each way odds here. He trialled well before his first up run and got no luck whatsoever on that occasion, held up until very late in the race when finishing 4th on the Kensington track. He’s second up today and although he’s never won second up, he’s placed in three of his four races and he’s won his only start at this track and distance. Comes down 2kg today, draws wide and can run a good race at $8.50.
TIP: (3) Realise Potential
RACE 7
Open race to finish with but there’s two that appeal. (18) Lisdoonvarna has won four races from seven starts and wasn’t given much hope at all last start when caught three-wide on speed in Group 3 company. Drops back to midweek grade here, draws well and has won her only start at this track and distance. Looks hard to beat at $4.60 with even luck. The value could be (12) So Spirited at $10. Sound first up at Randwick without being great, but his second up record reads three starts for two wins and a 2nd placing, suggesting he should really come on for that first up run. Drawn perfectly and has won at this track before. (11) Schubert and (19) La Chica Bella other chances.
TIP: (18) Lisdoonvarna / (12) So Spirited EW
ASCOT RACING TIPS
RACE 3
Three chances I’m interested in here. (1) Global Reset won on debut before finishing down the track in Group 3 company last start. Pike takes over today – when he teams up with Simon Miller you always have to take note. With the drop back to Wednesday company he appears hard to beat. I’m giving a chance to (11) She’s Got Merit at $6, though. She was unlucky not to win a race in her debut campaign, and she was basically out of the picture for the entire straight when she resumed three weeks ago. From the good draw today, she can sit much closer in the run and I love the booking of Brodie Kirby, who brings her down to 51kg. I think they’re both positives and she’s well and truly up to winning a race like this. The value looks to be (3) Apparition for the in-form Harvey stable. The horse was beaten 4.5L on debut last prep, despite finishing 3rd, but has since been spelled and has had three trials leading into its first up run today. The trials have been good, the blinkers go on for the first time, draws well and the stable are flying so I’d be including him at $15.
TIP: (11) She’s Got Merit / (3) Apparition EW
