Hot and Humid Weather Sets the Stage for a Competitive Australia Day Meeting
The Australia Day meeting promises to be a thrilling event, with hot and humid weather conditions. Despite the challenging weather, the fields are in excellent condition, ensuring a competitive race day. The rail will be positioned twelve meters out, indicating that horses are likely to veer away from the fence in the straight.
With a plethora of first starters and horses resuming, finding value in the betting market may prove to be difficult. However, the market will serve as a reliable guide for punters.
Best Bets for the Day
- Last Chance Saloon (Race 6 No 3)
- Traviata (Race 3 No 10)
- Tread Softly (Race 7 No 6)
For the Quaddie, consider the following combinations:
- Race 5: 2, 3, 8, 11
- Race 6: 1, 3, 5
- Race 7: 1, 5, 6
- Race 8: 1, 6
This amounts to a total of 72 combinations.
Race Previews
Race 1 – Class 4 Handicap 1600m
In this race, Regal Pom (1) stands out as a strong contender. Although he faced a tougher field at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday, this race presents an easier challenge. With two recent outings under his belt, Regal Pom is in top form and has previously won a Saturday Benchmark 70 over 1500m at this track. Jockey Cejay Graham, who knows the horse well, will guide him to victory.
Vendidit (2) is another horse to watch. He has shown improvement in his last two races and will be suited by the class and distance of this race. With jockey Mark Du Plessis, Vendidit has the potential to control the race.
Kinetic (4) has been enhanced by two recent outings and is now at his preferred distance. With two wins out of three at this track, Kinetic will be ridden by Ben Thompson, who will give him every opportunity to succeed.
Top Spy (3) brings strong form from North Queensland and has a favorable barrier position. With jockey Martin Harley, Top Spy will have every chance to shine.
Verdict: Regal Pom (1) if he starts, otherwise Vendidit (2).
Race 2 – Three-Year-Old Fillies Maiden Plate 1200m
This race features some intriguing unraced horses, including Bucks Fizz (2), who has shown great potential in both trials. Despite drawing a wide barrier, Bucks Fizz’s breeding suggests that speed runs in her bloodline.
Magic Island (8) dominated in a recent trial and will debut with winkers. With jockey Michael Rodd, Magic Island has the opportunity to showcase her speed and talent.
Grand Meteor (5) may have been beaten by Magic Island in a trial, but the Tony Gollan/Ryan Maloney combination should not be underestimated.
Feeashin Moon (4) has more experience than the rest of the field and has recently changed stables. With trainer Barry Lockwood and jockey Kyle Wilson-Taylor, Feeashin Moon will have every chance to succeed from gate two.
Verdict: Keep an eye on the market, but Bucks Fizz (2) stands out.
Race 3 – Three-Year-Old Fillies Maiden Plate 1200m
Traviata (10) deserves another chance after a disappointing performance on a heavy track at the Sunshine Coast. Despite her previous outings, Traviata has shown promise in trials and will wear blinkers for this race. With jockey Justin Huxtable, Traviata has the potential to bounce back.
Pink Thunder (8) has improved in her last two races and was not far off in her most recent start at Doomben. With a slightly longer distance and jockey Cejay Graham, Pink Thunder will have all the advantages from gate one.
Dashing Hope (3) has been narrowly beaten in her past two races at the Sunshine Coast. With jockey Mark Du Plessis, Dashing Hope has been knocking on the door for a win and may find success in this race.
Courageous Gal (2) is resuming and has yet to show her full potential. However, with blinkers on and jockey Jim Orman engaged by trainer Kelly Schweida, Courageous Gal should not be overlooked.
Verdict: Traviata (10) is expected to come out on top.
Race 4 – Three-Year-Old Colts and Geldings Maiden Plate 1200m
Mean Approach (6) is better suited to this race after struggling from a wide gate in his debut at Ipswich. With the addition of blinkers and jockey Andrew Mallyon, Mean Approach will have all the advantages from a favorable barrier position.
Keep Safe (4) led the field on a heavy track in his debut but was caught late. With more race fitness and jockey Ben Thompson, Keep Safe has the potential to overcome the awkward draw.
Pivotal Lad (8) has not shown much in his trials, but being trained by Tony Gollan and ridden by Jim Orman from a good barrier, he deserves respect.
Gold Dazzler (3) had a difficult run when resuming at Toowoomba but has a better barrier position in this race. With jockey Ryan Maloney, Gold Dazzler will be a strong contender.
Verdict: An open race, but Mean Approach (6) may show improvement.
Race 5 – Class 1 Handicap 1200m
In this race, Damo Dayz (3) stands out as a horse with great potential. Despite starting from a wide gate, Damo Dayz overcame the challenge and won his debut race. With two recent trials and jockey Ryan Maloney, Damo Dayz is expected to perform well.
Lovewillcomelater (2) is resuming after a maiden win in November. Although he has had some issues, trainer Barry Lockwood has prepared him soundly for this race.
Up the Country (8) has shown promise since joining Jack Bruce’s stable, winning a Maiden and narrowly missing out on victory in this class at Lismore. With the advantage of fitness and jockey Ben Thompson, Up the Country has a good chance of success.
Malarina (11) has displayed potential in her short career and dominated at Ipswich. With only 54.5kg to carry and room for improvement, Malarina could make her presence felt in this race.
Verdict: Keep an eye on the market, but Damo Dayz (3) is a strong contender.
Race 6 – Class 2 Handicap 1400m
Last Chance Saloon (3) faced challenging conditions in his last start on a Heavy 10 track. However, he has consistently finished in the top two in his last six races and will find this track more favorable. With jockey Michael Rodd replacing apprentice Dan McGillivray and starting from gate one, Last Chance Saloon is expected to perform well.
Boom Shot (1) will wear blinkers for this race, having competed in stronger races previously. Although he may give his competitors a head start, jockey Jim Orman will ensure that he remains within striking distance.
Northern Decree (5) performs best when fresh and has been prepared with a recent trial. With a positive ride from jockey Martin Harley, Northern Decree could be a strong contender.
Cavaup (9) has gained fitness from three outings and will wear blinkers for this race. Trained by Matt Dunn, Cavaup is suited to the big track and could surprise the field.
Verdict: Consider placing a bet on Last Chance Saloon (3).
Race 7 – Benchmark 68 Handicap 1200m
Tread Softly (6), trained by Sally Taylor, has been in superb form, winning three consecutive races. Her most recent victory saw her defeat Smooth Torque, who went on to win on Wednesday. Tread Softly’s impressive record makes her a strong contender in this race.
John Rambo (5) will benefit from a significant drop in class, making this race easier than his previous starts in the Gateway and Rising Stars. Although he can be unpredictable, jockey Ryan Maloney knows how to get the best out of him.
Bauhinia Rock (1) proved that he is not just a polytracker by winning his last race, a Class 3 at the Sunshine Coast. Despite carrying more weight than his competitors, jockey Jag Guthmann-Chester knows how to handle him, and with visors replacing blinkers, Bauhinia Rock could lead the field for a significant portion of the race.
Boom Court (8) has struggled to secure victories but has consistently placed in his last three races. With his speed and jockey Ryan Wiggins, Boom Court could be a front-runner in this race.
Verdict: Tread Softly (6) is a mare in top form.
Race 8 – Class 1 Handicap 1800m
Tony Gollan has found the perfect race for Royal Rift (1), who made up ground in his previous outing in this class. With improved fitness and jockey Ben Thompson, Royal Rift will be presented at the right time for victory.
Stablemate So You Knew (6) has gained fitness from two outings and will benefit from the longer distance of this race. Although he has only won once in fifteen starts, the addition of blinkers and jockey Martin Harley may improve his chances.
Disputed River (4) went too hard in his last start on a heavy track at the Sunshine Coast. With four outings under his belt and jockey Jake Bayliss, Disputed River could be difficult to pass if ridden positively.
The Khan (7) is a resilient horse who thrives on big tracks. With jockey Michael Cahill, The Khan will keep pushing forward while others tire.
Verdict: Royal Rift (1) is well-suited to this race.
About the Author
Website Conclusion
George Barham, an accomplished journalist and avid gambling enthusiast, serves as the esteemed Editor-in-Chief at fly-to-australia.com, Australia’s leading source for comprehensive gambling news and insights. With an unwavering passion for both the written word and the ever-evolving world of betting and gaming, George brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the helm of our editorial team.
