Placing a bet on a favourite – some punters can’t get enough of them, while others steer clear of them. Racing writer Justin Devine looks at some of the more fancied runners for this weekend’s horse racing and decides if he loves them 😍 or if he should leave ❎ them!
Wet tracks look the order of the day this week and horses with superior fitness are likely to run well. GRAND PROMENADE dominated last start and only needs to stay out of trouble to win the Banjo Patterson at Flemington. Import WICKLOW can keep his unbeaten Australian record interact at Rosehill, while STREET TOUGH can break through for his maiden South Australian win at Murray Bridge😍.
STOCKMAN looks under the odds in the Caloundra Cup on the Sunshine Coast when you consider that he will settle well back in the field and others look much better value. Waller pair NO COMPROMISE and VITESSE are both last start winners who will start favourites in their respective races at Rosehill. I’m happy to take the pair on! ❎
Good Luck Punters!
Flemington R3 – 2. Grand Promenade @ $1.40 😍
Emerging stayer GRAND PROMENADE is racing in terrific form this prep with two wins and three seconds from five runs. He cruised to a 4+ length win over 2520m last start and looked to have plenty left in the tank. Victoria’s leading jockey Jamie Kah retains the ride. He wont be a big price, but he will be winning! The best bet of the day.
BET ON FLEMINGTON RACE 3 HERE:
Murray Bridge R3 – 1. Street Tough @ $3.80 😍
Ex-Tasmanian STREET TOUGH did plenty of work first-up in South Australia from a wide gate and fought gamely to finish second. From a better gate this week and with leading apprentice Jacob Opperman to steer, the 6yo should enjoy a much more economical run throughout and ha a good second-up record. He may not be favourite, but he should be! I’m on.
BET ON MURRAY BRIDGE RACE 3 HERE:
Rosehill R9 – 13. Wicklow @ $2.20 😍
The UK import has won all three starts in Australia and looks to have plenty of upside. He found the line strongly to win well at the track and distance last start and has shown that he handles the heavy. Brenton Avdulla will only need to get some cover early from the wide gate and the 3yo can do the rest in the run home. Bad luck looks his main danger.
Rosehill R3 – 2. No Compromise @ $2.30 ❎
NO COMPROMISE is chasing a hat trick of wins after a narrow victory last start in heavy conditions. He won well over 2400m two runs back so the distance will not pose any problems, but he will need to carry 60kgs this week. weight they say can stop a train and I fear it will stop NO COMPROMISE this week. No thanks.
Sunshine Coast R7 – 4. Stockman @ $1.80 ❎
STOCKMAN broke through for a much-deserved win at Rosehill last start and makes the step back up to 2400m this week, a distance that he has never won over before. The speed map suggests that he will get well back in the run and the early speed looks to be moderate. Can he reel in his rivals from well back and win ver 2400m for the first time? Maybe. Am I taking odds on? Pass.
Rosehill R8 – 6. Vitesse @ $3.30 ❎
VITESSE won well on the Kensington track last start and the step up in class is offset by the 2kg drop in weights. His last start win was his first in seven runs, can he go back to back? Of particular concern is barrier 1 late in the day. I expect by that stage of the day that the fence might be “off” and horses will be looking to get out wide. The Waller trained mare doesn’t win out of turn and while she will run well, I think she will find a couple better on the day. I will be betting around her.