Best Bets – Sat 23rd Dec

STORM BOY certainly looks the one to beat here in the Group 3 Bruce McLachlan MM Stakes. He won with plenty in hand at his debut at Rosehill and appears headed to bigger and better things. The two-year-old Magic Millions at Gold Coast in January high on his agenda.

Will give FREEDOM RALLY another try after a slightly disappointing 4th here a fortnight ago. He is now third-up in this campaign and should be ready to show his best. From the wide barrier, hopefully will be ridden cold and be able to sprint over the top of them with that barnstorming finish that we know he possesses.

SOUTH OF HOUSTON looks to be extremely hard to toss in this event. Being ridden by Celine Gaudrey, who is flying at the moment, this mare proved too strong for Running By at Lakeside recently, who then made the form look good winning at Caulfield last weekend. Should prove extremely hard to beat.

Will be having something each way on ZOU SENSATION here in the last at the Valley. First up battled away well in behind Pink Beauty at Cranbourne and has been competitive in much better class in the past. At double figure odds, definitely worth an each way play.

DUCHESS OF GOSSIP does look one of the better bets of the day. Although she is dropping back in distance and going up in weight, she is all class and has a great record at the trip. If Brad Parnham can just get in from that wide draw or get a trail, she should be getting home over the top of them and prove too strong.