Best Bets – Saturday 7th February

Does seem hard to go past HEDGED who is racing in fantastic form at the moment. Last time out he won the G2 Australia Stakes at Pakenham, after getting the gun run just off the speed and once he found the lead on straightening, gave nothing else a chance. War Machine went around a short priced favorite that night and couldn’t go with him over the final stages. No reason why he can’t win again.

Thought the run of AHHA AHHA was full of merit last time out at Cranbourne when she went down narrowly to Davida over the 1400m. She should be better suited moving up to the mile off that effort and Jamie Melham retains the ride and will be looking to go one better this time out. Looks a good bet to finish the card at Caulfield.

TALTARNI FIELDS fought on well last time out at Gold Coast behind Hawker Hall & Roselyn’s Star after working early to land outside the lead. He will be much fitter third-up here and draws perfectly to get the gun run in behind the speed. Also gets the 3kg claim for Corey Sutherland and he should prove very hard to hold off at the business end of the race. 

HELL looked home for the chocolates at Sunshine Coast after fighting off all the challengers down the lane until Hatchet produced a devastating burst over the concluding stages to nail him at the wire. Again Hell should be able to find the lead and does meet his nemesis 1.5kgs better at the weights and that may just prove to be the deciding factor this time around.

FANCY RED looked a little disappointing on paper running 4th last week but I feel he just needed the run to top him off and now third-up and steps up in trip to the 1400m, where he has never missed a place. Look for Pike to find a position in behind them again from the low draw and he should be able to navigate a passage down the straight & prove too hard to hold out.