Best Bets – Wed 18 Feb

Gee, the clouds look like aligning perfectly here. I like the look of GUS THE GREAT from the Joe Pride stable. He is 3rd up here, placed at past 2 starts, looks to LOVE this trip and is on home track. Will sit back about 5th to the bend then just unleash. Get on.

Surely on weights and measures STRAAND BEAUTY gets the prize here. Last start he led until the last bound, beaten on the line by Nazwah who he meets again here. But, this time the weights favour our bloke as he meets Nazwah 1.5kg better for losing by a nostril. Quinella them again.

Form lines are very hard to line up here. Fiddler’s Green for instance, looks nicely placed especially with the 3kg claim. So quinella him with this Victorian TARZING who, while not beating anything of note yet, has done so most impressively. Actually, he gives the impression he might be Saturday grade. Two starts at the provincials in Victoria, for 2 wins and more ahead of him I believe.

This does look like a put in, take out race. The well named LANCELOT DU LAC should lead all the way. This is his 5th start so is very fit and ready to dominate. Of course, the original Lancelot du Lac did that. He was the greatest knight of King Arthur’s Round table, regarded as the best swordsman. This horse is by Flying Artie. Everything points to a swashbuckling performance here.

I must say it’s exciting watching classy types at the start of their careers. Going up through the grades, improving each run etc. We have one here in the 3YO filly RUSSIAN DUCHESS. She has Qld and SA Oaks written all over her. If so, sits back and descends on these late. Won her maiden like that last start.