Best Bets – Wednesday 4 September

This is a terrific little race. All runners have a touch of class and Saturday potential. I really like the top weight PRIVATE LIFE, however. It will be tough lumping 61.5kg around on a hard track while resuming but he has wheels as he showed last prep winning a Super Maiden in grand style. He may well be stakes-bound. Hardest to beat will be his stablemate Delichy Boulevard who trialled really well recently.

I’m all over MONTE VEEBEE here. He should have won a better race by 100 yards last start but could not get a crack at them down the straight at any stage. He ran 7th that day and should strip fitter now. On top of that, he is a dual acceptor and we know that they always run well. Johnny The kid is my quinella bet as he has been backed overnight.

DEPRIVATION has transferred stables and is now with Nathan Doyle who trains at Newcastle. And, on his ‘debut’ for the new stable he completely destroyed a slightly weaker field over 1250m, hitting the line 3 lengths clear with his ears pricked. He led all the way that day. Carries the same weight here, and should strip fitter. If he leads, this track plays well for leaders so I suspect he can repeat the dose from Sir Artie who should get back and run on well late.

I’m on CAMPALDINO here. He’s with the Gai and Adrian stable so interesting to see if they drive him to the front early. He is originally from NZ where he won a couple of low-key races. On Aussie debut last start he copped two checks in the straight but still ran on to grab 5th over a mile in a similar grade. Fitter now and he looks like he can stay.

As a punter, always the best thing to do is to follow the money – especially when a great deal is plonked on one galloper. And that’s happened here overnight. Right down the bottom, MATAWAI, has been very heavily backed to win this. Blake Shinn rides and the mare is a last-start winner here – all pointing to a big run again.