Happy Australia Day long weekend punters! After a few days of quality time with family and friends celebrating all things Australian, there is no better way to spend a public holiday Monday than enjoying a good day on the punt. Racing takes place all over the country today, with a very competitive meeting at Sandown, quality racing from Warwick Farm and the Sunshine Coast, and country meetings in Grafton and the picturesque Hanging Rock down in Victoria. The feature racing today takes place in Sha Tin, with the Hong Kong Classic Mile. With that being said, have a look below at PlayUp form analyst Lewis Willoughby’s top five best bets for this Monday.
Warwick Farm:R1 #9 Quiet Riot $2.35 at PlayUp – The trials of this Bjorn Baker colt have been exceptional, latest scoring by 3L under very little pressure. In past trials has beaten talented horses such as Quantico and Still Single. The best parts of the trial, however, have been the way in which he keeps extending through the line and around the bend, which indicates to me that 1100m on debut is no issue. James McDonald sticks aboard from the trials, he will need a good ride from barrier 10, but with any luck he could be too good for this bunch.
Warwick Farm R4 #2 Omar $3.80 at PlayUp – This horse is dropping back from a very sound run over 1000m in Saturday grade. Jumped and led on that occasion and held its ground to the line, only beaten just over a length. Is fitter for that run now, and has won previously second up. Will jump and lead again from the wide draw, and may be hard to catch if he is rated well enough in front. Expecting it to give a great sight in front, and is around its correct price at this mark.
Warwick Farm R6 #7 Toomai $6.50 at PlayUp – The price of this Waller filly is all wrong I think. She has won two on the bounce in the provincials, the latter was very good when came from near last to swoop around the field and extend away on the line. This is harder, but she jumps from a good draw where she will find cover behind the speed, and gets a top jockey aboard in Nash Rawiller who will give her every possible chance to win. Sticking to the 1400m suits, she is rock hard fit now fourth up, and filly’s that are in form usually hold it, so Toomai is a great each way bet in this race for mine.
Sandown:R7 #2 Confluence $4.80 at PlayUp – This horse was not given much hope first up, ridden up to sit outside the leader on a hot tempo, and all considered actually stuck on better than it was entitled to do. That was a very hot race won by Montenegro Man, and Bam’s On Fire has since come out and won also. That run was first up, so comes here second up with a very good record at this stage (4:2-2), and has the ability to handle any track condition. This seems a wide open race I concede, but we are definitely getting overs about this horse, and I’m confident of an each way bet.
Hanging Rock:R3 #2 King Of Design $2.70 at PlayUp – Leaning towards the race experience here, this galloper is resuming from a spell after a first prep that wasn’t without its troubles. The run on debut was full of merit, before it had a throat issue second up. It won a recent trial impressively, showing me that it has come back in good order from the throat problem. It draws well here today, should get every chance from barrier two and is the big improver of the race for mine.
