Great day of midweek racing ahead of us today punters, as Geelong takes centre stage in Victoria, giving the two Sandown tracks a well deserved break. The rail is true, and fine weather expected so we should be met with excellent racing conditions. The Kensington track at Randwick is the highlight in Sydney, and with lovely weather throughout the state early in the week i’m tipping we will be racing on a good surface come race day. Sunshine Coast, Strathalbyn and Ascot make up our other meetings, let’s try and keep the good vibes of the long weekend rolling. PlayUp form analyst Lewis Willoughby has picked his top five picks of the day, check them out below.
Geelong R1#5 Fixated $2.60 at PlayUp – This horse is coming out of some very strong form races from his four start career. On debut he finished 3rd behind Hanseatic, then went on to finish behind Prime Star and Doubtland in two high grade races in Sydney. All of these horses have an above average share of talent, so Fixated now coming back to a 1200m Geelong maiden looks very well placed. He has been crying out for this extra distance, running the fastest last 200m sectional of the race last start over 1100m. With any luck getting cover from barrier 12, he can swoop over the top of these and prove too good.
Geelong R2 #5 Krispy Kev $3.40 at PlayUp – I’m still undecided whether Krispy Kev is a good name for a racehorse, but what I do know is that he has a great chance of breaking through today in career start number two. On debut at Pakenham over 1000m he finished 2nd to the very talented Mister Monaro, who has since been sold to HK interests for over $1 million. The step up to 1100m is ideal, and from barrier one he should get an excellent run in transit. His sectional times on debut were far better when compared to that of rivals, and he is a great price for a bet.
Geelong R4 #3 Midas Prince $5.00 at PlayUp – This horse represents great value, although the price may disappear with scratching’s. He’s coming here second up off the back of an outstanding run fresh, when he finished 3rd in a BM78 at Bendigo on Bendigo Guineas day. He ran the fastest last 200m of the race, and that came as no surprise as he flashed home from last to only just miss on the line. Now second up, where his record is 4:3-1-0. and he also has a 100% winning strike rate at this track % distance. Fitter, drawn well and well-weighted also, he looks the winner on paper.
Randwick – Kensington R1 #10 Raison D’etre $2.00 at PlayUp – I tipped this Godolphin 2YO filly on debut, and she was mightily unlucky not to finish closer than 1L off the winner. After missing the start, she found all sorts of traffic on the turn, and flashed home when it was all over. I think now with the race experience, and a fitness edge on her side, she will get a better run in transit and therefore sticking to the 1100m is no issue. J Mac sticks aboard, which gives me added confidence. Competitive race no doubt, but she looks talented and can be atoning here.
Randwick – Kensington R2 #9 Overlord $6.50 at PlayUp – I want to be having something on this Waller debutant, who may sneak under the radar of some others. Fitness and race ability should be no issue, he has had four official trials dating back to early December last year. His most recent two trials were on heavy going, which I’m tipping is most unsuitable. Over 902m at Canterbury in trial number two, he beat Prime Star, who then came out this year and won the rich Inglis Millennium. Love the booking of Tom Marquand, who continues to ride in scintillating form, and with luck from barrier 10 I think Overlord will be very competitive.
