Great day of racing coming up here, with big and competitive fields set to battle at a number of venues around the country. Our PlayUp form analyst has run their eye over racing at The Valley and Randwick and landed on 5 top selections. See them below.
Moonee Valley
R1 #4 Direct $5.00 at PlayUp – Thought Direct offered good value in this race, resuming here off no public trials or jumpouts but should be forward enough to be competitive over 1000m here. The form lines he brings in from last prep are far superior to any other runner, and he was very good at this track and distance on debut behind eventual G3 winner Paulele. He pushed forward and parks himself in a prominent winning position, and placings behind Home Affairs in the G2 Silver Slipper, as well as the 2nd behind Paulele, read very well for this race. Looks like a great horse for this track, keen on an each-way basis.
R3 #3 No Effort $3.30 at PlayUp – Racing in outstanding form of late, looking to make it three wins in a row here off stronger victories at Sandown and Caulfield over longer distances. She is a rock hard fit coming into this event, and therefore the drop back to a mile looks no issue, especially seeing she will settle nicely up on speed as well. Straight on the bunny from barrier two, and she even drops weight here in equal grade with C Hefel taking 3kg off. She profiles as a very good Valley horse, and she has already placed twice from three runs at this track. This looks like a very winnable race, seeing a number of these horses are resuming and need 2000m+, she can steal this from the front.
R9 #5 Melodeon $5.00 at PlayUp – Low percentage play here in the last, so bet cautiously, but I couldn’t let Melodeon go around at double figures without my money on. Coming off an extremely unlucky fresh run at Caulfield behind Gold Spark, where she got back to last off a slow speed and was held up until the final 200m where she worked home very well under no pressure. Second up now fitter, and she is a two-time winner at this track. She will need enormous amounts of luck, getting back again from the wide barrier and shooting for gaps in the straight. I’m convinced she’s in good order though and looks an each-way save in the last.
Randwick
R4 #9 Savvy Legend $7.00 at PlayUp – Very keen to see this horseback onto a firmer surface, after some promising runs on very wet tracks throughout this campaign. Although by Savabeel, his preferred surface definitely looks a good track, and fifth up here back to 1800m looks ideal placement by the camp. Drawn week, 54.5kg and McEvoy booked are also major ticks for this horse, and he looks way over the odds. This is an evenly matched race with a number of horses looking to have reached their peak, so he is worth a shot.
R8 #8 Miss Dior $5.50 at PlayUp – Second up here and looking to break through off a very promising 2nd when returning last here at the track and trip. Was probably underdone on a heavy track that day, but will flourish here on a much preferred firm deck, with a great record at the distance as well. She is a proven second-up winner, beating Shaik at Kembla Grange last prep over the 1000m, and from a very good draw here with Rachel King retaining the ride in an easier race, can be winning.
