Spring has officially sprung here in Australia, and for the first of the month we have a cracking day of midweek racing. Our PlayUp form analyst has found five good bets around the grounds, check them out below.
Sandown Lakeside R1 #7 Growl $4.60 at PlayUp – Keen on this Maher/Eustace horse now second up into its career, off a very gallant 2nd place on debut at Sale. He was forced to restrain in the run from a wide draw, which turned out to be very unsuitable as the leader was also the winner. He flew through the line in the fastest 400m and 200m sectionals of the entire day to finish within half a length of the winner. I’m confident they can ride closer from the better draw here today, and with the benefit of race experience he can go one better.
Sandown Lakeside R2 #3 Caliper $2.80 at PlayUp – This horse looks very well placed here, coming off a very solid effort in a much harder race at The Valley when resuming. She was snagged to last in that race and spotted the leaders 12L early, before working hard to catch up to the field. She came widest on the turn and still managed to finish off from an impossible winning position in the quickest last 200m split of the race, and it rated highly for the meeting as well. Second up now, likely to get back again but will find this race much easier and C Williams sticking aboard is positive, as is the step to 1400m!
Sandown Lakeside R6 #3 Ocean’s Thirteen $7.50 at PlayUp – Second up here in this midweek BM78 for fillies and mares, coming off a very unlucky resuming run behind Turaath at Flemington. For obvious reasons, that first up run was a much harder race than this, and she was very unlucky in it as well. Got back to near last in running, and was blocked for a run all the way until the final 300m where she got out and attacked the line hard. Turaath has since won again in town, and Ocean’s Thirteen comes here holding weight in easier grade thanks to the claim. Will get better luck from a wide draw today.
Randwick Kensington R1 #7 Stray $13.00 at PlayUp – Can’t believe the price of the resuming A Cummings filly here, first up from a spell off a very promising Randwick trial. J McDonald rode her in that trial, and although he doesn’t ride her in this race I think it still signals intent that she is a horse with a lot of talent, as it is usually very hard to book ‘J Mac’ for a trial ride unless he is looking to ride the horse in the future. She ran under 3L off Paulele on debut, and that horse is now one of, if not the, best 3yo going around. Stray will eventually get to a trip longer than this, but is a definite top three hope here and will give you a great sight for your money. The stable likewise has a big opinion of her, nomination her for the VRC Oaks.
Gawler R2 #7 Solsystem Bet Now at PlayUp – Looks a very smart debutant for J Stephens here in Solsystem, who won its only trial at Murray Bridge over 1000m in effortless fashion. He is a big, strong gelding out of Fighting Sun, who looks as though will make the grade in Saturday class. This looks a very ordinary maiden, with the greatest respect to other runners in the field, but P Gatt retains the ride from the trial, and from a nice draw he should be too good for them here. Stable has a very high opinion of the horse, and can easily measure up on debut.
