13/1/2024 Horse Racing Tips and Best Bets

Ten races will be run and won at Flemington on Saturday for Standish Handicap Day. Weather is fine, track is soft (5) and the rail is out four metres for the entire circuit.

Race 1. (12:13) All Jockeys Dash 1000m

5 Zestiman (Bet Now:$4.50) is a Zoustar colt for Team Hayes on debut. He jumped out here a few weeks ago and for mine, seemingly moved well enough when finishing second, having something up the sleeve in a good piece of work. Not sure how deep this race is but he’s in a leading 2YO stable and looks well educated.

3 Ravenite (Bet Now:$9.50) is a Hellbent colt for Kennewell/Yeomans that is having start one. He has had a couple of Cranbourne jumpouts to get ready for start one, the latest being a few weeks ago where he won the jumpout and moved well to my eye in winning. Stable have had a good season with their juveniles so I think this guy commands some level of respect.

1 I’m Kenough (Bet Now:$12.00) is the one with race experience/fitness on his side, which should hold him in good stead. He did more than enough on debut at Caulfield before going to The Valley where he didn’t seem to handle the track at all behind Jenni’s Meadow. Trained on the track and with the experience factor, he commands some level of respect.

Race 2. (12:48) National Jockeys Trust Trophy (Bm100) 2000m

7 Arugamama (Bet Now:$2.25) is humming for Andrew Gluyas and commands respect. She has won her past three, the latest being at Gawler four weeks ago when getting the suck run in transit before Holder angled her into clear air and despite doing a bit wrong, she made a mess of them. She has found a purple patch and she can certainly maintain it.

4 Herman Hesse (Bet Now:$4.50) isn’t far off a win for Maher/Eustace. He ran over 2400m at Caulfield four weeks ago when near the speed and he was a bit one paced in the run to the line but was far from disgraced in defeat behind Regal Power. Back in trip I find interesting but I think with a more positive ride, he can take this out.

5 Maserartie Bay (Bet Now:$12.00) is dangerous with his best. He is six weeks between runs since racing over 2400m at Caulfield when on speed and was very one paced in the straight when asked, failing to finish the race off and was plain behind Ruling. Think on firmer footing helps, and is dangerous if he gets complete control.

Race 3. (13:23) VJA Trophy (Bm70) 1400m

3 Otago (Bet Now:$1.95) looks a nice horse for Price/Kent. He was a short priced favourite when debuting at Bendigo over 1300m where he was an impressive winner and what I liked is that the further the race went on, the better he got. Extra 100m and bigger track, good upside, clearly has an engine under the hood…hard to beat I’d suggest.

1 Valois (Bet Now:$7.50) returns to his own age and is dangerous. Cliff Brown trained three year old that ran over this trip on Boxing Day at Caulfield when near the speed throughout and presented to win the race but couldn’t quite get there when third to Bubbly Lass, beaten just over a half length. He has that 1400m run under the belt, which should hold him in good stead.

2 High Security (Bet Now:$12.00) looks a nice type for Jason Warren. He ran here on New Years Day where he got a mile out of his ground but I really liked the way he kept finding the line in a good effort in defeat when third to Krementz, beaten just over a length. He has that 1400m run under the belt, which should hold him in good stead for this.

Race 4. (13:58) Readiness App Sprint (Rs0mw) 1000m

11 Shaime (Bet Now:$6.00) looks a nice mare for Cliff Brown and second up, I think she can win. She resumed on her home deck at Mornington where she was near the speed throughout and she tried her guts out but just couldn’t quite get there when a narrow second to Ode To Joy. That was her first run in just under a year so with enormous upside/improvement, she rates highly.

4 Chester Warrior (Bet Now:$8.50) has run well down the straight previously and commands respect. He ran over 1200m here on Kensington Day where he was near the speed and absolutely trucking. Clicked up and she looked all over a winner but was nabbed right on the peg. The end of his races is his query, but hard to knock him off last time.

2 Dio (Bet Now:$19.00) has run well down the straight previously and off the first up run, he’s in with a shout at odds. He resumed over 1000m at The Valley where he got a fair way out of his ground and while he was never a threat, he did make up ground and was solid enough in defeat behind Philosopher. Good second up record and has run well at the track/distance previously.

Race 5. (14:33) Stud And Stable Staff Awards (Bm70) 2000m

2 Bold Soul (Bet Now:$4.40) is racing like he will appreciate a rise to 2000m. This gelding was 1400m to 1800m at Caulfield on Boxing Day where he was just off the speed and tried hard but in a leader dominated affair, he couldn’t get make up the necessary ground when third to Angel Down. The rise to 2000m suits I feel and onto the bigger track, he appeals.

9 Girls Girls Girls (Bet Now:$2.90) is still a maiden but she looks a filly with good ability for Andrew Bobbin. She ran in the Angel Down race on Boxing Day at Caulfield, settling back in the run and making up solid headway in the straight when second, beaten a half length. Looks to get a great set up here and finds a winnable race. Like her a lot here.

3 Cortain (Bet Now:$16.00) is racing like 2000m will suit. His last couple of runs have come at Caulfield, winning over the mile two back before going to 1800m behind Angel Down where he spotted the eventual winner too much head start but I did like the way he found the line. If he can settle closer and be within range, he’ll take holding out.

Race 6. (15:08) Jockey Acknowledgement Plate (Bm78) 1600m

8 Rivaport (Bet Now:$12.00) is worth a throw at the stumps each way. Grahame Begg trained mare that resumed over 1400m at Caulfield on Boxing Day where she was run off her legs early and never really a threat but she was okay to and through the line, suggesting a rise in trip will suit. Love her up in trip, she gets in nicely after the claim…worth an each way ticket.

1 Soaring Eagle (Bet Now:$8.00) is in ripping form for Brideoake/Jenkins and commands respect. Strong on speed winner of the Tatura Cup before going to the mile at The Valley where she tried her guts out to fend them off but didn’t quite have the finale to go with Real Sensation late in the piece. Back to Mares grade, in form, good racing style…hard to beat.

5 Dane On Tour (Bet Now:$8.00) looks to have returned in pretty good order for Team Feek and commands respect. Last start saw her bolt up at Caulfield, leading throughout and was quite dominant in the run to the line. Hard to knock the way she has returned, she should find the front comfortably and take running down.

Race 7. (15:43) Honouring Our Jockeys Plate (Bm70) 1400m

5 Green Belt (Bet Now:$3.50) is the best horse in the race, by a mile, and I’ll bank on class/quality getting him home. He resumes for Price/Kent, having not raced since the 2022 Daybreak Lover when a narrow second to Flying Crazy after sitting wide throughout. He’s clearly had his issues but has the engine. Three jumpouts under the belt, the grounding is there to say he runs a beauty.

6 Helix (Bet Now:$7.00) is knocking on the door to win in town for Clinton McDonald. He ran over this track/distance on New Years Day where I thought he was given a 12/10 by J Kah and loomed to win but just found one better in Bel Air. Been up a little while but is racing in food form and strikes a winnable race so he commands respect.

13 Explosive Thinker (Bet Now:$13.00) has to be given another look for Griffiths/De Kock. He knuckled down strongly to win fresh at The Valley before going to Caulfeild where he was a well tried favourite but seemingly had every chance and was plain behind Bubbly Lass. I think perhaps second up syndrome off the fresh win so I am anticipating a third up bounce back.

Race 8. (16:28) Standish Hcp 1200m

2 Sghirripa (Bet Now:$2.05) is on top for me in the Standish. Team Oxlade trained gelding that comes through the Christmas Stakes at Caulfield where he was an electric winner, getting the beaut sit in behind before getting clear and he went through his gears to win and win well. This isn’t harder and he only has to be holding his form to win again IMO.

4 Curran (Bet Now:$6.50) is absolutely flying for the Tolson/Proctor camp but with his racing pattern, he just finds it very hard to win at this level. He ran in the Christmas Stakes at Caulfield where he got a fair way out of his ground but really liked the way he finished his race off in defeat behind Sghirripa. Run well down the straight previously, he’ll sit back and launch late.

7 Poland (Bet Now:$23.00) is a fascinating runner. Formerly with Mike Moroney, he now finds himself with Gavin Bedggood. His best has lengths on these but he hasn’t showed it in some time. That said, I thought he moved well in a recent Cranbourne jumpout and he does sprint well on the fresh side so watch the market and see what it does.

Race 9. (17:13) Off The Track Trophy (Bm84) 1600m

3 Miracle Spin (Bet Now:$2.20) looks to have a bit on these if he brings his form from Sydney. He was a strong winner at Randwick two weeks ago, getting a beaut sit in transit under Collett before angling clear and he got better as the race went on. Staying at 1600m is a query given he may want further, but he seems to be trained with more speed in the legs this time in. With that, I am keen on him.

9 Piaggio (Bet Now:$7.00) is dangerous with his best but it will be heart in the mouth stuff at the start given what happened last start at The Valley where he started bucking soon after jumping and that put pay to any chance he had. The win prior at Caulfield was strong, he’s in very well after the claim and will press forward. Knockout hope.

10 Typhoon Harmony (Bet Now:$17.00) has run well at the track/distance previously and isn’t racing too bad. He ran over the mile at The Valley two weeks back where he seemingly had every chance in transit but seemingly had every chance, albeit was just under two lengths away from Real Sensation. Not sure he is a horse I could back to win but is a must for exotics because he is genuine when right.

Race 10. (17:48) Jockey Assistance Program Plate (Bm78) 1200m

2 Is It Me (Bet Now:$6.50) rises in grade/depth but Dan Bowman has him absolutely flying at the moment. He has won his past two, winning on Cranbourne Cup Day two back before going to Caulfield four weeks ago over 1200m where he gave them a start and a beating in a brilliant display. He’s humming this horse and despite this being his first look at the straight course, he commands respect.

1 Jungle Jim (Bet Now:$4.20) will jump and sit near the front, giving them something to chase. He copped heat on speed at The Valley a fortnight back and he tried his guts out, looking all over a winner, but was run down late by an in form Pink Beau Ty. Has run well down the straight previously and hard fit, he’ll give himself every chance.

12 Master Montaro (Bet Now:$11.00) didn’t fire a shot really when racing in Hong Kong and now he’s returned to Lindsay Park, he looks like he will win races. He resumed at Caulfield on Boxing Day and was good from off the speed without threatening when fourth to impressive winner Mrs Chrissie. He’ll likely get back but be strong at the end.

Best Bets & Quaddie Tips

BEST BET: Race Eight Number 2 Sghirripa

NEXT BEST: Race Nine Number 3 Miracle Spin

LONG SHOT: Race Six Number 8 Rivaport

Quaddie (Races Seven Through To Ten):

Leg One: 5

Leg Two: 2

Leg Three: 3

Leg Four: 1, 2, 6, 12

$50 Investment = 1250% of the dividend if successful.