26/12/2023 Horse Racing Tips and Best Bets

Eight races will be run and won at the Sunshine Coast on Tuesday. Weather is fine, track is heavy (8) and the rail is out three metres for the entire circuit.

Race 1. (14:18) Wimmers Premium Soft Drinks Handicap (65) 1800m

2 Raging Pole (Bet Now:$8.00) on top but not really a race I want to get involved in. His last couple of runs have come at Ipswich, the latest being over 1680m when back near last and was never a threat but did make up headway in a good effort when third to impressive winner Binding. He’ll love getting to the bigger track and if within range 400m out, I think he’ll be too strong for them late.

5 Arts Object (Bet Now:$2.70) is an improver for Kurt Goldman. He ran at Eagle Farm last time out at this trip where he got into a nice spot near the speed and tried hard but just lacked the class to go with them late in the piece behind Madame Odette, who would be $1.20 against these. Back to this level of race, he appeals.

7 Diana’s Affair (Bet Now:$3.80) is nearing a win for Kelly Schweida. He ran over this trip at Eagle Farm last start when just off the speed and tried his guts out but couldn’t quite get there when second to Dhakuri. Hard to beat against these.

Race 2. (14:53) Higgins Coatings Handicap (Class 4) 1400m

1 Hollywood North (Bet Now:$1.80) looks to be enjoying life under the care of Stuart Kendrick. Formerly with Chris Waller, he had his first run for Kendrick over 1200m at Eagle Farm where he got back out of his ground and was never really a winning threat but did make up ground and the run was a definite pass mark behind Sailor’s Secret. Fitter, up to 1400m, it all points to him, especially on the home deck, and with the claim.

7 Crazy Brave (Bet Now:$3.70) has been a model of consistency. Annabel Neasham trained gelding that was several weeks between runs when winning at this track/distance last time, getting the A1 run in transit before angling into clear air and in a driving finish, he was too good, just. Improvement to come off that, he rates highly.

2 Master Marko (Bet Now:$10.00) is a Paul Jenkins trained gelding that resumes. This guy is first up, having not raced since Sep 16 at Eagle Farm when back near last in the run and making up solid ground late behind Beaufort Park. Resumes without a public trial but with home track advantage, he commands respect.

Race 3. (15:32) Protectoral Maiden Plate 1000m

15 Winlike Emma (Bet Now:$2.80) is the way I am leaning but gee this is an ordinary maiden. Jack Bruce trained mare who hasn’t placed in five career outings but I didn’t think she was too bad at this track/distance last time out when fourth to a handy enough type, Party Spirit. That was on Nov 24 so over a month between runs but this is a nothing race so she doesn’t need to be anything special to win.

6 Yidabah (Bet Now:$3.10) is a son of Maurice for Gary Duncan that is on debut. He has had two trials here to get ready for start and has been okay without setting the world on fire but the stable can get them ready to go for start one and he does strike a very winnable race it seems so I think watch the market and see what it does.

7 Zephalong (Bet Now:$6.50) is trained by Trevor Miller and resumes after a three run prep in the Winter where he didn’t really fire a shot but that can be said about the raceday form about most of these. Resumes without a trial but has home track advantage and can settle handy. First four contender to my eye but really, a win wouldn’t shock.

Race 4. (16:12) TAB Handicap 1000m

8 Reliable Ruby (Bet Now:$1.90) saves her best for the Sunny Coast and off the first up run, she’ll take beating. She resumed over 1100m at Ipswich where she got back to near last in the run and spotted those in front way too much head start but really liked the way she found the line late when fourth to Hardware Lane. She loves the Sunny Coast 1000m and drawn to settle closer, she’ll be strong at the end.

2 Winside (Bet Now:$3.50) is a 1000m specialist and comes back to it here after racing over 1200m at Doomben in the Tatts Classic when on speed throughout and tried her guts out but 1200m at this level was a bridge too far behind Comrade Rosa. Loves the 1000m and has a pretty good record at the Sunny Coast, so she is hard to beat.

6 Gogol (Bet Now:$11.00) hasn’t set the world on fire this time in for Les Kelly but this race isn’t deep re depth. He ran over 1200m at Eagle Farm last time and didn’t fire a shot when down the track behind Sailor’s Secret. Back to a truly run 1000m, he’ll sit off the good speed and get last look. Knockout hope.

Race 5. (16:52) Butler McDermott Lawyers Maiden Plate 1000m

13 Rich Minx (Bet Now:$2.20) is the way I am leaning. She debuted at Doomben back in July when smashed in betting but didn’t fire a shot. Had trialled super leading and has trialled super leading into her return here. Confident she can make a winning return in a thin race.

2 Meat Pie Artie (Bet Now:$6.50) is a son of Flying Artie for Rob Heathcoate that is on debut. This guy won a 1000m trial at Doomben as well and won nicely I thought, albeit the time was slower than the time Daisy’s Pride ran. Tricky gate, but should press forward and give a stack of cheek. Leading contender.

10 Dashing Hope (Bet Now:$7.00) looks to be in for a good prep. She resumed over 1110m at Doomben when on speed throughout and tried hard but just lacked the quality to go with Fortuneer, who I think is a good thing in the next race, so I think the form will stack up. Just needs to overcome the sticky gate.

Race 6. (17:32) Martin Collins Australia Handicap (60) 1200m

4 Negation (Bet Now:$4.40) is a Hellbent mare for Kurt Goldman that resumes. This girl is first up, having not raced since August 23 when back a fair way out of her ground and made up solid headway late behind another promising O’Dea/Hoysted horse, Naval Trader. Good fresh horse with two trials under the belt, there looks to be intent, so watch the market.

1 Piece Of Turf (Bet Now:$3.70) commands respect for Liam Birchley. This mare hasn’t raced since Oct 21 at Eagle Farm when down the track behind Lost In Transit, who was flying at the time. Break between runs should be fine and this race has thinned out after scratchings.

9 Queen’s Secret (Bet Now:$10.00) is a slight query at 1200m but she has a kind map. Both runs back from a spell have come over 1000m here, the latest seeing her run fourth to Party Spirit after seemingly getting every chance. Third up so she should be hard fit and maps to do no work. Not sure I could back her to win but a must for exotics.

Race 7. (18:10) Barrier Reef Pools Handicap (60) 1200m

9 Bad Education (Bet Now:$2.15) is the way I’m leaning but not a whole lot of confidence. He ran over 1200m at Doomben last time and seemingly had every chance but didn’t quite finish the race off, perhaps needing the run. Better for the run under the belt, he appeals against these.

1 Adonisea (Bet Now:$3.00) looks like he will enjoy life under Michael Morrison. First run for the stable came on the Gold Coast Poly when back off the speed and kept finding the line in a solid return behind København. Fitter, he is a clear threat.

4 Poet’s Day (Bet Now:$5.50) can be an improver at odds. He resumed at Texas where he didn’t handle the track at all, finishing tailed off last. This is a stable that you should always be wary of off a run like that and he maps to do no work in the run. I’d be including him in exotics, purely because of the stable.

Race 8. (18:43) Caloundra RSL Handicap (62) 1600m

4 Better Yet (Bet Now:$4.00) has found winning form again and she can maintain it. Her last couple of runs have come at this track/distance, the last start being a win when ridden with intent on speed and despite being challenged in the straight, she found under pressure to fend them off. Think with an economical run in transit, she should be fine and rates highly.

8 Daintree Diva (Bet Now:$6.00) should be around the mark for Symons/Laxon. This mare caught the eye over 1300m here fresh before stepping up to the mile at Ipswich where she got the A1 run in transit and duly saluted. Has good upside to come you’d assume and maps to get run of the race. Leading contender.

12 Set Ablaze (Bet Now:$10.00) is a knockout hope. He ran over this track/distance last start where he got a mile out of his ground but rocketed late, just missing out on the win. Hard horse to catch but off last start, he can take this out.

Best Bets & Quaddie Tips

BEST BET: Race Four Number 8 Reliable Ruby

NEXT BEST: Race Two Number 1 Hollywood North

LONG SHOT: Race One Number 2 Raging Pole

Quaddie (Races Five Through To Eight):

Leg One: 2, 5, 6, 10, 13

Leg Two: 1, 4, 5, 9

Leg Three: 1, 9

Leg Four: 4, 8, 11, 13

$50 Investment = 31% of the dividend if successful.