Laurie Sainsbury, Cameron Happ's tips: $23 chance that had excuses last time

Hell Queen is one of Laurie’s tips on Saturday. Photo: Brett Holburt/Getty Images.

Proven value hunter Laurie Sainsbury believes a horse that was prominent in the stewards report last start represents a good each-way gamble at The Valley on Saturday.

Here are this week's tips.

LAURIE SAINSBURY

STRAWBERRY ROCK (The Valley Race 5 No 2) In his last start here he was dreadful and eased up as the rider thought he had an issue. Forgive that run and assess him off his win at Lakeside over 2400m. He then went to Randwick for the Stayers Cup and was only two lengths from the winner Outlandos. That horse then went to Grafton and ran second in the Grafton Cup to Zoumon. Strawberry Rock has since gone to Coleraine and ran second in a hurdle trial over 2800m despite the fact that the rider lost his irons at the 800m. That experience will sharpen him up and this method has been used over many years with good results. He was $4.80 last start and now we are getting double figure odds. BET: EACH-WAY

HELL QUEEN (The Valley Race 6 No 4) I liked her last week at Caulfield but she was a scratching. At her second race start she ran third in the Ottawa Stakes at Flemington behind Charm Stone who won Quezette last week. Hell Queen was then spelled and first-up last prep she ran second in the Listed Talindert Stakes behind Maharba. That filly then went to Rosehill and ran second in the Pago Pago behind Shinzo which then came out and won the Golden Slipper. The formlines are solid and she was readied for this with a recent jumpout where the rider made her work right to the line. BET: EACH-WAY

GRIFF (Rosehill Race 7 No 10) There's not much to recommend him form wise as he's had four starts for one win, a maiden at Warwick Farm over 1200m. He resumed after an eight-week break in the Rosebud over 1100m two weeks ago. In that race, won by Tiz Invincible, he was ridden back in the small field and ran home strongly to be beaten 1-1/2 lengths. In fact, he ran the second fastest 600m and 200m of the day, only Cigar Flick was better. He steps out a further 200m and that looks a real positive. I will be saving on Tom Kitten, I have been impressed with the trials of this smart colt. BET: EACH-WAY

CONQUEROR (The Valley Race 9 No 10) Two runs back at Caulfield he was caught four wide over 1700m then was driven hard to go forward and at the 800m attacked for the lead. As you would expect he tired but on face value the beaten margin of five lengths was respectable given the run he had and the fact that 1700m was a shade too far. Last start at Flemington the stewards report read, "Experienced difficulty obtaining clear running from the 400m until passing the 100m" so the margin of 1-3/4 lengths was better that it looked. He's been here and placed in two of three runs, one of those was a third in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes.  Several runners drop in weight here and he is one of those down 6kg on that last start in a Benchmark 84. BET: EACH-WAY

CAMERON HAPP

Cameron's tips will be uploaded when they are received – no later than 9am on Friday.