Weekend Best Bets: Randwick, Caulfield, Doomben, Morphettville

OUR experts and celebrities give you an early shot at finding a winner as they look at the major races around the nation this weekend and focus in on the Caulfield Guineas and The Everest.

• Ray and Duff: Ultimate Everest preview
• Top picks: Early look at Guineas Day
• Form guide: Who to back in The Everest

OUR experts give you an early shot at finding a winner as they look at the major races around the nation this weekend.

Last week … Three winners. Glenn McFarlane nailed the best and value double with Avilius ($2.45) and Invincibella ($3.20). Michael Manley, Darren Prendergast and Nick Quinn also went for Avilius, while Matt Jones, Brad Davidson and Shayne O’Cass were on the money with the good thing of the day I Am Serious ($1.95).

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THE EARLY OIL: CAULFIELD GUINEAS DAY

TOP PICKS: WEEKEND BEST BETS

EARLY BIRDS: CAULFIELD AT FIRST SIGHT

RAY AND DUFF: EVEREST PREVIEW

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SATURDAY (AEST)

CAULFIELD (10 races, 12.10pm), RANDWICK (10 races, 12.30pm), DOOMBEN (9 races, start 1.12pm), MORPHETTVILLE (8 races, 1.31pm), BUNBURY (8 races, 4.19pm).

ROYAL RANDWICK

RAY THOMAS (Daily Telegraph). Form: 42142

EGG TART (Race 8, No. 12 — $3.20)

Has won four of her five starts on soft or heavy tracks and her form usually improves the deeper she goes into a preparation. Ready to win.

Value bet: AUVRAY (Race 9, No. 3 — $8)

EVEREST TIP: SHOALS

MATT JONES (Daily Telegragh). Form: 12431

ONE FOOT IN HEAVEN (Race 9, No. 5 — $6.50)

He’s been crying out fora wet track and his previous form is close behind Avilius, Ace High and Unforgotten. That’s good enough to win this race.

Value bet: INVICTUS PRINCE (Race 8, No. 8 — $16)

EVEREST TIP: IN HER TIME

Egg Tart should relish the soft conditions at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Picture: Trackside Photography

BRAD DAVIDSON (Sky Racing). Form: 41141

CRISTOBAL (Race 3, No. 1 — $3.10)

The blinkers go on here, she is one from one on soft ground (defeating the unlucky Miss Fabulass that day as well) and this sets up really well.

Value bet: SAXTON ROCK (Race 2, No. 3 — $12)

EVEREST TIP: SANTA ANA LANE

SHAYNE O’CASS (Sportsman). Form: 39931

VICTOREM (Race 5, No. 5 — $3.70)

Scored a dominant win in the Country Championships Final in the autumn and has a great record (7 starts; 5-1-0). He is pretty raw and does a few things wrong but he is a machine.

Value bet: EGYPTIAN SYMBOL (Race 6, No. 15 — $34)

EVEREST TIP: SHOALS

DARREN PRENDERGAST (Superracing). Form: 32331

EGG TART (Race 8, No. 12 — $3.20)

Quality mare starting to hit top gear after solid third at past two starts. Loves soft going and will be hard to beat.

Value bet: SAXTON ROCK (Race 2, No. 3 — $12)

EVEREST TIP: SHOALS

MARKETS: TAB FIXED ODDS

CAULFIELD

MICHAEL MANLEY (Herald Sun). Form: 91x11

THE AUTUMN SUN (Race 9, No. 1 — $1.90)

He looks a genuine star. Flew home to win the Golden Rose over 1400m. The 1600m will suit him even better with the likelihood of good speed.

Value bet: HUMIDOR (Race 8, No. 2 — $7.50)

GLENN MCFARLANE (Herald Sun). Form: 11211

THE AUTUMN SUN (Race 9, No. 1 — $1.90)

Superstar colt who stormed home to win the Golden Rose and looks to have a massive upside going forward.

Value bet: HUMIDOR (Race 8, No. 2 — $7.50)

SIMON MOY (SuperRacing). Form: 11174

VOODOO LAD (Race 5, No. 2 — $3.70)

Back after six weeks and always runs well here. Has five wins at this distance range and drawn perfectly.

Best value: UNFORGOTTEN (Race 8, No. 12 — $4.80)

CHRIS VERNUCCIO (SuperRacing). Form: 31163

WINTER BRIDE (Race 4, No. 2 — $4)

She should improve off her excellent win at Caulfield, and can hopefully settle closer in the run from a better gate. The form looks good after I Am Excited’s win at Flemington last week.

Value bet: UNFORGOTTEN (Race 8, No. 12 — $5)

NICK QUINN (TAB). Form: 4s241

SMART MELODY (Race 6, No. 5 — $2.20)

Unbeaten filly Smart Melody who should carry on her winning ways and win her first Group 1 race. Has drawn to get an easy run in transit and looks a class above her rivals.

Value bet: JUNGLE EDGE (Race 6, No. 3 — $13)

MARK WAUGH (Fox cricket commentator)

VOODOO LAD (Race 5, No.2 — $3.80)

Going super at present and loves Caulfield.

Value bet: SHOALS (Rand Race 7 No. 10 — $7)

MATT HILL (Premier racecaller)

SUNLIGHT (Race 3 No.1 — $2.60)

Quality horse that has trialled brilliantly

Value bet: SPLIT LIP (Race 4, No.9 — $19)

Macca gives his take on the race that everyone is talking about.

BRUCE McAVANEY (Channel 7 commentator)

THE AUTUMN SUN (Race 9, No. 1 — $1.90)

Fast becoming the nation’s racegoer’s second favourite horse behind you know who. Should confirm his potential as the next big thing in racing by winning the prestigious Guineas, a race that forges reputations and establishes stallions.

Value bet: GALLIC CHIEFTAIN (Race 10, No.5)

SAM GROTH (Tennis ace)

SMART MELODY (Race 6, No.5 — $2.50)

Unbeaten in five runs, including the Prelude last start. Speed should suit as well as the 1600m.

Value bet: PETRELLE (Morp Race 7, No.12 — $2.80)

JAIMEE ROGERS (TAB)

THE AUTUMN SUN (Race 9, NO. 1 — $2)

Proven at distance and runs slick sectionals. Superstar on the up

Value bet: COOL PASSION (Race 4, No. 2 — $9)

SHANE CRAWFORD (Channel 9)

UNFORGOTTEN (Race 8, No.12 — $4.80)

Stablemate of Winx and she’s a star in her own right. I expect her to show exactly why today.

Value bet: GLENROWAN PRINCE (Caulfield, R5, No.7, $81)

MARKETS: TAB FIXED ODDS

Smart Melody will put her unbeaten record on the line in Thousand Guineas. Picture: Getty Images

DOOMBEN

NATHAN EXELBY (The Courier-Mail). Form: 113x2

IMPAVIDO (Race 2, No. 6 — $3.70)

Battled on solidly last week under a big weight and tumbles to the limit here. Has shown heavy ground doesn’t hurt him and rates as hard to beat if he reproduced similar numbers here.

Value bet: WILLO TITTO (Race 6, No. 11 — $13)

MARKETS: TAB FIXED ODDS

MORPHETTVILLE

LINCOLN MOORE (The Advertiser). Form: 515x5

DEBT COLLECTOR (Race 6, No. 11 — $4.80)

Above average four-year-old who got back and charged home to score first-up from a spell in style. Had traffic problems and ran out of racing room second-up from a spell. Todd Pannell jumps in the saddle here, I like him drawn out and he can bounce back to winning form.

Value bet: BLUE MORPHO (Race 8, No. 4 — $9)

MARKETS: TAB FIXED ODDS

*Note: TAB Fixed Odds prices correct at time of publishing.

Originally published as Weekend Best Bets: Randwick, Caulfield, Doomben, Morphettville