Early Oil: Best bets, preview for The Valley on Friday night

A strong last-start win at The Valley can morph into a Group 2 success for a Hawkes Racing-trained runner in Friday night’s Group 2 Bill Stutt Stakes at The Valley.

Fistsoffury will step up to Group 2 class in Friday night’s Bill Stutt Stakes at The Valley. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

News Corp form analyst Brad Waters looks at Friday night’s Group 1 Moir Stakes meeting at The Valley.

BEST BET

FISTOFFURY (Race 5, No.2)

Fistsoffury was scratched from a race at Flemington last Sunday but looks well suited back at The Valley after a good win at the circuit last start.

VALUE BET

ULANOVA (Race 8, No.4)

Ulanova found herself in the wrong part of the track first-up but will be better for that outing and can improve sharply.

EARLY QUADDIE

5, 8, 9, 10/1, 3, 4, 5/1, 4, 8, 10/1, 2, 4, 6

$100 flexi for 39 per cent

BIG6

1, 4, 8, 10/1, 2, 4, 6/6, 7, 8, 11/8/7, 8/1, 2, 4

$100 flexi for 26 per cent

QUADDIE

Race 5: 6, 7, 8, 11

Race 6: 8

Race 7: 7, 8

Race 8: 1, 2, 4

$100 flexi for 416 per cent

Fistsoffury is a $7.50 chance in early betting on the Group 2 Bill Stutt Stakes at The Valley on Friday night. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

RACE 1: 6:15PM DRUMMOND GOLF HANDICAP (1500m)

Good conditions will greet the runners The Valley. Should be plenty of pace on in the first but DELICIOUS TYCOON (9) should get a soft run behind the leaders and is racing well. SKINNY DIP (5) had no luck at Caulfield last Saturday and will be fitter for two runs back. THE MARG FACTOR (10) led and won well at Sandown and has placed at both runs this track. FARHH FLUNG (8) was narrowly beaten at Sandown first-up and will be improved.

SUGGESTED BET: Delicious Tycoon each-way.

TAB MARKET MOVER: Boognish $3.50 – $2.80.

RACE 2: 6:45PM XTREME FREIGHT PLATE (1200m)

Tricky little field for this but COINCIDE (4) is likely to lead and might find this more suitable than his honest effort in Group 3 company last time out. HEURISTIC (1) resumes in this and has done enough at the trials to suggest he’ll run well. BRAVE MEAD (3) was solid behind the smart colt Steparty at The Valley first-up and should be thereabouts. ARMED FORCES (5) wasn’t far away on this track first-up and blinkers go on.

SUGGESTED BET: Coincide to win.

TAB MARKET MOVER: Brave Mead $2.80 – $2.50.

RACE 3: 7:15PM MSC SIGNS HANDICAP (1200m)

This looks one of the tougher races of the meeting. RANTING (8) has drawn well and chased home quality mare Benedetta at Flemington last time out. NAJEM SUHAIL (1) had no hope racing in the wrong part of the track at Flemington but won here two runs back and can improve. ZAC DE BOSS (3) was sound in Stakes class in Adelaide last time out and should go well again. MARITANA (13) has won a couple first-up and loves this distance.

SUGGESTED BET: Ranting each-way.

TAB MARKET MOVER: Najem Suhail $4.40 – $3.80.

RACE 4: 7:45PM LADBROKES 55 SECOND CHALLENGE HEAT 1 (955m)

The speedsters will scorch the track in the 955m contest. FASUTO (6) was well-supported when not far away at Flemington first-up and the high pressure should give him the chance to swoop late. UNFLINCHING (1) has an outstanding record at The Valley and should go well fresh. FETCH (4) jumped out well at Flemington leading up to this and goes best fresh. RATTLE AND BANG (5) went well behind the in-form Viviane at Sandown and won’t be far away.

SUGGESTED BET: Fasuto each-way.

TAB MARKET MOVER: Unflinching $4.40 – $3.60.

Top WA mare Amelia’s Jewel had a look at The Valley on Monday morning to prepare for Friday night’s Group 2 Stocks Stakes. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 5: 8:15PM GROUP 2 ENTRY EDUCATION STUTT STAKES (1600m)

FISTSOFFURY (2) was scratched from a race at Flemington last Sunday but he relished a strong pace to score at The Valley last start and should have every chance again. AUTUMN ANGEL (11) was a shade unlucky second-up but will be much fitter for that. KING OF FIGHTERS (6) was unlucky at Flemington and won’t be far away. VERDAD (8) bolted in on debut and could measure up to this.

SUGGESTED BET: Fistsoffury to win.

TAB MARKET MOVER: Verdad $11 – $6.50.

RACE 6: 8:45PM GROUP 2 LADBROKES STOCKS STAKES (1600m)

Melbourne punters get another chance to see brilliant WA mare AMELIA’S JEWEL (8) and she’s unlikely to disappoint. She’ll be fitter for her first-up win and will relish the likely strong gallop. DENY KNOWLEDGE (2) wasn’t disgraced in the Feehan Stakes second-up and should control the speed from barrier one. PAPILLON CLUB (10) did a good job when making ground behind Amelia’s Jewel second-up and can race closer from the better gate. PARTY PRINCESS (11) won’t be far away if she reproduces her Flemington run.

SUGGESTED BET: Trifecta 8/2, 10, 11/2, 10, 11.

TAB MARKET MOVER: Amelia’s Jewel $1.50 – $1.35.

RACE 7: 9:15PM GROUP 1 CHARTER KECK CRAMER MOIR STAKES (1000m)

Hard to go past IMPERATRIZ (7) after her dominant first-up win over a similar field in the Moir Stakes and she can remain unbeaten at The Valley. ASFOORA (8) impressed when scoring first-up at Caulfield and looks suited back at the 1000m. ROTHFIRE (1) was outgunned but tried hard in the McEwen Stakes and wasn’t far away in this race last year. UNCOMMON JAMES (3) goes well first-up and should be in this for a long way.

SUGGESTED BET: Box trifecta 1, 3, 7, 8.

TAB MARKET MOVER: Asfoora $7 – $6.50.

RACE 8: 9:45PM GROUP 3 UNIVERSITY FOOD GROUP SCARBOROUGH STAKES (1200m)

An open race to finish The Valley meeting but ULANOVA (4) can improve sharply on her first-up run in the Quezette Stakes. She got into the wrong part of the track at Caulfield and will be fitter for that. SKIRT THE LAW (1) did a good job down the straight and could be better off over 1200m. SHESALLSHENANIGANS (2) found plenty under pressure at Flemington second-up and bolted in at her only 1200m outing in the autumn. Kiwi filly ZOURION (11) has shown plenty of talent at home and will be running on well late.

SUGGESTED BET: Ulanova each-way.

TAB MARKET MOVER: Shesallshenanigans $6.50 – $5.

Originally published as Early Oil: Best bets, preview for The Valley on Friday night