Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Waimarie the best bet of Saturday’s races at The Valley

Punters can get off to a flyer at The Valley on Saturday while an on-pacer from the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr stable should be tough to run down.

Waimarie and jockey Mark Zahra will shoot for back-to-back wins together at The Valley on Saturday. Picture: Racing Photos

Racenet and The Herald-Sun form analyst Brad Waters thinks punters can get off to a flyer in the first race of the day at The Valley on Saturday while an on-pacer from the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr stable should be tough to run down.

He takes an early look at Saturday’s nine-race card at The Valley.

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BEST BET
WAIMARIE (Race 1, No. 5)
Led throughout to post her second win in three starts at Sandown last time. Similar tactics will make her hard to run down.

Waimarie treats her rivals with contempt from the front!

The daughter of Snitzel relishes the conditions & wins easily 💥@busuttinpic.twitter.com/nS8mhjDPp4

— Racing.com (@Racing) July 31, 2024

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BEST VALUE
GOLDEN CRUSADER (Race 4 No. 4)
Refused to wilt when challenged over 2400m and should be just as hard to get past at The Valley.

"Golden Crusader's falling in a hole but the post comes up in time."

The son of Golden Horn sees out the 2400m distance & records the fifth victory of his career ⚔️@[e-mail]/eYJqVsQfJY

— Racing.com (@Racing) July 31, 2024

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EARLY QUADDIE
Race 2: 2, 3, 4, 9
Race 3: 3, 5 8, 10, 12
Race 4: 4, 7
Race 5: 1, 5
$100 flexi for 125 per cent

QUADDIE
Race 6: 2, 10, 12, 13
Race 7: 1, 2, 8, 11
Race 8: 3, 4, 13
Race 9: 10, 11, 13, 15
$100 flexi for 52 per cent

BIG 6
Race 4: 4, 7
Race 5: 1, 5
Race 6: 2, 10, 12, 13
Race 7: 1, 2, 8, 11
Race 8: 3, 4, 13
Race 9: 10, 11, 13, 15
$100 flexi for 6.9 per cent

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Talented three-year-old Blue Stratum will head back to city racing at The Valley on Saturday. Picture: Racing Photos

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RACE 1: 12:20PM LADBROKE IT HANDICAP (1600m)
Nine runners in the opener but happy to back WAIMARIE (5) to get the day off to a winning start. She was too strong when leading throughout at Sandown and should adopt similar tactics on Saturday. ROADIE (3) is racing in great heart and is one of the main chances. LIEVORE (6) will be fitter for two runs in and can improve. MOYA LASS (7) will be better for her solid fourth last time.
SUGGESTED BET: Waimarie to win.
TAB MARKET MOVER: Waimarie $3.90 – $3.50.

RACE 2: 12:55PM DOMINANT HANDICAP (1000m)
BLUE STRATUM (2) broke through for a strong win first-up and could measure up to the promise he showed in his first campaign. LAST DRUID (4) was sound behind a promising type at Sandown and will be fitter again. MISS COTOLETTA (9) did well to score at Moe second-up and has drawn to have every chance. THE SHOWVINIST (3) is promising and worth thought again.
SUGGESTED BET: Blue Stratum to win.
TAB MARKET MOVER: Zestiman $11 – $8.

RACE 3: 1:30PM LUNA HAND CARE HANDICAP (2040m)
Tough race but FLAMIN’ ROMANS (12) could build on his strong second-up win at Geelong last time out. HARD SQUEEZE (3) will be hard to beat after her impressive success at Sandown last time out. FIGHTING ARROW (10) will be fitter again for her narrow defeat at Bendigo. CAPTAIN ELECTRIC (8) is back in trip after his last-start win but he’s a promising type.
SUGGESTED BET: Small win bet Flamin’ Romans.
TAB MARKET MOVER: Flamin’ Romans $6.50 – $5.

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Golden Crusader has a top chance to complete successive wins when the Mick Price and Michael Kent-trained galloper steps out at The Valley. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 4: 2:05PM DOMSAFE HANDICAP (2500m)
GOLDEN CRUSADER (4) was well-rated to score at Sandown and he’ll be just as tough to run down around The Valley. DASHING DUCHESS (7) drops in class after a strong effort at Flemington and will be well suited. DSCHINGIS PRESTIGE (8) chased soundly at Sandown but has drawn to race closer. SHE’S A CON (15) is racing well and worth thought at odds.
SUGGESTED BET: Golden Crusader each-way.
TAB MARKET MOVER: Perfect Play $9 – $7.

RACE 5: 2:40PM DOMINANT ACTIZONE HANDICAP (1000m)
Smallest field of the day here but a difficult race to assess. SCUDERIA (5) loves The Valley and raced in great form there last time in so will be hard to beat with only 53kg on his back. ACROMANTULA (1) is the class of the field and won first-up at The Valley last time in. TAUNTING (3) resumes and races well over 1000m. MORNINGTON GLORY (2) is down in class and will be fitter for his first-up run.
SUGGESTED BET: Box trifecta 1, 2, 3, 5
TAB MARKET MOVER: Keep Reading $10 – $6.50.

RACE 6: 3:15PM EARTHCARE HANDICAP (1000m)
Possibly the hardest race of the day but CHARMED RUN (10) could provide some value, improving off her strong win at Bendigo last time out. DIO (2) charged home to win on the synthetic at Pakenham but could bob up at odds in this. BIG ME (12) will be much fitter for a promising local debut at Flemington while I MISS MARGIE (13) has drawn wide but her last jumpout was terrific.
SUGGESTED BET: Charmed Run each-way.
TAB MARKET MOVER: Big Me $6 – $3.40.

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On-pacer Regal Zeus should prove hard to run down at Saturday’s meeting at The Valley. Picture: Racing Photos

RACE 7: 3:55PM RANVET TRAVIS HARRISON CUP (2040m)
DUKE DE SESSA (1) was outsprinted over 1600m in heavy ground at Caulfield but can improve significantly over 204m on better footing. MATHEW (11) is lightly-raced but could measure up to this after his Sandown win. SMOKIN’ ROMANS (2) went well behind Horrifying at Flemington and that form has stood up. ROLLS (8) will be fitter for his sound first-up third.
SUGGESTED BET: Duke De Sessa to win.
TAB MARKET MOVER: King Magnus $7.50 – $5.50.

RACE 8: 4:35PM DOMINANT HOME PRODUCTS HANDICAP (1600m)
REGAL ZEUS (4) should have every chance to repeat his dominant Sandown win after drawing perfectly here. MARGIE’S BOY (3) is racing in great form and should again be around the mark. OUR EMPRESS ZOE (13) did a good job at Flemington last time and is worth thought again. MAGARTEN (8) has drawn wide but is a consistent galloper.
SUGGESTED BET: Regal Zeus to win.
TAB MARKET MOVER: Angry Skies $8 – $5.50.

RACE 9: 5:10PM DRUMMOND GOLF HANDICAP (1200m)
Difficult race to finish the day. PIONEER RIVER (11) led and did a good job at Flemington last week and has drawn perfectly in this. SHOW SOME DECORUM (4) flies first-up and races well around The Valley. WALLENDA (15) ran on well at Caulfield and drops to 54kg here.
SUGGESTED BET: Back both Pioneer River and Ten Commandments.
TAB MARKET MOVER: Pioneer River $9.50 – $7.50.

Originally published as Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Waimarie the best bet of Saturday’s races at The Valley