Weekend Best Bets: Find out who the experts are tipping

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

4 min read

September 4, 2015 - 4:15PM

News Corp Australia Network

Jockey Blake Shinn rides Kimberley Star (red) to victory in Race 3 at Warwick Farm, Sydney. Pic Brett Costello

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

Premier trainer Chris Waller, fresh from winning the first group 1 race of the season with Boban in the Memsie Stakes last Saturday, will saddle up a record 11 runners in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick.

The 16-horse field will also contain leading Cox Plate fancies Pornichet and Hartnell. Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist resumes in the Tramway Stakes alongside top class mares First Seal and Lucia Valentina. Godolphin’s major spring player Contributer is the headline runner in the Group 2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley.

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DATO TAN CHIN NAM: ANALYSIS/CLASS SHOULD TELL

EXPERT OPINION: BEAT THE BOOKIE VALUE BETS

Saturday meetings: DOOMBEN (8 races, start 12.10pm), MOONEE VALLEY (9 races, start 12.25pm), RANDWICK (8 races, start 12.40pm), MORPHETTVILLE (8 races, start 1.03pm), BELMONT (8 races, 1.34pm). AEST times.

RANDWICK

TAP HERE: FULL SET OF EXPERTS’ TIPS FOR SYDNEY

RAY THOMAS (Daily Telegraph). Form: x6710

BALL OF MUSCLE

Race 5, No. 1

Ball Of Muscle is a very genuine and brilliant speedster. He has won eight of his 13 starts and has never been out of a place. The Joe Pride-trained sprinter is resuming after an impressive autumn campaign that culminated with his Group 2 QTC Cup win at Doomben. He showed all his customary speed to win a Warwick Farm barrier trial last Friday and will give his rivals something to chase over the Randwick 1000m course.

TAB Fixed Odds: $4

NIC ASHMAN (Daily Telegraph). Form: 86154

SPEAK FONDLY

Race 4, No. 5

Brilliant win first-up, has improved, galloped sensationally last Saturday and should be odds on.

TAB Fixed Odds: $2.60

JOHN DAVIS (Daily Telegraph). Form: 74461

TATOOSH

Race 3, No. 7

Closed in quickly over the concluding stages of the Up And Coming Stakes, giving the impression the 1400m of Saturday’s assignment is right up his alley. Kerrin McEvoy engagement is a positive sign. Rates highly.

TAB Fixed Odds: $10

SHAYNE O’CASS (The Sportsman/Daily Telegraph). Form: 14565

START WONDERING

Race 8, No. 9

Was a Group horse on arrival in Australia. His record in NZ and the manner of his wins were above and beyond the norm. He trialled like a raceday certainty in the lead-up to his Australia debut and he delivered at Rosehill, holding off a challenge from His Majesty to score by a neck. He looks tailor-made for the Randwick 1400m.

TAB Fixed Odds: $2.80

Start Wondering has impressed since arriving from New Zealand. Picture: Simon Bullard

DARREN PRENDERGAST (Superracing). Form: 11314

KIMBERLEY STAR

Race 3, No. 1

Talented filly strung together a great record over winter. Steps back up to 1400m after running second to Speak Fondly over 1200m last start. Is unbeaten in two runs at 1400m and will be hard to beat again.

TAB Fixed Odds: $3.20

SIMON MOY (Superracing). Form: 71x74

ROYAL DESCENT

Race 6, No. 16

Hadn’t won for 18 months before well-deserved win first-up in Warwick Stakes. Yet to miss a place from six runs over this track/distance. Might suddenly have a taste for winning.

TAB Fixed Odds: $5

CHELMSFORD STAKES: PERFECT FOR PORNICHET

RACING CONFIDENTIAL: TRIBUTE TO BART

MOONEE VALLEY

TAP HERE: FULL SET OF EXPERTS’ TIPS FOR MOONEE VALLEY

MATT STEWART (Herald Sun). Form: 33x43

MOSSBEAT

Race 2, No. 15

Has been running on in better races. Rail true at Valley suits run-on horses. Well drawn, way over the odds.

TAB Fixed Odds: $7.50

ROD NICHOLSON (Herald Sun). Form: 0x146

CONTRIBUTER

Race 7, No. 4

Class galloper who has won four of five Australian runs. Should have edge here en route to Cox Plate.

TAB Fixed Odds: $1.80

MICHAEL MANLEY (Herald Sun). Form: 4311x

CHAUTAUQUA

Race 8, No. 1

Gifted sprinter, possibly the best in the land, resuming. Will be suited by the fast speed and drawing out suits his style of racing. Look for him to power home.

TAB Fixed Odds: $2.25

DANNY RUSSELL (Herald Sun). Form: 49x11

STRONG HAND

Race 3, No. 4

The picket fence horse once again plonked in a winnable race. Drawn ideally, won at the track last start and gets a 2kg claim with Jordan Childs onboard.

TAB Fixed Odds: $3.60

NICK QUINN (TAB). Form: 31111

CONTRIBUTER

Race 7, No. 4

Resumes after an amazing autumn campaign where he won all three starts and is a chance to become the first horse since El Segundo in 2007 to complete the Dato/Cox Plate double.

TAB Fixed Odds: $1.80

Contributer will be out to enhance his Cox Plate claims on Saturday. Picture: George Salpigtidis

DOOMBEN

TAP HERE: FULL SET OF EXPERTS’ TIPS FOR DOOMBEN

NATHAN EXELBY (The Courier-Mail). Form: x2234

PINCH RIVER

Race 6, No. 2

Excellent return when just missed in similar grade first-up, indicating he’s back to the form that made him one of Queensland’s more promising 2yo’s 18 months back. Concede Last Sight notched monster figures winning at the Gold Coast, but he has a history of not repeating and think Pinch River has more upside.

TAB Fixed Odds: $3.40

BRAD DAVIDSON (Gold Coast Bulletin). Form: 25161

STEEL ZIP

Race 7, No. 4

Racing in career best form this horse and no reason he can’t turn the tables on Cum Dividend here. He meets that horse 1.5kg better off at the weights and the firmer the better for him because Cum Dividend really likes the cut out of the track. Drawn well and should get a lovely run just behind the speed and he will be ready to pounce on the turn.

TAB Fixed Odds: $4.20

MORPHETTVILLE

TAP HERE: FULL SET OF EXPERTS’ TIPS FOR MORPHETTVILLE

BEN SCADDEN (The Advertiser). Form: 19231

COUNTER SPIN

Race 3, No. 3

Talented gelding who has returned to racing in peak form with impressive wins at his past two. The inside barrier isn’t perfect for him but that’s offset by the smallish field and service of top jockey Clare Lindop.

TAB Fixed Odds: $2.40

LINCOLN MOORE (The Advertiser). Form: 346x2

MISS GUNPOWDER

Race 6, No. 2

Progressive three-year-old filly who followed a good win first-up from a spell with a solid effort up in class in Melbourne. She’s drawn the middle, gets in really well at the weights with the claim for in-form apprentice and the $1.85 might be worth taking as she tracks towards the Thousand Guineas.

TAB Fixed Odds: $1.80

GODOLPHIN: MUSKETS AT DAWN

GODOLPHIN: BIG GUNS ON THE GROUND

FEATURE RACE MARKETS

TAB Fixed Odds

EPSOM HANDICAP

Randwick, October 3

$8 FIRST SEAL, KERMADEC, PORNICHET, ROYAL DESCENT

$11 BOBAN, CONTRIBUTER, SWEYNESSE

$15+ Others

BETTING: TAB FIXED ODDS

CAULFIELD GUINEAS