Early Oil: Brad Waters’ best bets and value selections for Coastal Classic Day at Geelong

A solid second-up record will stand a Lindsay Park-trained mare in good stead while a $17 chance could start the Coastal Classic Day at Geelong with a bang.

Luna Cat can notch another second-up win when she heads to Geelong on Saturday. Picture: Racing Photos

News Corp form analyst Brad Waters takes an early look at Saturday’s city meeting at Geelong, where he’s keen on a mare with a strong second-up record.

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BEST BET
LUNA CAT (Race 5, No. 4): Closed well when resuming on the Caulfield Heath track. Her second-up record is good and can break through.

VALUE BET
ALPINE ROCKET (Race 1, No. 7): Improving stayer that was a strong winner at Bendigo. He could run a bold race at odds at Geelong.

EARLY QUADDIE
3, 4, 6, 8, 10 / 3, 5, 8, 9 / 1, 2, 4, 9 / 2, 4, 6, 10
$100 flexi for 39 per cent

QUADDIE
Race 7: 2, 7, 9, 11
Race 8: 1, 2, 3, 4
Race 9: 1, 6, 7, 8, 9
Race 10: 4, 7, 10, 13, 15
$100 flexi for 25 per cent

Alpine Rocket could continue his development with another strong showing in the first race at Geelong on Saturday. Picture: Racing Photos

RACE 1: 12:20am SEN TRACK BM70 HANDICAP (2400m)
Possibly the toughest race of the day to start things at Geelong. ALPINE ROCKET (7) is a developing stayer that could measure up after a solid Bendigo win. WEALDSTONE (13) is racing consistently and should again be prominent. SAMURAI STAR (10) is hard fit for this and shouldn’t be far away. GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS (14) finally broke through last start but has shown staying promise.
SUGGESTED BET: Alpine Rocket each-way.
LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: Sun Gift $10 – $9.

RACE 2: 12:50PM PRESTIGE JAYCO GEELONG BM64 HANDICAP (1700m)
SAMURAI (2) was a strong winner at Seymor last start and should relish a bit more ground on the big Geelong track. TENNESSEE KNIGHT (5) was narrowly beaten on this track last time and the form out of that race stood up at The Valley last Saturday. ALABAMA GIRL (11) steps up in class but is an improver. SHESAVIXEN (6) has returned in strong form and is worth including again.
SUGGESTED BET: Samurai to win.
LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: Track Patcher $11 – $8.50.

RACE 3: 1:25PM GEELONG RACING CLUB COMMUNITY CUP BM70 HANDICAP (1400m)
CALL HIM IGGY (4) trialled well before a strong first-up win from which he will be improved. WILLMOTT (3) has been freshened since his last run on Oaks Day and has won a Ballarat trial since. LOVIN’ LAUGHS (6) is honest and could handle the class rise while NURSERY CHIME (10) will be much fitter for a good first-up third.
SUGGESTED BET: Back both Call Him Iggy and Willmott.
LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: Capricorn Star $9 – $6.

Call Him Iggy could stay unbeaten for Ballarat trainer Matthew Smerdon at Geelong on Saturday. Picture: Racing Photos

RACE 4: 2:00PM REX GORELL VOLKSWAGEN GEELONG DIAMOND (1200m)
Tricky race with only one runner having race experience. LOFTY THOUGHTS (3) could be over the odds after improving at each jumpout this time in. CHERISH ME (9) is another that has performed well at the jumpouts and is from a top stable. CAVALRY GIRL (8) has won two of three jumpouts and looks to have plenty of speed. REGOR (5) has also shown enough at the jumpouts.
SUGGESTED BET: Small each-way bet Lofty Thoughts.
LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: Cosmic Shower $6 – $4.80.

RACE 5: 2:35PM ELEGANCE TILES BM84 HANDICAP (1100m)
LUNA CAT (4) closed well when resuming over 1000m but has a good second-up record and should enjoy another 100m at Geelong. PHILOSOPHER (2) has gone well at both runs back from a break and has drawn well. CHARMED RUN (9) worked home solidly at Pakenham and could again be thereabouts. BELLINGER (1) is flying this time in and should be respected.
SUGGESTED BET: Luna Cat to win.
LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: Title Fighter $11 – $6.50.

RACE 6: 3:15PM SCAADA SUSTAINABILITY BM84 HANDICAP (1400m)
SASSY BOOM (6) returned to form at Caulfield last time out and should again have every chance again here. UMGAWA (4) hit the line well at Pakenham last time and should be a bit fitter again. ROBRICK (2) hasn’t had much luck this time in and might find this a bit easier. HARALDUS (10) jumps in class but is racing in terrific form.
SUGGESTED BET: Sassy Boom to win.
LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: Robrick $4 – $3.70.

RACE 7: 3:55PM EXTREME WARRIOR FIRST YEARLIINGS F & M BM70 HANDICAP (1400m)
Tricky race but DOWN LOW (7) is racing in consistent form and should have the perfect run from barrier four. BLISTERING (2) ran on solidly at Sale second-up and has a sound record over this trip. BURLINGTON GATE (9) resumes after two steady jumpouts and should be running on at the end of this. CAT NOIR (11) has trialled well and has a strong record on her home track.
SUGGESTED BET: Down Low to win.
LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: Burlington Gate $8.50 – $7.50.

Sassy Boom will shoot for back-to-back wins when she competes at Geelong on Saturday. Picture: Racing Photos

RACE 8: 4:35PM LADBROKES COASTAL CLASSIC (1700m)
DASHING (3) was outsprinted a touch on the Caulfield Heath track on Boxing Day, but a little more ground will suit him on the Geelong track. HOLYMANZ (1) won this race last year and won a recent Cranbourne trial. RIOT AND ROSE (2) is worth another chance after missing a place on Boxing Day. Import NIGHT ENDEAVOR (4) can improve significantly on his Australian debut outing.
SUGGESTED BET: Box trifecta 1, 2, 3, 4
LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: Riot And Rose $4.40 – $4.

RACE 9: 5:15PM LISTED CANADIAN CLUB BLACK PEARL STAKES (1200m)
Tough race. SHE’S BULLETPROOF (8) returns from a freshen after a good effort in Group 3 company and has won a Pakenham jumpout since. CLEO CAT (9) has earned a crack at Stakes class and should be in this for a long way. PHARARI (7) has drawn wide but should be competitive again. SHE DANCES (1) will be fitter for two runs in and made late ground last time out.
SUGGESTED BET: She’s Bulletproof to win.
LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: Bizot $8.50 – $6.

RACE 10: 5:55PM BRANDT COLAC 3YO HANDICAP (1100m)
SWEETHEARTED (4) has drawn wide, but he was most impressive when winning at Pakenham last time out. No reason he can’t win again. DANXIA (15) is lightly-raced but has shown enough to indicate he will be competitive with only 53kg. SIGNOR BILL (13) raced consistently last time in and could sprint well fresh. CORA LYNN (7) went down narrowly at The Valley last start but drops 3kg for this.
SUGGESTED BET: Sweethearted to win with a saver on Danxia.
LADBROKES MARKET MOVER: Hustle In Heels $7 – $5.

Originally published as Early Oil: Brad Waters’ best bets and value selections for Coastal Classic Day at Geelong