Best bets and value play for Golden Nugget Day at Ballarat Friday

A Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr-trained mare can continue on her winning ways while a $17 chance could improve sharply stepping back up in trip at Friday’s Ballarat meeting.

News Corp form analyst Brad Waters looks at Friday’s Golden Nugget meeting at Ballarat.

BEST BET

DUVACH (Race 4 No.1 - $4.60)

Duvach was too strong for her rivals first-up at Geelong and the mare is capable of posting another second-up win at Ballarat.

NEXT BEST

MR ASSERTIVE (Race 6 No.6 - $9.50)

Mr Assertive performed well in all three runs last time in and has been gelded since. He’ll be competitive first-up at Ballarat.

SHAHZAD (Race 8 No.10 - $12)

Shahzad will make his local debut at Ballarat after a couple of strong jumpout efforts leading up to this. He can fire fresh.

VALUE BET

XTRAMAGIC (Race 5 No.9 - $17)

Xtramagic closed soundly over 1000m at Terang, showing she was ready to return to 1200m. Expect improvement.

THE JOCKEY

JOHN ALLEN

Jockey John Allen heads to Ballarat for seven rides on Friday. SO IMMACULATE (Race 1 No.13 - $4.40), RIBCRACKER (Race 3 No.4 - $19), BELLE INFERNO (Race 4 No. 4 - $5.50), CAT EMPIRE (Race 5 No.7 - $41), SPARKLING BLUE (Race 6 No.8 - $10), EARLSWOOD (Race 7 No.3 - $8), TEWKESBURY (Race 8 No.17 - $5).

Originally published as Best bets and value play for Golden Nugget Day at Ballarat Friday