Raceday focus: Best bets for Geelong on Friday
Champion jockey Damien Oliver has a good record at Geelong and he is set to keep the winners flowing with Bowness. Plus, Leo Schlink’s top picks for the card.
Racing
Don't miss out on the headlines from Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Champion jockey Damien Oliver is poised for a big day in the saddle, starting with Bowness in the opener at Geelong. Check out Leo Schlink’s best bets for the meeting.
Get your sport fix on Kayo - classic match replays, documentaries and the latest news & announcements. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
BEST BET
BOWNESS (R1 No.10, $2.20)
Covered ground and hit the front here early last start and was run down. Won’t need to improve to score here.
NEXT BEST
OUR WIND SPIRIT (R7 No.2, $2.70)
Struck a rich vein of form since arriving from NZ, winning three in a row on the Ballarat synthetic. This is tougher, but capable of going on with it.
ST JOEYS (R9 No.7, $5)
Hit the line strongly first-up at Swan Hill. Be hard to hold out here with the right run from a good draw.
LATEST BETTING: TAB FIXED ODDS
VALUE BET
MAY PEACE PREVAIL (R8 No.4, $6)
Irish import who should be better suited here over 1700m after stepping out last time over 1400. Damien Oliver stays on. Can improve significantly.
THE JOCKEY
DAMIEN OLIVER rides well at Geelong and partners BOWNESS (Race 1, No.10 — $2.20) CAFE RIZU (Race 3, No.4 — $8), KISSY FOR LESLIE (Race 4, No.8 — $5.50), WICKLOW TOWN (Race 5, No.3 — $5), NEED NEW FRIENDS (Race 6, No.7 — $7.50), DESIGN ROUGE (Race 7, No.5 — $10) and MAY PEACE PREVAIL (Race 8, No.4 — $6).
******
THURSDAY PREVIEW: MOE
Leo Schlink
BEST BET
PLATINI (Race 3, No.3 — $2.30)
Off the scene for 75 weeks since producing the best closing sectionals of the Flemington meeting in January 2019 behind Microphone. Gelded and given easy time in recent 800m jumpout.
NEXT BEST
CREATIVE LAD (Race 7, No.2 — $4.40)
Flies fresh and showed good talent last preparation. Trained on the track and has the speed to take up a good position.
KAMIEN (Race 8, No 1, $4)
Resuming and goes well fresh. Has won on heavy ground and both wins have come at 1200m. Big weight, but will be strong late after recent Caulfield jumpout.
VALUE BET
PURE PURGATORY (Race 2, No.7 — $10)
Eye-catching 800m Cranbourne trial when showed plenty of pace when second to multiple city winner Parmie in February.
THE JOCKEY
Desperate to land the Victorian premiership, DANIEL STACKHOUSE has the chance to get the jump on Jye McNeil with FRISSON (Race 1, No.2 — $8), PURE PURGATORY (Race 2, No.7 — $10), PLATINI (Race 3, No.3 — $2.30), GIRL ON A TRAIN (Race 5, No.10 — $21), ROCK MY FROCK (Race 8, No.9 — $34) and DENERO (Race 9, No.4 — $6).
******
WEDNESDAY PREVIEW: SANDOWN HILLSIDE
Gilbert Gardiner
BEST BET
PINYIN (R7 No.7, $3.50)
Second emergency at Flemington last Saturday and missed out on the start. Will find this a lot easier. Was second to News Girl second up last preparation. Wins.
NEXT BEST
CATARACTA (R8 No.10, $7)
Consistent mare only just beaten last start. Drop in weight and extra 100m looks ideal from the perfect draw.
VALUE BET
FLIRTING (R2 No.10, $5.50)
Promising three year-old filly came from near last to win at Morphettville last start and can go on with the job today. Had placed in six of previous eight starts.
THE TRAINER: TRENT BUSUTTIN
MR TIPLA (R4 No.2, $8)
“A good, consistent horse that likes the wet track. He’s an each-way chance in what looks a competitive race.”
MAIN STAGE (R5 No.11, $10)
“He was very disappointing last start, a horse that mixes his form. I think getting back to the very wet track, he can bounce back and run well.”
OUR PEAKY BLINDERS (R5 No.5, $8.50)
“Been off the scene. Went great first up over 1400m, only to get beaten a couple of lengths. A nice each-way chance, and gets in well at the weights.”
CRIMSON ACE (R6 No.11, $11)
“Won her last two, but meets an extremely competitive field. Interesting to see if she handles the 2400m. She doesn’t know how to run a bad race.”
SCOTTISH ROGUE (R8 No.2, $9)
“Ran well first up for the stable; is suspect on the heavy track.”
******
TUESDAY PREVIEW: BALLARAT SYNTHETIC
Gilbert Gardiner
BEST BET
INDISCRETION (R4 No.4, $3.50)
Ten-start maiden having first start for the Peter Moody yard, with Luke Nolen onboard. Been racing consistently without winning. Take seriously.
NEXT BEST
RONAY (R5 No.2, $2.60)
Won two of past three on the synthetic at Ballarat, including one with 62kg on her back. In-form mare can get a nice cart into the race from barrier eight and be strong again to the finish.
VALUE BET
MINER‘S MISS (R8 No.8, $10)
2018 Oaks placegetter, who has gone 17 starts without a win, caught the eye last start third behind Shepard and Arty Lucas over 2000m. Extra 100m today ideal.
THE TRAINER: HENRY DWYER
FEND OFF (R2 No.4, $51)
“A staying three-year-old who needs to learn to settle. Been running over shorter distances trying to get him to switch off. Should run better up to the 1400m, but needs further.”
TINSZEL (R3 No.12, $3)
“Been unlucky on a couple of occasions, probably should have broken her maiden status already. Looks to have found a suitable race.”
FASHION STOCK (R3 No.9, $41)
“Been racing poorly. We just freshened her up and brought her back in distance.”
PEACE BROTHER (R8 No.3, $3.20)
“Been racing consistently, just ... does it a bit hard in front and gets a bit tired. Just thought on the synthetic might be a bit easier. He had a hurdle trial last week and seems to be fit and racing well.”
******
MONDAY PREVIEW: SWAN HILL
Leo Schlink
BEST BET
BILBAO (R1 No.2, $4.40)
Has good speed and perfectly suited to the 975m dash. Pulled up lame after leading to 250m at Echuca. The one to beat.
NEXT BEST
HE’S ALL READY (R3 No.3, $3.80)
Finished off strongly at Casterton when brave off a tough run. Needs only luck to figure here.
RUE GRANDE (R5 No.9, $3.10)
Fought on doggedly off a torrid run at Wangaratta after having little luck at Ballarat. Drawn to enjoy the run of the race.
VALUE BET
THE VIEW (R6 No.5, $14)
Capable of significant improvement off Sale ninth. Best judged on two previous runs when winning at Hamilton before luckless Geelong fourth.
THE JOCKEY: HARRY COFFEY
Unites with father Austy on their home track with THE PHANTOM BANTAM (R1 No.6, $6), WARROWIE ROSE (R3 No.12, $8), TOTAL CRAFT (R4 No.12, $2.15), RAIDERS ROBBED (R5 No.3, $16), FURTHER IN (R6 No.9, $9), VINGT CINQER (R7 No.11, $8.50), POPPY’S ORSE (R8 No.12, $5.50) and TOP FRED (R9 No.4, $16).