Weekend best bets: Flemington, Royal Randwick, Doomben and Morphettville Parks

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

Last week … Six winners. Superracing tipster Simon Moy led the way with his best bet Malaise ($6.50) saluting in the final race at Flemington, while Michael Manley, Glenn McFarlane and Nick Quinn didn’t let their followers down with Mount Kilcoy ($3.20) making easy work of his rivals at headquarters. In Sydney, Brad Davidson found the bullseye with Dreamforce ($3.30) and Stephen Zammit was on target again with Highway Sixtysix ($3.20). Not to be outdone, Matt Jones delivered with his value bet, the well backed Roman Typhoon ($3). To round out the six winners, The Courier Mail’s Nathan Exelby took the shorts, but a winner all the same, when the super smart Zoustyle ($1.40) returned in winning form.

SATURDAY (AEST)

ROYAL RANDWICK (9 races, start 11.40am), DOOMBEN (9 races, 11.47am), FLEMINGTON (9 races, 11.55am), MORPHETTVILLE PARKS (8 races, 12.41pm), BELMONT (8 races, 2.43pm)

ROYAL RANDWICK

RAY THOMAS (Daily Telegragh). Form: 64325

PLAGUE STONE (Race 1, No. 1 — $2.15)

Can get favourite backers off to a winning start on Saturday. The talented Godolphin colt is winless after four starts but he has been luckless in most. He ran Written By to a half length in a Blue Diamond Prelude which is the right form for this race. Plague Stone is resuming but he’s been impressive in both barrier trial wins and Hugh Bowman is staying with the colt.

Value bet: REIBY RAMPART (Race 6, No. 3 — $7)

MATT JONES (Daily Telegraph). Form: 15225

SEAHAMPTON (Race 6, No. 8 — $3.10)

Her last-start win was sensational and she can go on with it here. She’ll come off the speed and let down again and should come over the top of the field.

Value bet: GITAN (Race 2, No. 2 — $4.40)

BRAD DAVIDSON (Sky Racing). Form: 33251

SEAHAMPTON (Race 6, No. 8 — $3.10)

She relished getting out to 1400m last start and while she has drawn off the track, she should be too classy for these.

Value bet: LOST COMMAND (Race 2, No. 1 — $9)

STEPHEN ZAMMIT (Daily Telegragh). Form: 68121

REDOUBLE (Race 9, No. 1 — $4.20)

Prepared by Bjorn Baker, this gelding was a little unlucky when runner-up at this track behind Philosophy on July 7. He has had three runs back from a break now, has a star rider with a 2kg claim on board and the 1400m will prove ideal. Looks ready to win.

Value bet: BEN HURCULES (Race 1, No. 2 — $7.50)

I Thought So (blue silks) has only missed a place twice in nine starts at Royal Randwick. Picture: AAP

SHAYNE O’CASS (Sportsman). Form: 9s070

THREE SHEETS (Race 8, No. 8 — $21)

This horse is all about getting back and charging late and there’s no better man to have on top for that than his old mate Robert Thompson. Three Sheets is 3 starts, 2 wins at this track and distance! Smashing trial win the other week at Cessnock with RT in the saddle.

Value bet: BOSS LANE (Race 7, No. 1 — $14)

DARREN PRENDERGAST (Superracing). Form: x432x

I THOUGHT SO (Race 7, No. 3 — $3.80)

Has been in good form this campaign, including last-start win in the Winter Dash. Drawn the rails and will be hard to beat.

Value bet: SEAGLASS (Race 5, No. 9 — $10)

MARKETS: TAB FIXED ODDS

Four of the five of our Melbourne tipsters have made Sixties Groove their best bet.

FLEMINGTON

MICHAEL MANLEY (Herald Sun). s1031

SIXTIES GROOVE (Race 8, No. 6 — $2.60)

Couldn’t have been more impressive winning this track and distance last start when eased down over the concluding stages yet still ran excellent closing sectionals. Stick with him.

Value bet: CASA DE LAGO (Race 7, No. 6 — $7)

GLENN McFARLANE (Herald Sun). Form: 12211

SIXTIES GROOVE (Race 8, No. 6 — $2.60)

Toyed with his rivals last start, careering away for first win in Australia. Can go on with it from here.

Value bet: MR MONEYBAGS (Race 7, No. 2 — $6)

CHRIS VERNUCCIO (SuperRacing). Form: 12232

SIXTIES GROOVE (Race 8, No. 6 — $2.60)

Had the benefit of a 2000m run where he won with ease in a soft tempo race. Barrier six is perfect, whereas Pacodali is likely to get back from his wide draw.

Value bet: MR MONEY BAGS (Race 7, No. 2 — $6)

NICK QUINN (TAB). Form: 12611

SIXTIES GROOVE (Race 8, No. 6 — $2.60)

Former import who finally broke through for his first Australian win last Saturday after being heavily backed at his first three runs for Darren Weir.

He looks progressive and is worth sticking with as he races through the grades.

Value bet: MISS PANDANUS (Race 1, No. 4 — $5)

SIMON MOY (SuperRacing). Form: s1131

WISE HERO (Race 9, No. 5 — $4.20)

Suffered interference when 11th at Caulfield last start, so pay to forget. Freshened for this and blinkers go on for the first time. Expect bold showing.

Value bet: MR MONEY BAGS (Race 7, No. 2 — $6)

MARKETS: TAB FIXED ODDS

Wise Hero (centre) salutes at Caulfield last year. Picture: Getty Images

DOOMBEN

NATHAN EXELBY (The Courier-Mail). Form: 13791

NATCH (Race 6, No. 10 — $5.50)

NSW raider Oriental Runner has excellent form for this, but looks short enough in early trading and does have to see out 1350m, up from 1100m. Don’t think he has a huge ratings edge on Natch, who arrives in career best form. Beat the stablemate easily up at Toowoomba, then put rivals to the sword at Ipswich last time and won eased down. Has a second to Snitty Kitty early in his career and Tony Gollan has him flying at the moment.

Value bet: ITALIA BELLA (Race 8, No. 16 — $10)

MARKETS: TAB FIXED ODDS

MORPHETTVILLE PARKS

LINCOLN MOORE (The Advertiser). Form: 2x154

THUNDER CLOUD (Race 1, No. 5 — $2.25)

Progressive stayer who looks nicely suited here with 57kg.

Has won three of his past five and Darren Weir has an outstanding record in Adelaide especially when his stayers make the trip over the border.

Value bet: BOOMER BEACH (Race 4, No. 7 — $10)

MARKETS: TAB FIXED ODDS

*Note: TAB Fixed Odds prices correct at time of publishing