Weekend Best Bets: Tips for Kembla Grange, Ballarat and Sunshine Coast

Specialist 1000m sprinter Malkovich looks a good thing in The Warra and a couple of our tipsters have gone with some value in The Gong.

Malkovich (left) is the one to beat in The Warra. Picture: Getty Images

Our experts give you an early shot at finding a winner this weekend.

Last week … Five winners. Lost And Running ($2.50) – Matt Jones, Festival Dancer ($5) – Jett Hatton, Mankayan ($1.95) – Brad Waters and Chris Vernuccio; Value bets: Street Power ($6) – Matt Jones, Salateen ($6.50) – Trenton Akers

Saturday: BALLARAT (10 races, start 12.10pm), KEMBLA GRANGE (10 races, 12.20pm), SUNSHINE COAST (9 races, 1.03pm), MORPHETTVILLE PARKS (9 races, 12.51pm), ASCOT (10 races, 3.05pm). All times EDT

Check out their best and value bets:

KEMBLA GRANGE

RAY THOMAS (Daily Telegraph) Form: 11x75

MALKOVICH (Race 7, No.3 – $1.80)

Malkovich is short enough in betting but he does look a good thing. He goes to Kembla Grange after a hat-trick of second placings at stakes level, losing those races by a combined margin of only one-and-quarter lengths. Malkovich is a specialist 1000m sprinter, he’s drawn the rails, handles all track conditions and has James McDonald in the saddle. He ticks all the boxes for The Warra.

Value bet: AIR TO AIR (Race 5, No.6 – $19)

SHAYNE O’CASS (Daily Telegraph) Form: 2x076

DRAGONSTONE (Race 3, No.8 – $2.90)

Lightly-raced three-year-old from the Mark Newham camp who sent out all the right signs at the first preparation that he has further to climb up the ladder before his career ends. Trial was very good too.

Value bet: ATISHU (Race 8 No.11 – $7)

CLINTON PAYNE (Racenet) Form: 116x5

TRAVEST (Race 6, No.2 – $5.50)

The stars appear to have aligned for this talented but enigmatic galloper on Saturday. Drawn to race closer to the speed, he’s fitter and the edge off the track is in his favour.

Value bet: YAMAZAKI (Race 8, No. 16 – $34)

JETT HATTON (Racenet) Form: 16711

SPACEBOY (Race 7, No.11 – $11)

Went enormous last time out behind a Stakes winner in Southern lad. He did a stack of work up and while the rest of the on pacers were fading over the final 200m, Spaceboy had a strong kick to eventually go down by a length. Right down in the weights with just 52kg on his back, Spaceboy drops to his favourable 1000m trip and if it remains wet, that will only aid his winning prospects.

Value bet: DAWN PASSAGE (Race 8, No.8 – $18)

NICK QUINN (TAB) Form: 11694

MALKOVICH (Race 7, No.3 – $1.80)

Has been runner-up both runs back this time in and looks well-placed to salute. The money has come, drawn gate one and James McDonald takes the ride.

Value bet: ZAYYDANI (Ballarat, Race 8, No.6 – $8)

Malkovich (left) is the one to beat in The Warra. Picture: Getty Images

BALLARAT

GILBERT GARDINER (Herald Sun) Form: 1s49x

LIGHTHOUSE (Race 1, No.4 – $2.25)

Bolted in her Australian debut at Kyneton winning by four lengths under a hold in heavy conditions. Mare going places and worth following.

Value bet: SKYMAN (Race 10, No.15 — $10)

CHRIS VERNUCCIO (Racing News Editor) Form: 12081

IT’SOURTIME (Race 5, No.4 — $2.90)

Returned from a throat operation with a win down the Flemington straight. There should be more to come from him.

Value bet: SHOOTING FOR GOLD (Sunshine Coast, Race 7, No.5 — $5)

SIMON MOY (NewsRacing) Form: 1201x

LIGHTHOUSE (Race 1, No.4 – $2.25)

Won’t be as wet as Kyneton runaway win, but no reason why cannot repeat with claim.

Value bet: ALCYONE (Race 7, No.5 – $3.10)

Thought Of That has found winning form. Picture: Micheal Klein

SUNSHINE COAST

TRENTON AKERS (Courier Mail) Form: 11563

HONEY POT (Race 1, No.8 – $2.15)

Has all the makings of being a classy filly and gets to the big Sunshine Coast track here which will suit her run-on style.

Value bet: ENABLER (Race 6, No.13 – $7.50)

NATHAN EXELBY (Sky Racing) Form: 40x53

SIR WARWICK (Race 9, No.6 – $4)

He won again at 1350m last time, but his figures were just average there, indicating the trip may have seen him out. Now comes back to 1200m, a trip he posted sensational numbers at previously when a dominant Doomben winner. Faces a field of really good depth this time, but with fitness on side, think he’s up to it.

Value bet: HEAVEN AMORE (Race 3, No.12 – $9)

LATEST BETTING: TAB FIXED ODDS

s – denotes tip was scratched.

x – denotes spell or holiday.

Note: TAB odds correct at time of publishing.

Originally published as Weekend Best Bets: Tips for Kembla Grange, Ballarat and Sunshine Coast