20/4/2019 Horse Racing Tips and Best Bets – Oakbank, Great Eastern Steeplechase day

The iconic Oakbank Carnival continues this Saturday with a bumper nine race card. The weather is fine, the track is good (4) and the rail is in the true position for the entire circuit.

Landed with 6 Tan Tat Trusting (Bet Now: $3.50) but not with a great deal of confidence. He resumes for Tony McEvoy after a pretty good Winter/Spring prep, which saw him bolt in first up and produce a stack of placings. Does sprint well fresh, good 1400m record and was given a searching Flemington jumpout, so I think he’s somewhat ready to go first up in a winnable race.

4 Pretty Glass (Bet Now: $5.00) is a Sue Jaensch trained mare who could easily bounce back here. Loved the way she attacked the line to win on Adelaide Cup Day before being given a let up and racing on the Parks track two weeks ago where she had no hope the way the race was run but did close off very late against the tempo. Now has the run under the belt, she’ll take beating.

8 Roselli Sting (Bet Now: $14.00) hasn’t won in a little while for the Gordon Richards but he hasn’t been far away of late. Ran over 1550m on the Parks track a fortnight ago where I thought Toeroek gave the gelding every chance just off the speed and loomed to be a winning threat but couldn’t quite go on with the job when third to Handsome Return. Back to 1400m should be okay and is a must for exotics.

2 Killarney Kid (Bet Now: $1.26) should make a mess of these once again. His last two starts/wins have come over the hurdles and he has absolutely spanked them each time, firstly at Terang before racing here where Pateman rode him out the back, riding him quite arrogantly, and for good reason. He ambled up around them and put pay to them on the turn for a dominant win. Looks the winner.

3 Murphy’s Delight (Bet Now: $5.50) is an Eric Musgrove trained jumper who has only won the one race over the hurdles, but importantly it did come here last year. His other run at the track came here last time out when chasing hard from the back but was clearly no match for Killarney Kid. Doubt he turns the tables here, but runs well once again on a track he clearly likes.

6 Casiraghi (Bet Now: $27.00) is a Grant Young trained galloper who lacks the class of these, whether it be over the jumps and/or flat, but he seems to be getting better and can win a jumps race with the right placement. Don’t think it will be here, but can run first four off the back of a closing third behind Killarney Kid in the race mentioned above. He’s honest and will do that again.

Keen to see what 3 Ocean Walzer (Bet Now: $5.50) does, a former Darren Weir runner having his first run for the Tony McEvoy stable. Was just starting to come into his own in the Spring, where he last raced on Ballarat Cup Day when pulling up lame behind Khartoum, who franked the form after. Has had three jumpouts in readiness for his return, the latest at Werribee over 1100m when on speed and doing it nicely. Think he can win here fresh.

7 Lostarc (Bet Now: $4.20) is an absolute beauty for the Ryan Balfour who rarely runs a bad race. Put together five placings on the bounce before racing over 2000m at Morphettville a few weeks back where he copped pressure and was there to be beaten, but he found plenty late and was too good. I think back in trip is no issue for him, he’s hard fit/in form and will be thereabouts.

1 Table Of Wisdom (Bet Now: $7.50) can definitely bounce back here. Was a month between runs when racing over the mile at Morphettville three weeks ago when wide no cover under a poor ride I thought from Chelsea Macfarlane when down the track behind Balf’s Choice. Think he’ll lead this field if ridden like normal, he could well take some catching for a stable who can get them up for a feature day.

Good to see there’s been early support for 8 Miss Mosh (Bet Now: $5.50) because the set up looks ideal for her. Sue Jaensch trains this mare, who ran over 1200m at Morphettville and was most unlucky behind Extreme Thrill, looking to make ground but not really getting clear air to let down properly. Fresh legs and up to 1400m tells me there’s intent to go close here.

3 With A Bit Of Dash (Bet Now: $5.50) has been pretty good in three runs back from a spell for the Chris Bieg stable. Resumed with a solid fourth to By The Pound before landing bets second up with a narrow but strong win before a close up fourth to surprise winner Vegas Boulevard after not getting much room/luck in the straight. Now has the 1400m run under the belt, should be better off here.

6 Caraluisa (Bet Now: $7.00) is a Macdonald/Gluyas trained filly who is stepping back up to 1400m. Disappointed at the trip two back before stepping back to 1200m when racing tight between runners and not really wanting to let down, but once she got clear, she found the line well. Off that, 1400m should be fine for this filly, so want to give her another chance here.

It’s hard seeing 1 Zed Em (Bet Now: $1.26) getting rolled. Champion jumper for Patrick Payne/Kevin Myers who comes here after winning another Von Doussa here a couple of weeks back, leading most of the way and giving his rivals a lesson when it comes to sustained brilliance over the bigger obstacles. He’ll likely lead this field, proven weight carrier, has class…should be winning.

2 Spying On You (Bet Now: $5.50) has been a ripping campaigner for Grant Young for a few seasons now and is a proven big time performer over the jumps. Ran down the track behind Zed Em in this race last year but appears to be going alright for the 2019 edition. Ran second to Zed Em in the Von Doussa last start when chasing hard but was well held by the fav. Extra trip will suit him and can get closer…turning the tables I’m not sure about it.

5 Doc Holliday (Bet Now: $6.00) is a Symon Wilde trained jumped who also comes through the Von Doussa where he seemed to get every chance in the run under Paul Hamblin but couldn’t goo with them when the Sprint went on and just whacked away when third to Zed Em. I doubt he turns the tables but stable has had a good 12 months with their jumpers and he can fill a place again.

11 Galaxy Gazer (Bet Now: $4.20) on top. This bloke has had a couple of runs for Will Clarken, the latest coming at this track/distance when backed off the map and the plunge looked home but he was nabbed right on the peg by Polar Vortex. Does get a 1kg weight swing on that horse here, has more upside and his racing pattern should the track by this stage of the day.

1 Polar Vortex (Bet Now: $4.20) is a beauty for Travis Doudle who rarely runs a bad race. Had a run of outs in terms of wins but he got a well deserved victory in the race mentioned above, aided by a sweet steer from Justin Huxtable, who got the drag up into the straight and under hard riding finished best to get the win. Gets run of the race from the draw and Huxtable sticks.

12 Missile Man (Bet Now: $15.00) has been quite good in two runs back from a break for the Jarrod McLean stable. Both runs have come at Warrnambool, resuming with an eye catching third before a solid sixth after getting a fair way back in the run. Third up now, so he should just about be ready fitness wise and should get a sweet sit from the gate. Knockout chance.

Barry Brook can get them ready for the Oakbank Carnival, and he has a couple of strong chances for the 2019 edition, including 8 Meli Melo (Bet Now: $10.00). This mare looked to be bolting behind the speed when racing on the Parks track last time and when she presented, she looked the winner. Just couldn’t finish it off when third Light The Waves and Valac, both of which would be odds on here. That looks the A1 form for this.

7 Exalted Lightning (Bet Now: $15.00) comes back to the flat after a couple of runs over the hurdles, where he spanked them two back at Strathalbyn before racing here when hard in the market but after sitting on speed, he was one of the first beat and for mine was most disappointing behind Killarney Kid. Has run well here previously and his flat form is certainly okay.

10 Sizzling Bullet (Bet Now: $17.00) looks to be going well for the Mick Minervini stable but can’t quite crack it for a win. Ran over 2000m at Morphettville last time when wide no cover throughout and that work load just told on him late when fourth to Lostarc. He looks to be crying out for a track with give in it, and Oakbank usually has give in it, so he’s a clear threat.

7 Despatch (Bet Now: $2.00) should be winning this. Tony McEvoy trains this gelding, who hasn’t raced since resuming on Adelaide Cup Day when sitting off the speed before surging late under Vorster to win impressively. Beat Everyday Lady, who won the Manihi to frank the form, a race Despatch was down to run in but did the Harold Holt and was a late scratching. Best manners here, should ping to the front and prove too speedy.

Giving respect to 3 Everyday Lady (Bet Now: $10.00), who is three weeks between runs for the Will Clarken stable since getting blacktype next to her name when winning the Manihi Classic, appreciating a brutal speed and finishing best to get the job done. She’s a horse really effective when produced with fresh legs and was given a quiet trial last week for this en route to the Sangster.

6 Zalmona (Bet Now: $10.00) is a Peter Blanch trained gelding who will give them a start but be strong late with conditions to suit. He comes through the Manihi Classic when a mile back off the fast speed and was just run off his legs I thought when fifth to Everyday Lady. Think he can sit a bit closer in the run this time around and at his best, clearly in the mix against these.

Looks a race set up for swoopers and with that in mind, I’m going the way of 4 Alaskan Jade (Bet Now: $6.50) for the in form Darren Magro stable. Ran at Morphettville three weeks back where she was last all the way before presenting wide on the turn and letting down with a powerful finale to nab them near the peg for a massive win. That was her first run in a month, so hopefully has room for improvement.

9 Street Life (Bet Now: $7.00) is a Karen Byrnes trained gelding who doesn’t have the greatest of winning records, but is a very honest type and isn’t far away. Last ran came in the Parsifal race mentioned above when back and making ground late when fourth. Not a horse that you can back to win with confidence, but he again draws well and Pannell does get on well with him.

14 No Joy (Bet Now: $8.00) is a David Jolly trained filly that resumes against the older horses. Hasn’t raced since December 15 at Gawler (Metro) when last in the small field and running on strongly but couldn’t quite get there when beaten narrowly by First Diamond. Two trials leading in have been quite good and blinkers on for the resumption tells me there is intent.

BEST BET: Race Eight Number 7 Despatch

NEXT BEST: Race Two Number 2 Killarney Kid

LONG SHOT: Race Seven Number 8 Meli Melo

 

Quaddie Tips (Races Six Through To Nine):

Leg One: 1, 7, 11, 12

Leg Two: 7, 8, 10, 11

Leg Three: 7

Leg Four: 4, 6, 9, 11, 14

$50 Investment = 62.50% of the dividend if successful