Balaklava Betting Tips for June 26, 2026 - Polunin Can Double Up

Martin Pennington

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Last updated: Wed 24 Jun 2026 13:00

Martin Pennington 1 hour ago

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Eight-race program at Balaklava on June 26, with a current Heavy 8 track rating
Best bet: Polunin in Race 2; value bet: Shamastar (R5); next best: Tahnee Territory (R7); roughie: Geetee Forty (R8)
Wet track form and barrier draws are key factors for selections

Balaklava hosts a rescheduled country meeting on Friday. (Getty)

Balaklava hosts an eight-race program on June 26, with two Class 1 events featuring alongside Maiden and Benchmark contests.

Balaklava Tips June 26
Irongate Australia Three-Year-Old Benchmark 62 Handicap Tips (Race 2)
Gawler Arms Hotel Maiden Plate Tips (Race 5)
Contract Engineering Benchmark 56 Handicap Tips (Race 7)
Wolf Blass, The Man, Hahndorf Museum Rating 0-56 Handicap Tips (Race 8)

This meeting was originally scheduled to be held at Gawler on Wednesday, while a Heavy 8 is the current track rating for Balaklava.

For the latest previews and betting coverage across all codes, visit Live Racing & Sports Updates.

Balaklava Tips June 26

Irongate Australia Three-Year-Old Benchmark 62 Handicap Tips (Race 2)

Balaklava Best Bet - Race 2 No. 1 Polunin

Polunin gained plenty of experience at the trials earlier this season, including a second-place finish in a 1000m event at Gawler in January.

The gelding went on to make a winning debut when taking out a 1050m maiden at this venue earlier this month.

Racing prominently throughout, he stuck to the inside and scored by a length, with another debutant finishing runner-up.

The front two finished clear of the third-placegetter and Polunin is expected to have derived improvement from that first race-day experience.

A Soft 7 surface appeared to suit on debut and the forecast Heavy conditions are unlikely to pose an issue, while the rise in distance also looks favourable.

Gawler Arms Hotel Maiden Plate Tips (Race 5)

Balaklava Value Bet - Race 5 No. 4 Shamastar

Shamastar recorded top-three finishes at each of his first two starts, most recently competing at Strathalbyn last month.

Racing on a Good 4 surface, the gelding raced on speed before being beaten less than two lengths in a 1600m maiden.

That race has produced subsequent winners, with both the fourth and seventh-placegetters winning at their next starts.

He then stepped up in distance when making his first appearance at this venue in a 2050m maiden just over two weeks ago.

The gelding encountered a wet track for the first time that day and appeared to struggle more with the trip than the Soft 6 conditions, making the drop back in distance a positive.

Contract Engineering Benchmark 56 Handicap Tips (Race 7)

Balaklava Next Best Bet - Race 7 No. 9 Tahnee Territory

Tahnee Territory made the perfect start to 2026 when securing a victory at Gawler last month.

The mare handled Heavy ground for the first time that day, getting home by a narrow margin in a Benchmark 0-56 handicap.

The Heavy 10 conditions appeared to suit and the forecast Heavy 8 surface should hold no fears given she has also won on quicker ground.

The front two finished clear of the third-placegetter and the form has worked out strongly, with the fourth, fifth and eighth all winning at their next starts.

An inside barrier is another positive for the Travis Doudle-trained mare, who should enjoy a favourable run under regular rider Kayla Crowther.

Wolf Blass, The Man, Hahndorf Museum Rating 0-56 Handicap Tips (Race 8)

Balaklava Roughie - Race 8 No. 14 Geetee Forty

The six-year-old has demonstrated a liking for wet tracks, with both of his career victories coming on rain-affected ground.

While he was well held in his first four starts this preparation, all of those efforts came on Good surfaces.

The return to wet conditions has suited in recent outings, including a fourth-place finish over this track and trip on a Soft 7 surface.

Despite jumping from a wide barrier, the gelding was beaten only a little over two-and-a-half lengths in that Benchmark 56 contest.

The expected Heavy conditions are again in his favour and, despite another wide draw, Geetee Forty looks capable of featuring if able to reproduce his latest effort.

Verdict

Balaklava - June 26

Our Balaklava selections for Friday, June 26 are:

Polunin

To Win

$1.80 - 4 Units

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Tahnee Territory

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$4.60 - 2 Units

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Shamastar

Each Way

$8.50 - 2 Units

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Geetee Forty

Each Way

$8.00 - 2 Units

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