Ballarat Betting Tips for June 26, 2026 - Barking Up the Right Tree

Martin Pennington

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Last updated: Wed 24 Jun 2026 12:32

Martin Pennington 1 hour ago

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Ballarat features eight synthetic races at 1500m or less
Top tips: Creative Righteous (R2), Toronado Boom (R5), Bark (R7), Secretdream (R6)
Selections focus on synthetic track ability and horses returning to best form

Friday racing heads to Ballarat's synthetic circuit. (Getty)

Ballarat hosts an eight-race program on Friday, with a mix of intriguing maiden and handicap contests on the card.

Ballarat Tips June 26
Brandt Maiden Plate Tips (Race 2)
Manhari BM62 Handicap Tips (Race 5)
Hygain Edge Fillies and Mares BM56 Handicap Tips (Race 6)
Sportsbet Feed Class 1 Handicap Tips (Race 7)

The synthetic surface will be in use, with all eight races scheduled over distances of 1500m or shorter.

For operator comparisons, ratings and industry analysis, explore our Bookmaker Reviews.

Ballarat Tips June 26

Brandt Maiden Plate Tips (Race 2)

Ballarat Synthetic Best Bet - Race 2 No. 1 Creative Righteous

Alexander Rae's representative has not been seen since finishing tenth at Mornington in September.

Notably, that effort came on a wet surface for the first time and, while he remains a maiden after six starts, his best performances have come fresh.

Those first-up efforts include a fourth-place finish on debut at Seymour and a strong third at Sale in April last year.

That Sale performance saw the four-year-old beaten less than two lengths over 1419m.

Creative Righteous has advertised his fitness with three jump-outs ahead of this return, including a second placing at Cranbourne earlier this month, and while his ability on the synthetic must be taken on trust, the inside draw gives him every chance.

Manhari BM62 Handicap Tips (Race 5)

Ballarat Synthetic Next Best Bet - Race 5 No. 1 Toronado Boom

Toronado Boom has shown an affinity for synthetic surfaces, having broken his maiden at this venue in August 2024.

That victory came over this distance and both of his subsequent wins have also been recorded over 1000m.

The latest of those successes came first-up at Echuca in April, delivering his second victory fresh.

He then stepped up in grade for a Benchmark 70 at Swan Hill and had several excuses when finishing ninth.

The wide barrier and first attempt on a wet surface worked against him that day, and with the drop in grade and a favourable draw, he looks capable of returning to winning form.

Hygain Edge Fillies and Mares BM56 Handicap Tips (Race 6)

Ballarat Synthetic Roughie - Race 6 No. 7 Secretdream

Secretdream recorded her first win of the season when successful over 1110m at Colac in January.

While she has been unable to add to that tally in five subsequent starts, there have been several encouraging performances along the way.

One of those came at Geelong when finishing third at her next appearance.

The mare heads into this race off a sixth-place finish when making her synthetic debut at this venue.

Beaten less than five-and-a-half lengths that day, she was ridden conservatively from a wide gate and similar tactics are likely from barrier 11, while the rise in trip should hold no fears given she has won over the distance previously.

Sportsbet Feed Class 1 Handicap Tips (Race 7)

Ballarat Synthetic Value Bet - Race 7 No. 4 Bark

Bark broke through for the first win of his career when successful at Moe on his second run of the preparation.

Jumping from near the inside, the gelding raced on speed and came home three lengths clear of his nearest rival in a 1200m maiden.

The son of Vancouver received a form boost when the fourth-placegetter won at its next start.

Both subsequent runs have come on wet turf surfaces, with the better of those a fifth-place finish at Pakenham last month.

Freshened since that run, Bark draws more favourably here and, having produced a close second on a synthetic surface at Pakenham on debut, looks value to return to winning form under Olivia East's 2kg claim.

Verdict

Ballarat Synthetic - June 26

Our Ballarat selections for Friday, June 26 are:

Creative Righteous

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$4.20 - 3 Units

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Toronado Boom

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$7.00 - 3 Units

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Bark

Each Way

$8.50 - 2 Units

Take it to the Neds Level