Gold Coast Betting Tips for August 28, 2026 - Count Nicholas Has the Numbers

Martin Pennington

Editor

Last updated: Wed 26 Aug 2026 18:05

Martin Pennington 1 hour ago

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Friday night Gold Coast meeting features eight races
Top tips: Count Nicholas (R4), Argentum Rock (R8), Boom Chika Wow (R3), Maquisa (R6)
Expert picks based on strong recent form and suitable track conditions

The Gold Coast hosts a competitive Friday night card. (Getty)

Gold Coast stages a Friday night meeting on August 28, with eight races making up the card.

Gold Coast Tips August 28
Discover Benowa Gardens QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Handicap Tips (Race 3)
Alltra Smartchain Solutions Open Handicap Tips (Race 4)
Australia China Business Council QLD Benchmark 65 Handicap Tips (Race 6)
TAB Class 1 Plate Tips (Race 8)

The track is currently rated a Soft 5, with some chance of an upgrade before racing gets underway.

Our Daily Racing Multi brings together leading combinations across multiple programs.

Gold Coast Tips August 28

Discover Benowa Gardens QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Handicap Tips (Race 3)

Gold Coast Value Bet - Race 3 No. 2 Boom Chika Wow

There was plenty to like about Boom Chika Wow's debut at Rockhampton late last month after he had shown promise in his trials beforehand.

The gelding was awkwardly away over 1050m but still finished third in a 10-runner field, beaten less than a length on Good ground.

While that race is yet to produce a subsequent winner, the fourth, fifth and 10th placegetters all went on to finish in the top three at their next starts, adding some depth to the form.

A switch to rain-affected ground should not pose too many concerns given his dam won on both Soft and Heavy surfaces.

Connections bypassed a race at Doomben on Wednesday to head here instead and, with natural improvement expected from his debut, Boom Chika Wow rates as value to break through at start two.

Alltra Smartchain Solutions Open Handicap Tips (Race 4)

Gold Coast Best Bet - Race 4 No. 7 Count Nicholas

A strong record at this circuit gives Count Nicholas plenty of appeal, with the gelding already a two-time winner at the Gold Coast.

The most recent of those victories came three starts ago when he led throughout on a wet track and put nearly five lengths on his rivals over 1200m.

He bounced back from a below-par Doomben effort by finishing second on the polytrack here earlier this month over 1540m.

The drop back in distance looks a positive and he is also chasing a fourth career win on Soft ground.

The seven-year-old has shown enough tactical versatility to offset barrier eight, while Bella Youngberry rides this circuit well and looks capable of steering the Adam Campton-trained galloper to another win.

Australia China Business Council QLD Benchmark 65 Handicap Tips (Race 6)

Gold Coast Roughie - Race 6 No. 18 Maquisa

A previous first-up win gives Maquisa some appeal at a bigger price, with the mare having broken her maiden fresh at Kembla Grange in February.

That victory came over 1200m on a Soft 5, where she was ridden cold and proved half a length too strong.

The daughter of Extreme Choice went on to produce several solid efforts in defeat before a disappointing run at Newcastle in May brought that preparation to an end.

She has since had two trials ahead of her return and showed improvement in the latest, finishing one-and-a-half lengths away in fifth over 1000m at this circuit earlier this month.

The five-year-old has both the trip and likely underfoot conditions in her favour and, after being scratched from a recent Doomben assignment, she may be capable of running a big race at odds.

TAB Class 1 Plate Tips (Race 8)

Gold Coast Next Best Bet - Race 8 No. 1 Argentum Rock

Argentum Rock has been racing consistently since breaking his maiden over 1800m at this circuit in June, placing in all three subsequent starts.

Two of those efforts came over the same distance here, while his other appearance saw him step into a Class 1 Plate at Eagle Farm earlier this month.

Jumping from the inside draw on a Good 4, the gelding finished third and was beaten less than two lengths.

He travelled well but was held up behind the winner in the straight before continuing to the line strongly once clear.

The return to a wet surface should suit and, with the rise in distance also in his favour, Argentum Rock looks capable of overcoming the wide draw and recording the second win of his career.