Ladbrokes Owners Bonus Maiden Plate Tips (Race 1)
Sale Next Best Bet - Race 1 No. 9 Ahha Ahha
Clinton McDonald’s representative has shown good form in finishing runner-up in two of her four starts to date.
The first of those saw her lose out by half-a-length when debuting in an 1100m event on the synthetic track at Pakenham at the end of August.
The selection went for a spell following a fifth-place finish when jumping as a short-priced favourite for a 1200m maiden at Cranbourne three weeks later.
Connections have opted to apply blinkers, retained here, for both starts this prep with the filly losing out by a narrow margin having raced from the front over 1200m at Colac on her return to action.
While the daughter of Starspangledbanner was outclassed in the Good Friday Appeal Plate over 1100m at Flemington subsequently she delivered a good effort in finishing seventh.
That Flemington contest has produced a couple of metro winners subsequently and dropping back to a maiden she looks capable of breaking through for her first win.
Remembering George Doderico 4yo+ Maiden Plate Tips (Race 3)
Sale Roughie - Race 3 No. 6 News Travels Fast
The son of Squamosa registered his first public effort when coming home in front in a 750m jumpout at Ballnaring at the end of January.
A step up to 900m at Mornington for a second outing in a jumpout yielded a similar result with the gelding registering a win with his jockey here Jake Noonan up on each occasion.
The four-year-old went on to make his debut in an eleven runner maiden held over 1112m on a good 4 track just over two weeks ago.
With Noonan again in the saddle the pick tracked the speed in a race that went the way of an all the way winner.
The gelding looked likely to finish second until swamped by rivals in the closing stages that day and he is expected to have benefited from that experience.
Trained by David & Coral Feek the selection steps up in distance here and may prove up to recording a surprise victory.
Maffco Brewery and Distillery Maffra Cup BM64 Handicap Tips (Race 6)
Sale Best Bet - Race 6 No. 6 Suppose I Do
The five-year-old has performed well at this venue in the past including when breaking his maiden over 1100m in July last year.
The selection came home nearly two-and-a-half-lengths clear of his rivals when racing on a heavy 10 track and he went on to win on two of his next three starts.
Both of those starts came on wet tracks most recently over this distance when successful by a narrow margin in a Restricted 64 handicap at Mornington in early September.
The son of Supido was spelled following a seventh in a metro Benchmark 64 handicap at Sandown later that month and he has registered a couple of solid efforts in defeat this prep.
The gelding’s most recent start saw him beaten just under four-and-a-half-lengths when fourth of seven in a 1200m Benchmark 64 handicap held on a soft 7 track at Pakenham earlier this month.
Ben Allen’s mount is expected to have improved for that effort and he looks poised to strike third-up.
Fantasy Cocktails Wellington Community BM64 Handicap Tips (Race 7)
Sale Value Bet - Race 7 No. 2 Exuma
The Anthony & Sam Freedman team can boast a 24.5% strike-rate (23/94) at this venue with the son of Blue Point their sole runner on the card.
The three-year-old is a dual winner from five starts with his most recent victory coming when getting home by a narrow margin in a Benchmark 58 handicap held over 1000m at Werribee in January.
The selection proved a disappointment when trailing in last of six, beaten over nine lengths in a Benchmark 70 handicap at Moonee Valley two weeks later however.
The youngster has been freshened since that effort with the switch back to country-level racing a positive in this contest.
The drop to a Benchmark 64 handicap is a positive in this contest with jockey Steph Hateley, on board at Werribee back in the plate here.
The pick has gone well on a wet track in the past and jumping from barrier eight looks capable of recording the third win of his career.