Yarra Valley Betting Tips for January 2, 2025 - Barnage To Register Win

Martin Pennington

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Last updated: Wed 01 Jan 2025 19:20

Martin Pennington 01 Jan 2025

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Get our tips and best bets for the Yarra Valley Races
They host Thursday's Victoria meeting
The track is currently a Soft 5
Our January 2 preview is included below

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Yarra Valley best bets (Getty)

Yarra Valley hosts an eight-race program on January 2 and our free betting tips and best bets are available.

Yarra Valley Tips January 2
Manhari Maiden Plate Tips (Race 1)
Yarra Valley Toyota Maiden Plate Tips (Race 2)
Hirsch Hill Estate BM58 Handicap Tips (Race 5)
United Petroleum BM58 Handicap Tips (Race 6)

Yarra Valley Tips January 2

Manhari Maiden Plate Tips (Race 1)

Yarra Valley Value Bet – Race 1 No. 6 Larryoctane

The gelding showed signs of ability in two starts last prep and while he could finish only eighth on his return to action at Pakenham in November he has demonstrated improvement since.

The four-year-old registered his first placed effort when beaten just under five lengths into third in a 1600m maiden held on a good 3 track at Moe early last month.

The selection did best of those racing from off the pace on that occasion and he was again ridden from off the pace when stepped up to 2060m at Cranbourne a week later.

The son of Lean Mean Machine stayed on well to be beaten less than a length into second when again racing on a good 3 track at Cranbourne.

The fifth home mat Cranbourne Place Winter gave the form a boost when winning at Stony Creek recently and jumping from an inside alley the pick looks value to salute dropping in distance.

Yarra Valley Toyota Maiden Plate Tips (Race 2)

Yarra Valley Next Best – Race 2 No. 5 Parch

The three-year-old demonstrated his ability to handle a wet surface when finishing fourth on a soft 5 track at Mornington on debut in June last year.

That effort marked the gelding’s sole start as a two-year-old and he has gone on to finish in the top three in all three outings this time around.

The second of those starts saw the pick beaten just under one-and-a-half-lengths when third in a six runner metro maiden at Caulfield Heath in November.

The gelding went on to finish one place better when beaten just under two-and-a-half-lengths stepped up to this distance at Mornington last time out.

The selection tracked the speed when finding only an all the way winner too good on that occasion with a gap of over three lengths back to the third.

Recently married Tom Stockdale’s mount boasts a good barrier four from the rail and the pair can help trainer Jerome Hunter improve on his 21% strike-rate (6/28) at this venue.

Hirsch Hill Estate BM58 Handicap Tips (Race 5)

Yarra Valley Best Bet – Race 5 No. 2 Barnage

Matthew Fsadni’s gelding performed well last prep including when finishing runner-up in Bendigo maiden races over this distance on his first two starts.

The son of Cluster broke through for his first win when coming home in front over 1103m at Kyneton in April.

The pick raced on a wet track, a soft 6 for the first time at Kyneton and was spelled by connections subsequently.

The six-year-old trialled well with a Bendigo jumpout win ahead of his return to action in a 1000m Class 1 handicap held on the Heath course at Caulfield last month.

While the selection was unable to register a metro win that day he performed well in being beaten just over two lengths into fifth in a ten-horse field.

The form of that has received a boost since with Castellar recording a victory over the same track and trip.

Barrier six shouldn’t pose any issues in this contest and dropping to country level racing the gelding looks up to registering a second-up success.

United Petroleum BM58 Handicap Tips (Race 6)

Yarra Valley Roughie – Race 6 No. 7 Pahi Lass

The New Zealand-bred mare has finished in the first three in two of her three starts this time around.

The first of those efforts came when beaten less than half-a-length into third in a 1606m Benchmark 58 handicap at Benalla when racing first up this prep.

The pick went on to finish in mid-division when contesting a similar contest over 1600m at Seymour in November with both of those races coming on a sound surface.

The step up in distance appeared no issue returning to Benalla for her most recent start with the mare getting home by a narrow margin in a Restricted 58 handicap.

Joe Bowditch, set to ride here was in the saddle that day and his mount is expected to be ridden from off the pace dropping back in distance.

Any quickening of the forecast soft 5 going would be in her favour and the selection may prove capable of surprising in this event.