Wednesday 20th March 2024
A little education for you…
The method we use to supply you with your tips in called blackbooking, which does involve watching a lot of racing and thereby making note of horses that may not necessarily win on the day, but are noted performing well, maybe running on late or unlucky in the run. These are duly entered into the little black book, hence “blackbooking”, and referred to whenever they run.
Sometimes, it takes a wee while for a horse to live up to that promise, but when it does, it usually rewards us not only money-wise, but with a great deal of pleasure…
Yesterday was one such example, here’s our take on Spring Valley:
SPRING VALLEY
Mackay, 4
She went in the book breaking her maiden in August 2022, with a huge finish at Pak, after a series of nice placings. However, she’s hardly risen to that height since, though she has placed a couple of times first up. Resumed from a 136 day break 22 days ago, dropping significantly in grade but also in distance, but finishing well from the back as usual to run second and earn a next-time flag, and here she is. The extra 300m will suit nicely, goes well on soft and is 5:2-1 second up, so ticking a few boxes here. G Cartwright is a nice booking up top, and no reason she can’t go one better today as a $10 shot.
BET: 5 units ew
We watched her settle in the run about midfield, and once they rounded the final bend, there was never gonna be another winner as she smashed them by nearly three lengths at a juicy $10.20/$2.60 and earning a place in our Hall of Fame…
OK, back to business, and nine for the midweeks with winners in waiting!!
Nine for the midweeks…
BULLET WING, ERSA
Sandown, 5
BW is an out and out on-pacer who drops in grade and distance for this, he’s 4:2-0 at 1300m and if he springs out from the ace draw, he’ll give ‘em something to catch, $8.50 is sweet. Ersa resumes from a 4 month spell with the talented Ms Gaudray up top and ran in a G1 and a G3 prior to her break. Her maiden win in October was superb, streeting them by nine lengths, then a close second in BM70 before the two G races. Has talent for sure, no public trials to warm up but one presumes the stable has her most of the way there, just may need the run but can’t leave her out, $4.80 on offer…
BET: Can back both 5 units ew and feature them in your exotics…
MATRIARCH ROSE
Sandown, 6
A huge finish at Bendigo in September put her in the book as a next-timer and she duly obliged at Ballarat two weeks later, then a third when stepping up to this grade and a tenth at HQ before heading to the paddock. Resumed at MV 12 days ago and ran a very close eye-catching second to another of ours in Girl over 1200m. Out to 1400m is more her style (3:2-1), this is a very tight betting race and she can win this as $5 second fav.
BET: 5 units ew
COOL ENCOUNTER
Doomben, 7
Nice return 20 days ago at Ipswich for this consistent gelding, running a close second at $8.50. Gets back in the run generally but possesses a wicked finish, so the push out to his preferred 1350m will suit today if he can just position himself a bit closer in the run. Bayliss hops on, he’s placed 2 from 3 second up, never missed the frame in six e=runs on soft, easy EW bet at $8.
BET: 5 units ew
OAKEYS CHOICE
Canberra, 2
Caught the eye with a strong finish at Goulburn in November, but subsequent runs a bit plain, resumed at the picnics 11 days ago, so hard to follow, interest only at $16…
BET: 2 units ew
KATTEGAT, NARITO
Canberra, 6
Here we ho again with the “Kattegat anomaly”… As far as I can see, there’s a NZ and an Aussie version with this name, so we’ll flag them both up when you race…
Today’s version finds the wins a bit hard to come by but is rarely far off. Has tried to win from the front in his last two runs over 1200m, just getting nicked both times, suggesting the drop back to 1000m may well see him home in this if he can spring away from the gates. Nick Heywood is a positive booking, and $9 looks tempting…
Narito noted on debut with a huge finish to win and repeated the dose next up but has rarely approached those heights in the subsequent 18 months. Resumes today from a 4 month or so break with not much in his favour other than his preference for soft going and Jeff Penza up top.
BET: K 5 units ew, N 2 units ew
STANISLAUS, REMEDIES
Wyong, 7
Stanislaus also resuming from a four month stint in the paddock, he’s a horse we have a lot of time for… Always thereabouts, has had two trials for a win and a second recently and JMac a significant booking, having won on him at Gosford in October. Has won first up, $3.80 second fav, can win.
We spruiked up Remedies on her second-up appearance 14 days ago, and she did well to run a hotpot fav to under two lengths at SP $15. Another honest type and a chance to do it again as a $13 shot…
BET: Stan 5 units ew, 10 unit win if supported. Remedies 4 units ew, include both in all exotics…
