Ballarat racing preview & top value bets | Friday, August 5
| What | Ballarat Races |
| Where | Ballarat Turf Club – 240 Kennedys Rd, Miners Rest VIC 3352 |
| When | Friday, August 5, 2022 |
| First Race | 12:45pm AEST |
The synthetic track at Ballarat is set to host a competitive little eight-race card this Friday afternoon, and HorseBetting’s Victorian form expert has you covered with his best bets and quaddie picks. A perfect winter’s day in Ballarat is forecast, so fancied runners will have their chance to stake their claim if good enough. The day of racing is set to get underway at 12:45pm AEST.
Best Bet at Ballarat – English Riviera
We do not need to wait too long for our best bet of the day, as the Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained English Riviera steps out in the opening event. The now three-year-old brings the best form lines you will ever see for a maiden on the Ballarat synthetic, having finished 0.75 lengths off Lofty Strike before going down less than 1.5 lengths in a Blue Diamond Stakes when finishing sixth after racing up on a red-hot speed. The Deep Field filly jumps from barrier two in this and we expect Damien Thornton will take luck out of the occasion, stick to the rail, lead the field up, kick on the home turn and prove too hard to run down. She is a short odds-on quote with all of the best betting sites, but English Riviera is a clear best bet of the day.
Best Bet
Race 1 – 
#5 English Riviera (2)
3yo Filly | T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy | J: Damien Thornton (56kg)
Next Best at Ballarat – Port Louis
The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Port Louis bought up his maiden victory at Murtoa of all places last time out, and the two-time stakes placegetter looks one of the better bets on Friday. He was forced to travel three wide with no cover on July 17 but absolutely bolted in under a hold to suggest he has come back in strong form. He clearly is the class horse of this BM70 field and, despite drawing barrier 10, should gain a perfect run in transit, slotting nicely into the one-one under Harry Coffey. If Port Louis replicates his last-start effort, he should put a gap on this lot.
Next Best
Race 7 – 
#1 Port Louis (10)
4yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | J: Harry Coffey (62kg)
Best Value at Ballarat – Ubriaco
One we are willing to risk in the opening leg of the quaddie is the Glenn Stevenson-trained Ubriaco. The Tasmanian galloper is coming off a dominant 2.5-length victory on the Devonport synthetic on July 17 in BM68 company, and this BM70 does not look to be too big of a step up in grade. The five-year-old gelding toughed it out last time out when travelling wide throughout, yet still managed to score by an impressive margin under hands and heels. From barrier two under Craig Newitt, he should gain a perfect run in transit just off the leader’s back, and if he puts in a finishing burst like he did in the Apple Isle, then he looks to be a great bet. At near-enough double digits with the online bookies, the price is right.
Best Value
Race 5 – 
#4 Ubriaco (3)
5yo Gelding | T: Glenn Stevenson | J: Craig Newitt (59.5kg)
Friday quaddie tips for Ballarat
Ballarat quadrella selections
Friday, August 5, 2022
- 1-3-4-5
- 2-4-5
- 1-7
- 2-3-4-5
Investment: $96 for 100%