Friday night racing form and tips at Moonee Valley, February 17
FRIDAY night racing continues to be popular with punters and this Friday sees Moonee Valley host an eight-race card.
There are some quality thoroughbreds in action which includes Red Alto and Rich Luck in the Quest Moonee Valley Handicap, and also Chance To Dance and recent Tasmanian Derby winner Northwest Passage in the Torney Night Cup over 2500m.
The two sprinting features includes the Victoria Sprint Final and the always popular Inglis 55 Second Challenge where eight more runners line up to scorch the turf.
It all starts with the William Hill Plate at 6.30pm where some talented runners line up for the VOBIS Gold bonuses.
Race 1 – William Hill 2YO Plate (1000m)
Muraaqeb is on debut for Lindsay Park and it has no public trial form for this. The son of Snitzel is nominated for the Golden Slipper and Inglis Sires, so there’s plenty of confidence in the camp and it will only need some luck from barrier 11 to feature.
Hope Ya Don’t Mind is a well-named filly by Your Song which played the right tune on debut. The John McArdle-trained runner scored a 1.75-length victory over a three-horse field at Echuca, but it beat a couple of progressive types and it deserves a chance up in grade here.
Robert Smerdon lines up Balle D’or which has taken on some good fields to date. The two-year-old filly debuted in the Ottawa Stakes at Flemington before running third behind Blondie at Moonee Valley. It couldn’t keep up with them in the Chairman’s Stakes last start, but this is a major drop in class.
Race 1 tip: Balle D’or to win at WilliamHill.com.au
Race 2 – Sweeney Real Estate Handicap (1000m)
Barthelona is a quality colt which is looking to rebound after an ordinary performance at Flemington. Its form prior was strong with back-to-back wins culminating in a strong win at Caulfield before running 10th in the Blue Sapphire behind Flying Artie. Punters have lost some faith in Barthelona, but it will enjoy running in this grade.
Punt Club was a good last start winner at Moonee Valley and there’s no reason why it can’t win again. The Pat Cannon-trained gelding has won three from 13 with six placings and it hasn’t produced a poor run since finishing last behind Danuki in November. Will be tough to beat with the right run.
Star Stealer is from the Darren Weir stables and it defeated a similar field last start. The five-year-old gelding won narrowly over Punt Club and Angry Gee last start and it will enjoy having another run on a dry track. Consider on an each way basis.
Race 2 tip: Barthelona to win at Bet365.com
Race 3 – Quest Moonee Valley Handicap (1500m)
Rich Luck has a great record of four wins from five starts and it did the job well as the short-priced favourite last start. The Matt Laurie-trained gelding won by 1.5 lengths at Geelong and although it hasn’t run at Moonee Valley before, it looks the type that will handle the tight turns.
Red Alto has been in grand form this campaign, winning three of its four starts. The Paul Banks-trained four-year-old makes the rise up in grade for this and it showed good speed when running fourth behind Snitzson and Portman at Flemington in January. A similar run takes it close.
Reheeba has won five from 16 starts with no placings and it’s looking to rebound after finishing seventh last start. It won consecutive races prior to that and having Dwanye Dunn in the saddle is big bonus around The Valley. Each way hope.
Race 3 tip: Red Alto to win at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 4 – Inglis 55 Second Challenge (955m)
Pretty Possum is a seven-year-old mare which is fresh up after running fifth in the Listed Carlyon Stakes. Its form prior included a win at Moonee Valley in July and although it’s best suited running on rain-affected tracks, it could show some cheek in a fresh up state.
Aunty Mo is also fresh up and get a 2kg claim from Ben Allen. The five-year-old mare by Written Tycoon didn’t hit out last start on this track, but it’s a two-time winner at Moonee Valley and it loves running over this distance. It should get a nice run from barrier four and be tough to hold out.
Motown Lil has prepared for its fresh up run with a trial placing and it goes close in this if it’s right. The Smerdon-trained filly finished fifth behind Spright in the Red Roses at Flemington and form behind those quality types should be respected. Tricky barrier draw of eight, but consider with Dunn riding.
Race 4 tip: Motown Lil to win at CrownBet.com.au
Race 5 – Strathmore Community Bank Handicap (1200m)
Clockwork Orange will get better with racing and it worked home well enough when fourth last start. The Lindsay Park-trained filly has some class as it showed with back-to-back wins last campaign and Damien Oliver takes the ride. Expect improvement as it extends over longer distances.
Private Lounge has won two from three starts and it will be suited to racing at 1200m again. The Andrew Payne-trained three-year-old won by a half-length at Sandown and despite having to carry top weight, it looks an each way hope here.
Rose Ahead is a Mark Kavanagh-trained filly which looked good winning on debut at Werribee before running a handy fourth behind Private Lounge last start. Craig Williams sticks with it which is a great sign for punters and it has drawn to feature.
Race 5 tip: Rose Ahead to win at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 6 – Advance Mailing Solutions Torney Cup (2500m)
Chance To Dance was an impressive winner last start at Caulfield over the likes of Big Memory. The Williams-owned gelding had strong form prior which included a placing behind Goldstream and Kourkham at Flemington, which sets it up nicely here. It has the class edge and it won’t mind carrying 58kg.
Big Memory looked the winner last start before being nabbed by Chance To Dance on the line. The Tony McEvoy-trained seven-year-old is only a winner of four races which has frustrated punters, but it returned to form last start and its record over this distance includes one win and two placings from four starts. Consider at each way odds.
It’s hard to weigh up the form of Northwest Passage, but punters should respect its ability. The Waterhouse/Bott-trained gelding won the Tasmanian Derby which hasn’t been a great form race in the past, but its form in Sydney prior was good and it should figure in the finish.
Race 6 tip: Chance To Dance to win at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 7 – Opus Tour Of Victoria Sprint (1200m)
Cannyescent is currently an emergency for the race, but if it gets a start the Lindsay Park-trained gelding has a winning chance. The four-year-old finished second behind the talented Chetwood two starts back at Canterbury and its form prior included some good showings behind the likes of Spill The Beans and Metallic Crown. Each way hope if it runs.
Boomwaa is a five-year-old gelding which has shown ability in the past. The Henry Dwyer-trained gelding finished third behind Rich Charm at Caulfield last start and despite having only won two from 29 starts, it has competed in some high profile races. Chance here if it performs at its best.
Magicus is out of form having not placed in its last six starts, but it’s a three-time winner at this track and distance. The Chris Waller-trained runner didn’t fire a shot at Caulfield last start, but a return to Moonee Valley is exactly what it needs and Craig Williams riding is a positive. Follow any betting support.
Race 7 tip: Cannyescent to place at Bet365.com
Race 8 – Fisher & Paykel Handicap (1200m)
Mossbeat is a last start winner at Moonee Valley which has the ability to go back-to-back. The Hayes/Dabernig-trained mare has competed well in some harder fields than this and it should get a good run from barrier six with Michael Walker in the saddle.
Invincible Heart is a winner of three from 10 starts and it could return to form after a couple of disappointing efforts. The Mick Price-trained four-year-old had only one start in 2016 and after two runs in this campaign it should be ready to fire. Oliver rides and we’re expecting it to be well-backed.
Turbo Miss wasn’t far behind them when third last time out and the Darren Weir-trained mare has gone well at Moonee Valley in the past. The four-year-old has placed twice on this track and it has the speed to contend at this level on Friday night.
Race 8 tip: Invincible Heart to win at WilliamHill.com.au