Full form & free tips, Friday night at Moonee Valley, November 17
THE spring carnival may be coming to a close but the Moonee Valley night racing schedule is only just getting started.
The Friday night racing fixture is a constant at the Valley over the summer months and HorseBetting.com.au will be providing the tips for every single meet from now until the schedule comes to a close.
So break out the picnic rug, head down to the track and make some cash using our expert tips this summer.
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Race 1 – Maiden (1200m)
Gin Atomic looks to be the strongest winning possibility coming into this race. Having placed in all six of its previous race starts, the mare has been making headway every start. Last time out at Horsham the four-year-old missed by a head. Gin Atomic is ready to win.
Briconi is a runner that should have broken the maiden by now but here we are. The John Allen runner only just missed out at Corowa on Melbourne Cup-eve, and we expect it to be around the mark again on Friday.
Race 1 tip: Gin Atomic to win at Neds
Race 2 – Benchmark 78 (3000m)
It feels like Cheron Warrior has been around forever but the five-year-old is just an 18-start runner. The horse has a good record over the middle-to-long distance and will be highly competitive here. Having won over the 2837m trip at a similar level should see the gelding in the mix here.
Crafty Cruiser is a ten-year-old veteran which has great success over this long distance trip. Of the seven attempts over the 3000m journey the gelding has won twice and placed four times. Does the old boy have one big effort left in him?
Race 2 tip: Crafty Cruiser to place at Unibet
Race 3 – Benchmark 70 (1000m)
There is a lot of quality runners going around in this one. Don’t be surprised to see a number of these gallopers going on to bigger and better things.
Liberty’s Gift debuted well at Swan Hill three weeks ago, winning by over a length as a short-priced favourite. Friday represents a significant rise in class but the manner in which the filly won suggests the jump in company will not be beyond it.
Nature Strip broke its maiden at the first time of asking, then went on to record a gallant second at the Valley in a 3YO handicap on Manikato Stakes night. We see the Smerdon runner as a star of the future.
Race 3 tip: Nature Strip to win at Sportsbet
Race 4 – Benchmark 70 (1000m)
Flying Spark has been racing well recently. Two wins and a third placing puts the mare in its richest vein of form ever and if the trends continue it will again be right in the mix on Friday.
Strykinglee is first-up on Friday, where it has one win and two placings across three attempts. The five-year-old mare has also won once across the distance and placed a further three times over six runs. The horse is favoured by a barrier six and looks to be the winner here.
Race 4 tip: Strykinglee to win at William Hill
Race 5 – Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge Benchmark 78 (955m)
The hugely popular Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge series continues on Friday night and Royalic looks the horse to beat here. Excelling over the short-course journey, the gelding has won four times and placed a further six across 12 attempts.
Punt Club is first-up on Friday and looking to bounce back to its best short-course form. Across its last four starts over the shorter distance at the Valley this horse has put together a sparkling resume, winning twice and placing second two times across five runs. The five-year-old possesses genuine speed, the only query is the lack of quality resuming form.
Race 5 tip: Royalic to win at Ladbrokes
Race 6 – Benchmark 78 (1200m)
Prior to being turned out, Valderrama was in startlingly good form, winning three straight races and two placings sprinkled in there for good measure. The horse resumes after a lengthy spell and its first-up form reads well having won twice and placed from four races.
Seven Year Reward is hunting a fourth straight win from as many races. The stylish four-year-old is yet to drop a race or barrier trial, and has never gone around at a race track at odds above $2.75. This race represents a sterner test but we cannot doubt the gelding given what it has achieved thus far.
Race 6 tip: Seven Year Reward to win at CrownBet
Race 7 – Benchmark 70 (2040m)
I Am The Dark recorded a bold third in the Country Cup Final at Flemington on VRC Oaks Day. The horse jumps slightly in weight but confronts are far easier field than it did last week.
Serenade The Stars won well upon resumption at Bendigo two weeks ago, defying a poor first-up record. The horse has an equally average second-up tally, but the resuming run suggests that shouldn’t matter. The win was in the exact grade that it confronts on Friday so the gelding should be right in the mix here.
Race 7 tip: I Am The Dark to win at Sportsbet
Race 8 – Benchmark 70 (1523m)
Jolie’s Cafe won at the Valley last start over the 1600m and looks set to repeat the dose over the slightly shorter distance. The horse has missed a first four just once in 2017, and in that time-frame has recorded three second placings that have totalled just 2.4 lengths. This race looks within the five-year-old’s capabilities.
Pittsburgh is hunting a fourth win from five starts. The in-form four-year-old is making its Victorian debut on Friday which is a question mark, but winning form is good form and we cannot keep the gelding out of our numbers in the final race on the card.
Race 8 tip: Jolie’s Cafe to win at Neds