Geelong racing preview with form and free tips, Friday June 16
FRIDAY racing always provides a nice entree to the feature weekend racing and this week Geelong plays host to a quality eight-race card.
The fields are holding up nicely in Victoria for this time of the year which is great to see and punters are loving the value on offer.
All but one race has attracted at least 14 nominations and the T1 Troopers Handicap has attracted a field which should generate plenty of punting interest with the likes of Movie and Ballybrit for the Lindsay Park stables.
We have form and free tips for every race, which kicks off with the 2YO+ Maiden Plate at 1pm.
Race 1 – 2YO+ Maiden Plate (1900m)
Arohata is a New Zealand-bred filly by High Chaparral which has good exposed form for this level of racing. It finished second at Seymour last time out as the $2.30 favourite, which came after running 11th in the Ethereal Stakes at Caulfield in its preparation prior. The Ciaron Maher-trained three-year-old won’t stay in maiden grades for too much longer.
Von Richter has had nine starts for three placings and it too is knocking on the door of its maiden win. The Lindsay Park three-year-old ran second on this track last start, albeit five lengths behind the winner. It should have improved having had four starts this campaign, but drawing wide in barrier 15 will make it tough.
Race 1 tip: Arohata to win at CrownBet.com.au
Race 2 – Roderick Insurance Brokers Maiden (1100m)
Perfect Statue has placed in all three starts to date and it looks well-suited by the weights. The Jerome Hunter-trained filly ran second at Pakenham last start on a soft track and it broke a minute for the 1000m, which is a good speed on the rain-affected ground. It gets 1.5kg off its back and it should prove tough to beat.
Duecourse was well-backed on debut at Ballarat when finishing second with Craig Williams in the saddle. Daniel Moor takes over here for Bill Wilde and the daughter of Duporth shouldn’t find this any harder second up. It has drawn inside Perfect Statue which helps and it could dictate the play.
Race 2 tip: Duecourse to win at Bet365.com
Race 3 – Shojun Concrete 3YO Maiden (1000m)
Share The Faith is on debut for Lindsay Park and a nice run is expected. The three-year-old son of Nicconi has been patiently handled to date, but punters should expect a good debut effort with stable rider Cory Parish in the saddle.
Eat Dessert First has been costly to punters so far, but it has room for improvement. The Maher-trained filly has been beaten as the odds-on favourite its last two starts, but it went very close to winning last start and it shouldn’t stay in maiden grades too long. Drawing barrier 14 is an obvious deterrent, but stick with it.
Race 3 tip: Eat Dessert First to win at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 4 – Toddy & Kingy Time-Honoured Maiden (1300m)
Baseman is from the powerful Robert Smerdon stable and it comes into this having finished third at its last two starts. The two-year-old has competed in high-quality maiden races to date and it should enjoy taking on this field. Tough draw, but it should be considered for the win.
Miss Admiration is on debut for Mick Price and a good following in the market will likely come. The daughter of Sebring is owned by Segenhoe Thoroughbreds so the shining light will be on and it gets in well on the weights at 54kg. It’s another that has drawn awkwardly, but look for a betting push.
Race 4 tip: Miss Admiration to win at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 5 – Kingy & Toddy Love The Geelong Cup Handicap (1100m)
Murphy’s Reward is always around the mark and it scored an impressive win two back at Pakenham. The Lindsay Park-trained gelding has yet to finish out of the money in three starts at this distance and it stays in the same grade here after running second behind a nice type last start. Handles all conditions and it should go close.
Sasayuri scored an easy win on this track last start and there’s no reason why it can’t repeat the dose. The four-year-old has won and placed at this distance and its 3.25-length win last start was full of merit. It was able to win in this grade at Moonee Valley in January and that form should hold up.
Race 5 tip: Sasayuri to win at Ladbrokes.com.au
Race 6 – IGA Liquor R64 Handicap (1200m)
Lady Louise is looking to go back-to-back after scoring at Geelong last start. The three-year-old was the $4 favourite to win on that occasion and it did the job nicely over Rimraam which has subsequently finished second at midweek level. It’s not bred to be a superstar, but it goes well and should be considered.
My Aim Is True has missed the target a few times when punters have backed it, but it gets another chance of redemption here. The three-year-old filly ran second on this track two starts back and a similar effort takes it close.
Race 6 tip: Lady Louise to place at Bet365.com
Race 7 – The T1 Troopers R70 Handicap (1300m)
Ballybrit is fresh up for Lindsay Park after a couple of moderate efforts. The four-year-old didn’t quite handle the likes of Big Duke and Burning Front, but this is a significant drop in class and it looked good prior. It won consecutive races at Moonee Valley which were classy and despite needing more ground, it could feature here.
Movie is a three-time winner and the stablemate of Ballybrit. The capable four-year-old has yet to finish worse than third in three starts at Geelong and it’s good enough to put a last start failure behind it. Any easing of the track conditions would be ideal and it should get a great run in transit from barrier four.
Race 7 tip: Movie to win at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 8 – Rating 58 Handicap (1300m)
Carraig Aonair has the ability to win in this grade, but it does need to start showing it. The three-year-old gelding didn’t fire at Bendigo last start, but it looked good in patches earlier this campaign and it strikes an even field for this.
Autonomous won in this grade last start and it again gets a significant weight claim. The Pat Cannon-trained gelding gets 3kg off its back from Lucinda Doodt and it has enough ability to go back-to-back. Cannon has a decent opinion of this runner and it handles all conditions.
Race 8 tip: Autonomous to win at Bet365.com