Moonee Valley night racing odds, form and free tips
THE Friday night racing circuit is great for punters looking to get a head start before the weekend and this week Moonee Valley hosts an eight-race card.
The Inglis 55 Second Challenge is the feature race of the day and the field of 10 will have to produce a quick time to beat Sirbible’s 54.84 seconds last week.
The only other year that time was beaten was in 2012 when Vatican ran 54.69 so the slick sprinters will need to be on form this Friday night.
A small field opens the card at 6.30pm, but there’s some promising youngsters in action and if your horse runs second at Moonee Valley, CrownBet will match your stake up to $50 in bonus bets.
Race 1 – William Hill R70 Handicap (1500m)
Mawhooba has finished first or second in four career starts and it looms as a major winning threat. The Mick Price-trained filly is dropping back in distance after winning at 1600m last start, but it’s an adaptable type which has drawn ideally.
Ciaron Maher is looking for better luck in the opening race at Moonee Valley this week with Zolani. The More Than Ready filly won on debut by 3.25 lengths before finishing second at Swan Hill by a nose last start. It will get all favours from barrier two and it will likely be short in the market.
Mick Price lines up Heavenly Discreet which was a stylish winner at Pakenham last start. The Snitzel filly finished under two lengths behind Nurse Kitchen on debut and that form has been franked during the Melbourne spring carnival. Looks a nice chance with the apprentice claim.
Race 1 tip: Mawhooba to win at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 2 – The Bennett Group 3YO Maiden (1200m)
Fast Tycoon went close last time out when second at Bendigo and a similar run should be expected here. The Hayes/Dabernig-trained gelding didn’t fire at its first two career starts, but it was well backed last week and it has the breeding to break maiden grades.
Captain Arabia is on debut for Mick Price and it should attract plenty of attention. The nicely-bred son of Fastnet Rock has the addition of Blake Shinn which will add to the appeal and betting will indicate its chances. Likely to be supported in a fresh state.
Stablemate Power Up Rise finished sixth on debut in the Marybyrnong Plate, but it has been given over a year to recover from that effort. The More Than Ready colt gets the services of Mark Zahra in the saddle and it won’t have to do much work from barrier two. Could be an interesting runner.
Race 2 tip: Captain Arabia to win at CrownBet.com.au
Race 3 – Rosemont Stud Maiden Plate (1200m)
Gold Fontein has had two starts for two placings and it should resume in good order. The Peter Morgan-trained mare is a lightly-tried type which could take advantage of a moderate maiden field. Each way odds should be available.
I Am You Are also comes into this having placed at its last two starts. The four-year-old finished 1.25 lengths behind Gold Artisan last start which is a good form guide and both placings came at this distance. Looks a solid chance in an even field.
Tales Of War wasn’t too far behind them last start and it battled on well enough. The Kylie Vella-trained gelding got going late at Moonee Valley last start and it should be better with that run under its belt. Goes into the mix here.
Race 3 tip: Tales Of War to place at Bet365.com
Race 4 – Cobram Estate R70 Handicap (1000m)
Go Down was an impressive five-length winner at Bendigo last start and it gets another run in this grade. The five-year-old has now won three from eight starts and it appears to have enough early speed to win over this distance. Brad Rawiller rides which will help.
Richard Laming lines up the aptly-named debut winner Patient. The Commands mare had its first race as a four-year-old, but it did the job well in a good 1000m time. It’s bred to continue rising through the grades and the weight of 54kg is a bonus.
Shampers is coming off a last start placing at Mornington and it could add some value in this. The four-year-old is a winner of one from 11 starts, but it’s rarely far away and its best efforts come at this distance.
Race 4 tip: Patient to win at CrownBet.com.au
Race 5 – Inglis 55 Second Challenge (955m)
Another Diamond wasn’t able to win last week at Moonee Valley, but its form prior was encouraging. The Bill Cerchi-trained mare won back-to-back races with its latest coming by four lengths at Moonee Valley. It looms as a big chance again here if it gets its own way in front.
A Private Party has yet to win in five starts at Moonee Valley, but it is a six-time winner at this distance. The six-year-old flashed home late last start to finish second behind Miss Vista and that form should sit nicely in this. Shouldn’t be ruled out with the 3kg claimer in the saddle.
Itz Invincible has yet to finish worse than second in six starts and punters love that consistency. The I Am Invincible gelding has won consecutive races leading into this and it runs quick enough times to be considered.
Race 5 tip: Another Diamond to win at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 6 – Marcus Oldham Equine Management R70 (2040m)
Hardern ran on nicely behind The Chairman last start and the form out of that Flemington race should go well here. It drops from rating 90 to rating 70 for this and despite having not won for awhile, it finished fifth in the VRC St Leger and it’s working back up to the staying distances. Looks a good chance to get the elusive win.
Plymouth Road scored nicely at Kyneton last start and makes the rise up in grade. The Freedman-trained gelding had form prior behind the likes of Curragh and Hursley so it should be able to deal with this class. It has yet to finish outside of the placings in three starts at this distance and it only needs to cope with the wide draw.
Spanner Head ran its best race last start at Flemington when it finished second behind Tavi Bay. The daughter of Helmut was a maiden winner prior to that and it stays down in the weights at 55kg for this. Should be paying a good each way price.
Race 6 tip: Hardern to win at Sportsbet.com.au
Race 7 – Marcus Oldham Agriculture R64 Handicap (1200m)
Labuan Star is a talented horse which scored well at Kyneton last start. The Darren Weir-trained horse has yet to win in three starts at Moonee Valley, but it has a fair amount of class and an inside draw will be ideal in a big field. Gets 2kg off its back with Ben Allen riding.
Quarck has won two from three starts with its only defeat coming on a slow track at Geelong. The five-year-old was a five-length winner on debut and it returned to its best form last time out at Ararat. It will have to carry a big weight in this, but it’s helped by the apprentice claim and it could continue its winning ways here.
Tracey’s Star comes out of the Busuttin/Young stables on the back of a win at Cranbourne. The four-year-old came over to Australia after finishing fifth on debut at Pukekohe and it has enough ability to win at this level.
Race 7 tip: Labuan Star to win at WilliamHill.com.au
Race 8 – Marcus Oldham Agribusiness R64 (1500m)
I Taut I Saw was a winner last start at Mornington which capped off some consistent form. The Any Johnston-trained gelding finished second behind Artie Dee Two which was a good form race and it won’t have to improve much to figure in the finish here.
Moulin is a six-time winner which is having its first start at Moonee Valley. The six-year-old enters this off a six-length win at Echuca on a heavy track, but it has form on the dry and conditions won’t worry it here. Chance at each way odds.
Kracken looked a promising type as a youngster, but it has been disappointing in recent starts. The Darren Weir-trained gelding won its only start on this track which is a positive and it goes best on dry tracks. Wouldn’t rule it out.
Race 8 tip: Moulin to place at Sportsbet.com.au