Moonee Valley racing tips & quaddie picks | March 25

Race 1: Super VOBIS 3YO Quality Handicap (1200m)

One of our better bets of the night comes up in the opening event of the night, when the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Growl steps out over 1200m. He returned with a smart win over this track trip and held out the fast-finishing Jucconi who goes around in the next and equally looks hard to beat. There is no doubt this is a tougher race than what he contested last time out, but the way he sustained a long sprint showed he has plenty of class. From barrier two, John Allen will need luck at the top of the straight, but as he showed in his initial campaign he can sprint quickly and put away his rivals in smart fashion. The $4.20 on offer from Ladbrokes looks a perfect price to take in the opener.

• 4

  GROWL

  Odds at Unibet

• 2

  ZARASTRO

  Odds at Ladbrokes

• 3

  ABLE WILLIE

  Odds at Bet365

• 6

  ICE PICK NICK

  Odds at Palmerbet

Race 2: 4YO & UP BM64 (1200m)

We will be looking to make our mark early on Friday night, with our best bet coming up in the second event with the Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained Jucconi looking like the one to beat. He was held up at a crucial time when chasing home Growl last time out and was arguably finishing the better of the two, with the eventual winner just having the better run in transit. From barrier 11, look for Madison Lloyd to have the Nicconi gelding settled midfield with cover and if he is lucky enough to gain clear air at the right time, Jucconi should prove too hard to hold out and looks a clear best bet of the night.

• 1

  JUCCONI

  Odds at Unibet

• 8

  AMINATU

  Odds at Ladbrokes

• 3

  POINT BLAZE

  Odds at Bet365

• 6

  SWEET KAROLINA

  Odds at Palmerbet

Race 3: St Albans Stakes (1200m)

In the Listed St Albans Stakes, we are confident the undefeated Tasmanian, Bello Beau can keep his record intact. Having claimed the Elwick Stakes and Listed Gold Sovereign in his last two starts in the Apple Isle, he has been given his chance to show his class on the mainland. With a recent leader’s bias at The Valley, we’re hoping from barrier three, Brendon McCoull can find the rail, dictate terms and have the two-year-old gelding kick away from his rivals on the turn. The Brazen Beau gelding has a high cruising speed, and we think he can break his rivals hearts in an all the way win over 1200m.

• 1

  BELLO BEAU

  Odds at Unibet

• 3

  PSYCHIATRIST

  Odds at Ladbrokes

• 7

  NANAGUI

  Odds at Bet365

• 2

  SIR BAILEY

  Odds at Palmerbet

Race 4: Sunline Stakes (1600m)

The Group 2 Sunline Stakes looks to be a race in two judging by early markets on online betting sites, with in-form duo Flying Mascot and Barb Raider set to duke it out over the mile. It is hard to knock the form of both runners, but we have sided with the Tom Dabernig-trained Flying Mascot. The Tavistock mare smashed her rivals in the Matron Stakes on March 12 when gaining a perfect run in transit and exploding away late on. In the small field of seven, look for Blaike McDougall to track the speed throughout from barrier three and when asked for an effort, Flying Mascot should be putting a gap on some of these, with Barb Raider poised to run a good second.

• 3

  FLYING MASCOT

  Odds at Unibet

• 7

  BARB RAIDER

  Odds at Ladbrokes

• 1

  SHOUT THE BAR

  Odds at Bet365

• 6

  GROOVY KINDA LOVE

  Odds at Palmerbet

Race 5: BM90 Handicap (955m)

The final of the 955m scamper of the Moonee Valley night racing season opens the quaddie and it is hard to tip against Yulong Command. Thomas Stockdale hops on board and with his 2kg claim, Yulong Command goes around with 59kg on his back and from barrier one is drawn to take some catching. He has won three and finished second in four starts at the track and trip, including a dominant all the way win at the track and trip last time out, also from barrier one. If he gains the lead on Friday night early on, then Yulong Command should prove too fast for this lot.

• 1

  YULONG COMMAND

  Odds at Unibet

• 2

  BLESS HER

  Odds at Ladbrokes

• 3

  ESTA LA ROCCA

  Odds at Bet365

• 7

  YOUNG LIAM

  Odds at Palmerbet

Race 6: BM64 Handicap (2040m)

Having chased home Designs at Cranbourne on March 11, we’re giving the Leon & Troy Corstens-trained Look Sharpish a chance to go one better in this BM64 over 2040m. The five-year-old grey mare is a genuine stayer and looks to be suited by Moonee Valley, considering she is armed with a short sharp sprint. From barrier eight, look for Robbie Downey to have the Pins mare settle in the one-one where she can stalk the speed throughout the event. If the race isn’t a muddling affair which some of these 2040m events at The Valley can become, Look Sharpish is more than good enough to take out a race like this.

• 8

  LOOK SHARPISH

  Odds at Unibet

• 1

  INVERELL

  Odds at Ladbrokes

• 2

  AUSTRATA

  Odds at Bet365

• 5

  CUFFE’S GRANGE

  Odds at Palmerbet

Race 7: William Reid Stakes (1200m)

The Group 1 William Reid Stakes is the final Group 1 in Victoria for the current racing season, with the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Marabi an odds-on favourite to claim consecutive Group 1 wins, following her win in the Oakleigh Plate.

See our free runner-by-runner preview of the 2022 William Reid Stakes

Race 8: Alexandra Stakes (1600m)

We end a Group 1 night at The Valley with the Group 3 Alexandra Stakes for the three-year-old fillies and it looks to be one of the toughest races on the card. We have sided with last start Australian Guineas placegetter Bon’s A Pearla who surprised many when finishing third to Hitotsu by just over a length as a $61 chance. The Bon Hoffa filly has always showed plenty of potential, and despite finding a genuine Group 1 star the touch better over the concluding stages of the mile, there is hardly any runners with that type of calibre in this. She will get back towards the rear of the field from barrier 10, but with Brett Prebble sticking on board, we expect to see her moving 500m out from the line. With a sustained sprint, Bon’s A Pearla should prove too hard to hold out.

• 1

  BON’S A PEARLA

  Odds at Unibet

• 3

  ANCIENT GIRL

  Odds at Ladbrokes

• 8

  SO YOU SEE

  Odds at Bet365

• 6

  FORTUNATE KISS

  Odds at Palmerbet