Pakenham best bets & quaddie tips | Thursday, May 18
| What | Pakenham Races |
| Where | Pakenham Racing Club – 420 Nar Nar Goon–Longwarry Rd, Tynong VIC 3813 |
| When | Thursday, May 18, 2023 |
| First Race | 5:15pm AEST |
For the second-last time in the 2022/23 racing season, Pakenham is set to hold an eight-race program on a Thursday evening. We kick off the week with the track coming up a Soft 5 at the time of acceptances, and that should stay put with minimal rain forecast in the lead-up to the meeting. The rail returns to the true position, with racing to get underway at 5:15pm AEST.
Best Bet at Pakenham: Twin Perfection
Our best of the night comes up in the opening leg of the quaddie, where the Phillip Stokes-trained Twin Perfections steps out over 1200m. The four-year-old gelded son of Nicconi has finished second at both starts this campaign and was the definition of a good thing beat at Cranbourne on May 5. He was held up for a run on the back of a tiring leader on that night and drove hard once clear, but simply ran out of time to get the job done. He was beaten by just under a length at this track and trip two runs back by Plus Fours when doing too much wrong first-up. Twin Perfection’s lone career win from six starts came when third-up, and that may well be the recipe for success once again.
Best Bet
Race 5 – 
#6 Twin Perfection (9)
4yo Gelding | T: Phillip Stokes | J: Gary Lo (a1.5) (58.5kg)
Next Best at Pakenham: Capulet
It was hard to ignore the finish of Capulet down at Warrnambool last week, and getting back on to a slightly firmer surface should see this progressive girl break her maiden at start four. The Extreme Choice filly hit the line with great intent in that $125,000 race, and an extra stride or two might have seen her get the better of Rose Of Shalaa. This is a nice step back in grade considering she chased home the likes of Charm Stone and Sunsource last prep. From barrier five in the small field of six, Craig Williams will have no issue in keeping this girl in clear air, and when asked for an effort, Capulet should produce too strong a finish for her rivals to match.
Next Best
Race 1 – 
#1 Capulet (2)
2yo Filly | T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy | J: Craig Williams (57kg)
Best Value at Pakenham: Cool Heart
We will be looking to build our bank nice and early on Thursday night when Logan McGill’s Cool Heart looks to break her maiden at start five. We liked what we saw from the three-year-old filly at Kyneton on May 5 when box-seating and doing her best to reel in the leader. She will need to show some early speed for this assignment having drawn barrier 10 of 10, but if Robbie Downey can lob her into the one-one, the race could be over within the first 200m or so. If she replicates what she showed at Kyneton, then Cool Heart should prove too hard to get the better of.
Best Value
Race 2 – 
#6 Cool Heart (10)
3yo Filly | T: Logan McGill | J: Robbie Downey (56kg)
Thursday quaddie tips for Pakenham
Pakenham quadrella selections
Thursday, May 18, 2023
- 4-6-7
- 3-4-5-6-9
- Field
- 1-7-8
Investment: $495 for 100%