Victory Stakes tips, odds & best bets – Saturday, 23 May 2020
Stradbroke Handicap hopefuls will have their final tune-up in the Group 2 TAB Victory Stakes (1200m) before the aforementioned Group 1 on June 6. Most of these are coming out of the Group 3 BRC Sprint a fortnight ago, which gives punters a great form reference. Enigmatic Godolphin runner Kementari shares the top line of betting with the locally trained Vega One. It’ll be a genuinely run race with speed from Deep Image and Free Of Debt.
Free betting tips for 2020 TAB Victory Stakes
Tambo’s Mate @ $14 Sportsbet
Tambo’s Mate goes on top here for us in a bid to make it back-to-back Group wins. Last-start winner of the BRC Sprint in tough fashion, he was headed at the top of the straight and again at the 100m by runner-up Deep Image. The Stu Kendrick-trained galloper raced keenly in the early stages of the race and still proved too strong for his opposition. From gate six, Matthew McGillivray will land in the box seat and can add to his fantastic record at Eagle Farm (3:2-0-1) with his six win at 1200m. The rise in weight does add some concern, but the gritty last-start victory was too good to look past.
Deep Image @ $9.50 Sportsbet
You have to give plenty of respect to Deep Image considering he was beaten only half a head by our top selection last time. He meets Tambo’s Mate 3.5kg better at the weights and gets back to his home track, where he has won four from six starts. While he is probably a better horse over 1400m, Rob Heathcote can have him winning third up in this. The in-form Steph Thornton takes the ride again and will look to lead on the gelding from barrier 12. If he can control the race from in front, he is a great winning chance.
Chapter And Verse @ $34
Desleigh Forster’s 5yo gelding Chapter And Verse sneaks his way into our numbers here as a genuine rough chance. Having only missed the placings once first up from five attempts and bringing unbeaten track and distance form into this, we think he can run a bold race. Mark Du Plessis does jump off, which is a slight concern, but nothing will be lost by the booking of Michael Cahill, who will reunite with the horse for the first time since his maiden win in December 2017. Where he gets to in the run from barrier 14 is of some concern, but at around the $34 mark we are happy to include him.
4-11
4-5-8-11
1-4-5-6-8-11-15
$36 for 100%