The top bets from Ben Dorries for Grand Finals weekend

Ben Dorries - Thursday September 28

I'm confident of getting a fabulous earn on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday, with a bit of cream on the top coming on Sunday with an emerging sprint star.

Advertisement
It's footy finals weekend but our man Ben Dorries doesn't want to take his eyes off the ball and has found winners across two days

RANCHO MONTOYA (Saturday - Sunshine Coast Race 1 No 2)

Got out to the mile last time, which is what he had been craving, and went bang with a good win against the older horses. Back to his own age group here and gets four kilograms off his main rival Mishani Bullitt. All of his runs so far have been on tight tracks at Ipswich and Doomben and I reckon he will grow an extra leg around the expansive Sunshine Coast track. With only six rivals, I can see him getting plenty of room and simply blowing them away in the straight. I reckon he will start shorter than his current quote and he's my banker bet of the day at the Sunny Coast. If he's good enough for a looming trip to Melbourne, he's good enough to be winning this.

BET: WIN
ODDS $2.80 @ Sportsbet (Powerplay)

SNITZEL'S JOY (Saturday – Sunshine Coast Race 3 No 11)

Arguably should have gone close to beating Girl In A Million (who is the favourite here) last time, after being checked badly in the straight as was just gathering momentum. The speedy Girl In A Million is $4 here, yet we are getting $14 about Snitzel's Joy so I'm more than happy to be on. Tiffani Brooker's claim helps and she is riding in good form, so am hoping for her to get to the one-out one-back position or close enough to it. Girl In A Million is the one they all have to catch but the Sunny Coast track is a different beast entirely to Doomben. Keen to speck this Snitzel mare each-way and play her in quinellas with Girl In a Million and The Ambassadore.

BET: EACH WAY
ODDS $14 @ Sportsbet, Ladbrokes, CrownBet

HELAROCITY (Saturday - Sunshine Coast Race 7 No 1)

Huge win at the Gold Coast last start after being tailed off last and then storming home to win over 900m – you don't see too many do that around the coast track. I'm convinced he is flying and the step up to 1200m around the expansive Sunny Coast track will be ideal for him. Is no slouch, having won seven from 12. Has won before second-up. The three-kilo claiming apprentice helps enormously as this gelding now gets in OK with 58kg and he's been used to carrying some big weights anyhow. Should get a beautiful run from a good gate and be hard to hold out.

BET: EACH WAY
ODDS $6.50 @ Sportsbet, CrownBet, William Hill

JETSONIC (Saturday - Sunshine Coast Race 8 No 12)

Want to preface this by saying I've got huge respect for the resuming Deep Image but reckon he is a type who takes a run or two to get into the swing of things and will also be better over longer. Tony Gollan's sprint gelding Jetsonic hasn't won for a while but showed he was knocking on the door with a fast-finishing third after missing the start behind Impregnable recently. Jetsonic was a horse who was involved in a float accident last year but there will be no accident if he wins here. Has never raced on the Sunshine Coast before but he is a type who takes a while to wind up so you would think he would love this track where every horse gets its chance.

BET: WIN
ODDS $11 @ Bet365

ABILITY (Sunday – Caulfield Race 9 No 2)

What did you say? 60.5kg and starting from the carpark? No worries mate! I reckon Robert Smerdon's sprinter is one of the next big things in Aussie racing so I simply have to be on when I'm getting $6.50! There should be plenty of speed in this from the likes of Faatinah, Gun Case and Malibu Style to allow Ability to settle back and swamp them late. His fresh record is good and he has had some good jumpouts in preparation for this. You can look at all the times and sectionals and facts and figures you want but sometimes a bloody good horse is just a bloody good horse and I reckon Ability is exactly that. Robert Smerdon doesn't seemed convinced that Ability is up to Group I spring standard – but I reckon he's underselling him. Even if Smerdon is right, Ability is well and truly up to blowing them away in this race on Sunday.

BET: WIN
ODDS $6.50 @ Sportsbet (Powerplay), Ladbrokes (odds boost)

Advertisment
More Reading...
Robusto The Ultimate Inglis Digital Success Story
When Churchill (IRE) gelding Robusto was offered on Inglis Digital last September he was a solid Saturday class horse that had claimed a Benchmark 88 event on July 20, fast forward 12 months and he’s a $2.1million earner with the Listed ATC Winter Challenge (1500m) on his resume.
€1.85million Sale-Topping Frankel Filly Now Dual G1 Oaks Winner for Coolmore
Not seen since winning the Group I Epsom Oaks (1m4f) at the start of June, the Aidan O’Brien trained Frankel filly Minnie Hauk started favourite in the Group I Irish Oaks (1m4f) at The Curragh overnight and duly saluted.
Without Peer Impresses On Debut For Pierata
Triple Crown Syndications appear to have a horse with plenty of upside as we approach the new season after their 2yo Pierata gelding Without Peer made a winning debut in the Traffic Warden @ Darley Handicap (1200m) on Saturday at Rosehill.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 19
Here is the full list of 101 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Melbourne Cup Contender for Wootton Bassett
Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB) has been doing a lot of amazing things this year and he might just have a Melbourne Cup contender with the Joseph O’Brien trained Al Riffa putting himself in the picture with a facile five length win in the Group II Curragh Cup (1m6f) overnight.
Five Consecutive Wins For Spirit Of Boom’s Shining Smile
Ending his Autumn campaign with three consecutive Listed victories, two-year-old Spirit Of Boom colt Shining Smile resumed from a spell on Saturday, winning the $150,000 VRC Member Sarah Hart Trophy (1000m).
G3 Success For 2YO Maurice Filly Ethereum Girl
Improving off a close-up second in the Listed Oaklands Plate last start, two-year-old Maurice filly Ethereum Girl was too classy, winning the Group 3 South Australian Sires’ Produce Stakes.
Joshua Brown Wins Listed Opunake Cup
The rookie pair of Joshua Brown and his owner-trainer Lance Gussey took out one of New Zealand racing’s biggest winter prizes in Saturday’s $120,000 Listed Sinclair Electrical & Refrigeration Opunake Cup (1400m) at New Plymouth.
Derby Dream Alive for Blueblood Justify Colt
The $150,000 VRC Byerley Handicap (1800m) at Flemington has the added incentive of providing the winner with automatic entry into the Group I VRC Victoria Derby later in the year and this year’s winner Arcora will certainly be heading in that direction.
Yes Yes Yes – Useapin Set for a Good Prep
Yes Yes Yes has been relocated to stand at Gooree Park Stud this spring and the Everest hero was in the frame at Rosehill on Saturday when talented filly Useapin posted her first metropolitan victory.