The major focus on any Saturday is metropolitan racing but there are plenty of us out there that don't mind a dabble at the support meetings across the country so here are our best bets.
On Saturday, we’ve come up with a tip at the Kembla, Pakenham, Gold Coast, Albury, Forbes, Manangatang and Warwick meetings.
KEMBLA
WARRANTY (Race 7 No. 11) This three-year-old filly by All Too Hard looks a genuine improver on Saturday and that would have her right in the mix in the Kembla closer. On debut here a fortnight ago, Warranty did plenty wrong – slow away, over raced, got onto heels and knuckled in the mid stages, racing three deep without cover. When you consider all that she did a pretty good job to finish fourth only beaten 1-1/2 lengths. Tipping she learnt plenty from the experience and while she doesn’t need to improve much, tipping she could find plenty and will be hard to toss.
PAKENHAM
AMTHAAL (Race 7 No. 14) Hopefully we’ve all got full pockets at this stage of the day as I think we can get a nice top up with Amthaal. He’s still a maiden but he put the writing on the wall last start at Wangaratta in a similar race where he charged through the line and would have won in another stride. He should be able hold his spot somewhere around midfield from the good gate, he gets in light down on 52.5kg with the claim and he’s got so much more upside than most of these that look to be stuck in this grade. Suited onto the bigger track, if he can get moving from the top of the straight he should run over the top of them.
GOLD COAST
JINX ‘N’ DRINX (Race 6 No. 9) This consistent performer has solid each-way prospects on Saturday. Comes into this off a respectable third last start when not having much luck in the run, posted three wide without cover then the jockey took off before the home turn. This time she’s drawn barrier two so she should be able to secure a soft run behind the speed and the 1300m trip looks ideal. She’s yet to miss a place in five Gold Coast runs and this looks a great opportunity for her to chalk up win number two.
ALBURY
QUATRE BELLE (Race 5 No. 9) This mare doesn’t win out of turn but she could be a bit of value on Saturday. Comes back to class three grade after getting too far back last time out in an open handicap. That day she made ground all the way to the line when only beaten 3-1/4 lengths. We’re hoping she can settle a bit closer in this from the gun inside draw and she’s not without a sneaky chance and likely to be good odds. Her two wins have come at the mile and she does her best racing at Albury. On a tough day, something small each-way here isn’t a bad way to play.
FORBES
GHOST RIDER (Race 2 No. 5) Been performing well in recent runs on the country circuit and finds a moderate race on Saturday. Two runs back he was a solid second over this trip in benchmark 60 grade at Canberra before his latest effort when getting too far out of his ground at Wagga, but again he hit the line, beaten 1-3/4 lengths. We hope they put him into the race this time because the opposition is not as strong as he’s faced off against in his past couple and he will be hard to hold out.
MANANGATANG
HOUSE OF STARS (Race 6 No. 2) It’s Cup day at Manangatang so we’ll try and find the winner of the feature race. House Of Stars was coming off a five week break last week when taking on a much stronger Murtoa Cup and she wasn’t disgraced only beaten just under four lengths behind Survived. She’s got experience on the track having only been beaten just over a length in this race last year and she gets in extremely well with Jessica Eaton’s 2kg claim. If she can hold her spot no worse than midfield from the good gate she should take some beating.
WARWICK
CAPTAIN TREASURE (Race 5 No. 1) Finds himself dropping in grade after a handful of competitive performances in Saturday company at the Gold Coast. He won’t find an easier benchmark 60 in the district and a repeat of his recent Gold Coast or Ipswich efforts will see him hard to beat. Drawn to get a sweet run and the 2000m trip won’t be a problem. This is his chance.
