Early betting markets suggest the Bjorn Baker stable will dominate at Bathurst on Friday but we have found a couple of good bets that can thwart the Baker challenge.
Baker has dominated Bathurst racing in recent years training 14 winners for the 2016-17 racing season at the Central West track, more winners combined than the next five trainers on the premiership table and has led in four winners for the current racing season at a 57 percent winning strike rate.
Sticking with Baker with one of our best bets but happy to bet against him on the other two.
CAPPELLA MAGIC (Race 5 No 6) .
Going with Baker and having something on Cappella Magic in the Town And Country Rural Supplies Class 3 Handicap (1300m).
Placed two from four in her first preparation, Cappella Magic won successive races at the start of the current preparation winning her maiden at Bathurst in the Steward’s room before gaining a win in her own right when an easy class one winner at Nowra carrying 57kg and 56.5kg respectively but was found out last start at Orange when a beaten favourite shouldering 59kg.
The 3.5kg weight drop gives Cappella Magic the chance to return to the winner’s list.
JOEY’S DESTINY (Race 7 No 1)
Joey’s Destiny was an acceptor at Scone of Friday with connections ultimately settling on what looks an easier assignment in the Bathurst RSL Club Benchmark 65 Handicap (1100m), with the decision to take advantage of the 2kg claim for jockey Chris Williams looking a winning move.
A winner of three of his 12 starts to date, Joey’s Destiny was narrowly beaten at Orange on October 16 carrying 60 kg on the back of a 64-day break between races and is set to go one better with the run under his belt and 1kg less in what looks a slightly easier assignment.
IDENTIC (Race 8 No 1)
The Garry Frazer-trained Identic looks well placed in the Green Dry Clean Class 1 Handicap (1100m) after having no luck at Kembla resuming last start when backed from $2.70 into $2.30.
The backing first-up was on the back of impressive trial wins at Hawkesbury and Warwick Farm but the luck didn’t go Identic’s way with the mare doing plenty of work early before finishing third beaten less than a length.
Back to a country class one from an ideal gate four, Identic will take plenty of beating fitter second-up.
