Check out the best bonus betting offers that are available and stretch your punting dollar further.
- 20 % better odds
- back and lay a horse
- bet during the run
- pre post betting on all the Spring features. 




MOONEE VALLEY : MOONEE VALLEY - 21ST August 2010
Track: SLOW(7) - Weather: MORE AND MORE SHOWERS - Rail: OUT 4M

Betting Portfolio ($50):
This is a no name meeting. Unfortunately they have moved the McEwen Stakes to later in the season, which leaves this as the only weekend in 3 months without an interesting feature race. On the plus side, we get to do the form for the time honoured, steeped in history Australasian Flooring Plate, always a keenly contested and prestigious affair. Who will step up and take the grand title of Australasian Flooring Champion ?

Damm wet in Melbourne this week, so no chance this track is going to improve. You would think the StrathAyr will handle it better than most, but looks a genuine SLOW and with heavy showers in Melbourne Thursday night, probably pushing towards HEAVY track. Last meeting here the rail was OUT 3M and the best going was closest to the rails, so interesting that they have only moved it out 1M. Maybe favour on pacers again on a genuinely wet track.

RESULTS : There was a very strong on pace bias, which we warned was possible. This meant you had to throw everything out and do the form from scratch. Plenty of good money to be made if you were quick to adapt to the track pattern. Fortuantely we were prepared - so the Betting Portfolio had a grand day out, resulting in a profit landside. The Best Bet and Best Each Way both saluted, and the Best Roughie was just nosed out 40-1.

Not that much to bet on, and looks a few clear cut chances in most races, so dabble with some win bets and quinellas.

BEST BET : Race 6: 2-STANZOUT $20 WIN 1st W=$4.70 x $20 = $94
QUINELLA : Race 6: 2-STANZOUT, 6-MORGAN DOLLAR x $5 1st 2-STANZOUT W=$4.70, 2nd 6-MORGAN DOLLAR W=$4.10 Quinella = $8.90 x 5 = $44.50
QUINELLA : Race 6: 2-STANZOUT, 4-SECRET FLYER x $5
Really like the way this one is going at the moment. Very competitive against the form horse of the spring so far last start. Main query is the drop back to 1000M, will need them to be running on OK and some pressure up front, but quite keen to have a solid bet and the $4 or so on offer looks good. Put a saver quinella on with the other two chances just in case.
RESULTS : Was very keen on this one, thought the odds were way over for a horse that had by far the best form in the race. Got a perfect sit and never looked in doubt. Solid bet on what looked a serious stand out bet.

BEST EACH WAY: Race 7: 5-TWO HILLS 1st W=$4.20
QUINELLA : Race 6: 5-TWO HILLS # 4,6,8,11 x $2.50 = $10 1st 5-TWO HILLS W=$4.20, 3rd 4-TONIC W=$7.20
Consistent on pacer who went well last start, handles it wet and not likely to be much pressure up front here. Looks a very solid each way bet, but let’s search for some more value by anchoring her in some quinellas.
RESULTS : Another all the way winner, but again, race fit and in form and was always going to be hard to beat even without the track bias. Unfortuantely, we have tried to be too clever and gone the quinella so no collect.

BEST ROUGH : Race 2: 11-CHAMPAGNE LOVE $2.50 EW 2nd W=$40.60, P=$7.30 = 7.3 x 2.5 = $18.25
This is just a bit of a play bet on spec. Good chance this track is going to be leaderish, this one looks the leader, they have put the lead and win specialist jockey on board. Has a good place strike rate so might just bowl along in front on stick on OK 1st time over the 2000M.
RESULTS : Go very close to pulling over a major coup here. Starts 2nd outsider in this field, but does exactly what we predicted - soft lead, kicks on and only just headed in the last 20M to go down by a head.

LAY OF THE DAY : Race 1 : 1-TINAMOU at around W=$4.00 2nd W=$3.60
Super consistent one who has now placed last 7 starts, but has also been up a while now. This is a very even field, everything has form and some chance. At only start over the trip here 2 starts back was very lucky to hold onto the race on protest. Just feel with top weight, against a field with some form will struggle to win.
RESULTS : Starts favourite, gets a dream run off the speed, runs to the lead and kicks clear - and gets napped on the line. Looked like we were in trouble there. But - the reason why we wanted to risk it is that he did exactly the same thing last start this track and distance. On that day, dream run, clicked clear, and just held on from closer - and was lucky to survive protest. That's two times now with dream runs has stopped badly. Suspect only just runs out this 2500M trip.


TURF DELI WONDER BET : Here we try and turn $5 into a whole lot more with a silly multiple bet.
FLEXI QUADRELLA : 1,3,5,7,10/ 2 / 4.5 / 2,9,11,12 x $5 = 12.50% X / 1st 2-STANZOUT W=$4.70 / 1st 5-TWO HILLS W=$4.20 / 1st 9-GHOSTMILK W=$3.90
Pretty keen on the 2-STANZOUT in the main race, so happy to anchor him in a quaddie. Have to go wide as you can in the 1st leg – watch the market to see which one they back. Happy to narrow it down just to the (4) and (5) in the 3rd leg, and again, want to go as wide as possible in the last leg. In the last leg 9-GHOSTMILK is going to start very short, she has been flying over winter, but had a break, against the males, up against some solid winter wet trackers, there is no speed in this race and she had drawn barrier 1 which could see her trapped back in the field whilst others make their runs. Should be good value there if she gets beaten. Add in the (14) and the (16) in that leg if they end up getting a run.
RESULTS : Well got that right in theory. Identified a solid anchor, confident about the 2nd and 3rd legs, was just a matter of going wider in the 1st leg. Favourite wins the last leg anyway, but serious blow outs for any other result.


SPENT : $50
RETURN : $156.75
NET : $+106.75


The Tips:

Race 1: 3-MILES ABOVE, 6-RIVETED, 8-SEA HUNTER
Race 2: 11-CHAMPAGNE LOVE, 2-DAZZLING RUBI, 9-METUNG BELLE
Race 3: 9-OVERTAKE, 12-DEVILS FORCE, 6-ENCOSTA BELIEF
Race 4: 1-CURTANA, 5-PARISIAN SUNRISE, 8-DIZLAGO
Race 5: 3-IN FAITH, 7-ACHIEVEMENTS, 10-SEVENTH BULLET
Race 6: 2-STANZOUT, 6-MORGAN DOLLAR, 4-SECRET FLYER
Race 7: 5-TWO HILLS, 4-TONIC, 11-BELLE’S READY
Race 8: 11-RICEMAN, 9-GHOSTMILK, 12-JENNINGS



RACE 1: RESULTS
Tips:
3-MILES ABOVE
6-RIVETED
8-SEA HUNTER

RACE 2: RESULTS
Tips:
11-CHAMPAGNE LOVE 2nd W=$40.60 *** BEST ROUGHIE ***
2-DAZZLING RUBI
9-METUNG BELLE

RACE 3: RESULTS
Tips:
9-OVERTAKE
12-DEVILS FORCE 1st W=$3.70
6-ENCOSTA BELIEF

RACE 4: RESULTS
Tips:
1-CURTANA
5-PARISIAN SUNRISE 3rd W=$9.90
8-DIZLAGO SCR

RACE 5: RESULTS
Tips:
3-IN FAITH
7-ACHIEVEMENTS
10-SEVENTH BULLET

RACE 6: RESULTS
Tips:
2-STANZOUT 1st W=$4.70 *** BEST BET ***
6-MORGAN DOLLAR 2nd W=$4.10
4-SECRET FLYER

Quinella: $8.90

RACE 7: RESULTS
Tips:
5-TWO HILLS 1st W=$4.20 *** BEST EACH WAY ***
4-TONIC 3rd W=$7.20
11-BELLE’S READY

RACE 8: RESULTS
Tips:
11-RICEMAN
9-GHOSTMILK 1st W=$3.90
12-JENNINGS


RACE 6: THE PRESTIGIOUS AUSTRALASIAN FLOORING PLATE 1000M
Tips:
2-STANZOUT 1st W=$4.70
6-MORGAN DOLLAR 2nd W=$4.10
4-SECRET FLYER

Quinella: $8.90

Others: 7

Pace: LEADER
Leaders : 6-MORGAN DOLLAR, 7-GALBRAITH
Handy :
Back : 1-ROYAL DISCRETION, 2-STANZOUT, 3-GOLD SALUTE , 4-SECRET FLYER, 5-KEANO, 8-TESTAPAL, 9-AVIENUS

Chances:
2-STANZOUT is one we can never catch, and he has stung us a few times, but seems to be in close to best form of his career at the moment. Excellent run last start in the Bletchingly against the in form SHOOT OUT - he went forward early expecting no speed, dropped back again, loomed on the turn like the winner and let down like he was going to run away with it, but found one better. Was flying home at the end of the Monash Stakes as well. Won the Wangoom on a heavy track, but has had two “rider could offer no explanations for poor performance” runs on slow tracks. Probably still just a little uncertain about wet tracks. 1000M around MV might even be a little short for him too, he does like to drop back and flash home. Despite all that think he is in the best form in this field, really like the way he is going, and has race fitness over most of these. Probably depends how the track is racing, if they are running on OK think he is the one to beat in this. Strong chance. 1st W=$4.70
4-SECRET FLYER won this race last year, beating the (6) and looked a serious sprinter on the rise. Stepped up to the feature Group sprints and seemed like he didn’t quite make the grade. He actually made up nice ground 1st up in the Bletchingly, and on pacers were favoured that day. Placed 6 from 7 over 1000M (which is impressive as he is a drop back horse) and 6 from 7 at MV. Looks like he handles wet tracks – but just be a little wary, they were in weak country affairs. Again it is going to come down to racing pattern, if they are running on OK he is a chance, but also likely something in a small field will scoot to the lead and pinch this. Chance.
6-MORGAN DOLLAR is an under rated sprinter who best form is by far when fresh and over the 1000M. 2nd in this race last year when swooped and looked the winner but got collared by a freak performance by the (4). Last run was good, looked the winner most of the straight, but one came through on the rails to grab him. Has been kept fresh and is best fresh, and just allowed to jump and run and go for it. Small field and suspect a leader can pinch this race – if he jumps and runs to the lead he is going to be very hard to beat. The wet is the query, only seen it once, run 2nd, but was a fair margin. If the leaders are winning would back this guy with some confidence. Strong chance. 2nd W=$4.10

Place:
3-GOLD SALUTE has been hopelessly unlucky not to pick up a Group 1, poor fella. Not much luck in the Toorak and remember he was favourite when not given a clear jump away and declared a non runner in last year’s Rupert Clarke Stakes. Had all autumn off and probably got his eyes on some feature Group 1 miles this spring. 2 from 2 on slow track so goes through them OK, and won 3 from 6 1st up. Just about all of his fresh runs have been over further though, and you just suspect he might get going a little too late here. Prefer place.
7-GALBRAITH does look the likely leader here an in a small field need to respect that. Disappointing 1st up, but did pull up sore. 5 times winner over the 1000M. Winner on a slow track here, but disappointing other two wet track runs, so probably still a little query, especially if it is worse than slow. If he jumps to an uncontested lead he is probably going to be hard to beat, but suspect the (6) is going to press up and make him work for it. Bit of an unknown, probably just a rough chance. SCR

Sacking:
1-ROYAL DISCRETION didn’t do much 1st up at WFA and has not won now since Caulfield spring carnival win in Oct 2008. Seems to go OK in the wet, but best form is over the 1400M and badly out of form at the moment. No
5-KEANO is one we vigorously avoid and have had some nice collects backing against him as we think he is extremely over rated. Had the 3 runs in, almost bobbed and won the Monash Stakes, but disappointing again last start. Always seems to start way too short. Form highlight include – unplaced when $3.80 fav Flem 26/06/2010, unplaced when $5 fav Flem 05/11/2009, 3rd when super short $2.15 fav Caulf 27/09/2009 (thanks – got on the 20-1 winner that day), unplaced when $2.60 fav MV Alistair Clark Stakes 2009, unplaced when $3 fav Flem 31/01/2009 and unplaced when $2.50 fav Caulf 06/12/2008. Phew ! Take a deep breath if you have been following him – cause doubt you can afford actually food, so that is about all the sustenance you are going to get. Does seem much better off as a sprinter, and best form is over 1000M. Bit of a query on a wet track too, Happy to pass. 3rd W=$6.80
8-TESTAPAL is a lightly raced one going through his grades. Definitely handles it wet. Had a freshen probably to aim for better spring races. Does drop back a little though, and just wonder over 1000M around MV if he is going to be giving these too big a start. Will probably get support as lightly raced with ability, but prefer to let him run today. 4th W=$11.80
9-AVIENUS is a handy 1600M-2000M mare who drops back, needs a solid pace and a big track. Last three fresh runs have all been OK, and was unlucky over 1100M 1st up at Caulfield back in Feb. But 1000M at MV just too much of an ask. No

Summary: Actually don’t mind having a bet here, small field, but the odds are the moment look generous because of the even field. Key here is going to be how the track is racing, 1000M, MV, wet track, small field, not much pressure up front - if the leaders are proving hard to run down this race is here to be pinched by a jump and run leader.

Only leaders are 6-MORGAN DOLLAR, 7-GALBRAITH, and the rest like to set back off them, so if one of these kicks clear early they are going to be extremely hard to run down. Despite that we are going to go with 2-STANZOUT, really liked the last 2 runs, they just need to make sure he isn’t too far behind them and ride him a bit more forward than usual. Think his form is far superior at the moment to the rest of this field and confident he can win this on a track that is racing evenly. Think 6-MORGAN DOLLAR is the main danger, best form fresh, and scooted to the lead will be hard to run down. 4-SECRET FLYER will be running on strongly if the pattern allows. But keen to bet, and oh look it’s the two grey ones how nice ! Have a solid win bet on 2-STANZOUT and a saver on 6-MORGAN DOLLAR

One to risk: 5-KEANO 3rd W=$6.80
Roughie: 7-GALBRAITH SCR

The Key: Watch how the track is racing – leader can easily pinch this race.


RESULTS : Track was strongly favouring on pacers but 6-MORGAN DOLLAR did have every chance. 2-STANZOUT is ridden more forward, and never looks like losing, and the two grey horse quinella is a totally gimme.