Australian Analyst – Harness Racing Best Bets 2nd-3rd October
Harness racing best bets and tips for Friday and Saturday.
Leap To Fame, Captains Mistress and the WA Oaks highlight the weekend’s harness racing action. Read on for our harness racing best bets for Friday and Saturday.
Starting on Friday night, the best three-year-old fillies in Western Australia contest the Group 1 WA Oaks at Gloucester Park. Skinny Dippin and Miss Leopatra are the headline acts in the event.
Saturday’s Menangle card will see Inter Dominion champion Captains Mistress return. She clashes with New Zealand Trotting Cup winner Kingman, stablemate Hi Manameisjeff and the old marvel Max Delight.
At Albion Park, Leap To Fame is expected to dominate rivals as Trista Dixon picks up the drive for the first time at the races, while Geelong hosts its Geelong Pacing Cup meeting where Minos and Swayzee line up.
Globe Derby hosts the Australian Drivers Championship with a big 10-race meeting.
Gloucester Park (Friday, October 2)
Race 3
FRANCO ENCORE NZ (5) should be handlebars down early, trying to get across and lead because Chase Me will be trying for that position too. Franco Encore was placed two runs back behind Magnificent Storm and he has done the bulk of his recent racing against stronger opposition. The last time he was able to lead, he belted a strong field by 15m, which included Hotly Pursued and Tualou.
HUGOTASTIC NZ (7) looks the main danger and he has the best closing speed in the race. Whether he goes back and comes with one run or heads for the breeze early, he can run well. SOHO MOONRAKER (12) has each-way claims at double figures.
Selections: 5-7-12-8
FRANCO ENCORE NZ (5) to win
Race 5
MISS LEOPATRA NZ (10) has been the standout filly this season, winning six times from nine starts, including the Diamond Classic and Daintys Daughter Classic. The inside of the back row is not ideal for her as she likes to lead or breeze and likely won’t be afforded that in this race. Gary Hall Jnr picks up the drive though which looks a positive as he has so much big-race experience. Junior should look to get off the fence at the right time and she should be running home strongly.
SKINNY DIPPIN NZ (6) has the barrier advantage and Deni Roberts will be trying to find the front. She is versatile though and has won over the distance. I just can’t take $1.75 as WA Oaks can be notorious for producing blowout results. MANUKA BAY NZ (11), IMA BOOTY SHAKER NZ (5) and CINCH NZ (4) are all stablemates to Skinny Dippin. I believe all four can win the race if it pans out.
Selections: 10-6-11-4
MISS LEOPATRA NZ (10) to win
Menangle (Saturday, October 3)
Race 6
CAPTAINS MISTRESS NZ (1) returns for the first time since her triumph in the Inter Dominion Championship against Leap To Fame. She has won 12 from 13 this year and will be expected to just win the Listed A D Turnbull FFA for fun at short odds. She has trialled twice and should be ready to go.
KINGMAN NZ (4) is trying to recapture his best form which includes a Victoria Cup and NZ Cup. He finished eighth first-up from a spell, as he wanted to hang and even broke during the run. His last half and quarter sectionals were good though. HI MANAMEISJEFF NZ (7) should carve across, likely looking for the back of Captains Mistress – whether that is by leading and handing up, or just slotting in behind if a gap opens up. MAX DELIGHT (11) won last start but place chances look best here. LUX AETERNA (2) and SPRINGFIELD AFFAIR (3) look next best.
Selections: 1-4-11-7
MAX DELIGHT (11) to place
Trifecta: 1 / 4,7,11 / 2,4,7,11
Albion Park (Saturday, October 3)
Race 1
SMARTER THAN YOU (1) has options from the draw, either try and lead or sit behind Bainbridge who makes his Queensland debut. Winning back-to-back races in August, Smarter Than You has been racing well since with a placing and a pair of fourths in Junior FFA events. At his latest, he had no clear running, finishing just behind Catseye Beach and Air Express. He looks the hardest to beat from the inside draw.
BAINBRIDGE (2) has the best gate speed on the front line and Trent Dawson should have a look for the front early. His previous Menangle form reads quite well, which suggests he is one of the main threats in this race. DOUGS FLAME (8) has the pegs and can run into the money from behind the leader or three back on the fence.
Selections: 1-2-8-7
SMARTER THAN YOU (1) to win
Race 4
LEAP TO FAME (7) just wins. Trista Dixon gets to drive the champion as Grant switches to Tims A Trooper to allow his wife the chance to steer the greatest pacer of the modern era. Larry will just find the front and win as he likes.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY (4), TIMS A TROOPER (5) and DASHING (6) should fight it out for the minor placings in this race.
Selections: 7-5-6-4
Trifecta: 7 / 5,6 / 4,5,6
Race 7
KEAYANG STUKA (5) leaves the Lee stable in Victoria and joins Shane Graham in Queensland. The six-year-old gelding contested the Inter Dominion trotting series during the winter, finishing third and fourth in the heats, followed by a seventh in the final. Four starts back he defeated Rockinwithattitude at Melton. He didn’t trial as good as Golden Sunset recently but should have more fitness since that trial and his class should see him go close.
GOLDEN SUNSET (1) beat home Keayang Stuka in a trial and then won at the races off a 30m handicap. He looks hard to beat, but the odds-on quote looks a touch skinny. PINNIE (2) was no match for Golden Sunset and will need to improve in order to beat the leading two contenders.
Selections: 5-1-2-4
KEAYANG STUKA (5) to win
Geelong (Saturday, October 3)
Race 6
MINOS NZ (5) is favourite for the Geelong Pacing Cup and Lochie Cook has been booked to drive Jason Grimson’s gelding. He is my top pick in the race but $1.65 is not a price that interests me as there is some talent in the race. Minos looks the most likely leader and that’s where you want him if taking the price. He has been trialling well.
NEW SHUFFLE (1) is a four-year-old on the rise, finishing a close-up fifth in the Vicbred Super Series Final won by Fox Dan. He has form around War Dan Buddy and Fairplay, while barrier one allows the gelding to settle leader’s back or three back on the fence. It is his first attempt at the staying trip, which is some concern, but the each-way price appeals here. SWAYZEE (9) is a champion stayer – just a fitness concern at his return, but his best is clearly better than the rest of the field. BULLETPROOF BOY (2) and UBETCHA TIGERPIE (10) have knockout claims.
Selections: 5-1-9-10
NEW SHUFFLE (1) each way
Race 7
ROCKINWITHATTITUDE (7) comes off a 30m handicap in the McNamara Memorial Trotting Cup and despite the mark, she looks to have the race at her mercy. As long as she trots, she should win at short odds. Her only attempt at a stand saw her unplaced in 2022. She won well at Melton first-up from a spell.
IMPERIAL MONARCH NZ (6) looks the main danger and he will be hoping the mare underperforms. He has been placed at his last five starts without winning. MEADOW VALLEY STAR (5) switches trainer and finished 14m behind Imperial Monarch in a recent two-horse trial.
Selections: 7-6-5-4
Exacta: 7 / 6
Trifecta: 7 / 6 / 4,5
Globe Derby (Saturday, October 3)
Race 7
PESCI (5) will be driven by Wayne Hill and the local driver will be trying to get maximum points in the fast class race of the night with this Victorian pacer. He won three runs back at Melton in solid time. He normally sits back and comes with one run, so it will be interesting to see if Hill opts for that strategy here.
ZENARIO (3) is a stablemate to Pesci and has solid claims with Dylan Ford driving. Mark Pitt will partner SO SIRIUS NZ (8) who looks right in the race, as does ARTILLERY (7) with Dani Hill driving.
Selections: 5-3-8-7
PESCI (5) to win
For complete harness racing fields, click here.
by Trent Orwin for Harnesslink
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