Best Bets

Race 4 - #7 AERIAL BLUE (EACH WAY)

Aerial Blue profiles very well for this R65 1600m contest. She’s third up this campaign, now dropping in grade with the blinkers being applied for this run. I believe this mare has come back better than her formline reflects, where she has had excuses in both runs. The trial prior to these resuming runs behind Rockland was excellent when closing hard on the bridle. I do have a query about how Aerial Blue handles the synthetic, with her exposed races and trials to date on the synthetic only seeming moderate to the eye. She may need luck from the barrier, however, in form jockey Tegan Newman takes the steer, which should assist in mitigating the draw.

Race 8 - #2 ROCKLAND (WIN)

He’s a lightly tried 6yo Snitzel gelding who boasts an impressive strike-rate of 6 wins from 19 starts. Rockland is yet to have a race-day start on the synthetic, however has trialed very well on the surface previously. He has a strong turn of foot when ridden with a sit, which may work in his favour here as the speed looks very strong on paper. The country’s leading rider, Michael McNab, taking the ride will only work in his favour. I had him marked closer to $3.00 in this field, the $4.00 on opening looks a great price for this talented galloper first up.

Race 10 - #1 CHARBANO (WIN)

Talented 3yo who escapes Saturday grade racing for this midweek R65 on the synthetic. The last time Charbano was seen in a midweek race was on debut at this track and trip, where he won with considerable ease. The main obstacle for him looks to be the wide gate (15), however, there looks to be an abundance of speed engaged, which should assist Wiremu Pinn in finding cover back of midfield. The $4.20 on opening looks a very fair price about a classy galloper who will be awfully hard to stop with even luck in running.

Value Bet

Race 2 - #14 DAME COUNTY (EACH WAY)

Her first up run in the south for Andrew Carston was much better than it looked to the eye, where she dawdled out of the gates before grinding to the line down the outer. Although she was beaten 9.8L, Dame County ran the fastest last 800m and 600m of the race, whilst also looking strong through the line over the 1400m. The step up to the mile second up with Wiremu Pinn jumping aboard from the low gate (2) are all big ticks for mine. Happy to play the $11/$3.50 each way, especially given she SP’d at $6.40 first up.