Best Bet

Race 2 - #5 HOT SALSA (Win)

The $5.00 on opening for Hot Salsa in this small field looked a very appetising price, with the John Bell trained runner already being strongly backed into $4.00 in early betting. Niranjan Parmar claiming 2kg sees Hot Salsa carry only 52kg here, which results in a 5kg weight swing against favourite, Turn The Ace, when they last met. Hot Salsa should land on the heels of the leaders in this small field, where he should have every opportunity to track them down in the straight. The $4.00 currently available is still overs for mine, I had him marked sub $3.00 in this contest.

Next Best Bet

Race 7 - #7 WHO’S SAM (Each Way)

Despite being a 6yo gelding, he looks to still have his quirks and is very lightly tried - having only 10 career starts. Last start he looked to be travelling well within himself in front turning for home, in fact he was so far in front that he looked to get lost and very wayward early in the straight, before coming again over the last 50m. With likely leader, Khan Hunter engaged here, I suspect Who’s Sam could be better suited having a horse out in front of him to chase down in the straight. I had him marked $6.00 in this field, so still some good shopping in the $7.50/$2.70 currently available.

Value Bet

Race 8 - #6 SO GORGEOUS (Each Way)

Willing to take a chance at long odds on So Gorgeous in this even R65 contest. She finished 2^nd in last year’s running of the Listed Tauranga Classic, however, since then her form has simply been underwhelming for the last 12 months, which has seen her slide back into R65 company. Now 3^rd up and stepping up over 1600m in a lower grade on a suitable Heavy surface, So Gorgeous gets every opportunity to recapture her best form from last year. Her best figures from last year would see her winning this, whether she shows that form is another thing, happy to have a small each way play at the $26/$7 regardless.