Trent’s Tips – Saturday Best Bets 24th January

Round four between Kingman and Leap To Fame highlights a massive Saturday harness racing preview for us at Harnesslink.

The Ballarat Pacing Cup will see Grand Circuit stars Leap To Fame and Kingman compete against the defending champion Bulletproof Boy.

Trotting megastar Keayang Zahara contests the Ballarat Trotters Cup, stablemate Jilliby Ballerini lines up in The Delvin Dancer, and Queen Elizabeth II Mile winner Eye Keep Smiling resumes in the Make Mine Cullen.

Looking toward Sydney, Rakero Rocket and Don Hugo meet in a match race at Menangle where they are sure to dash home in lightning-quick sectionals. Other Saturday highlights include Cheerstolou in the FFA at Albion Park, the Junee Pacers Cup and the Village Kid Sprint at Northam.

Here is our Saturday harness racing preview for January 24.

Saturday Best Bets – Harness Racing January 24

Ballarat

Race 4

The Listed Delvin Dancer (2200m) looks a one-act procession for the Marg and Paddy Lee-trained JILLIBY BALLERINI (7) who continues to thrash everyone in her way, winning the Group 3 Bendigo Trotters Cup (2760m) by 9.4m after coming off a 30m handicap. Back to the mobile, she will find the lead and lead them all the way.

Interest turns to the minors and exotics. Looking towards the likes of KYVALLEY MAVEN (4), VYTIS (5), REMUS PHOENIX (6) and ALRIGHTY (8). The draw isn’t the best as he trails a roughie, but ALRIGHTY (8) has been running nice sectionals at his past two starts. With a bit of luck, he can get into the minor placings.

Tips: 7-8-4-5

ALRIGHTY (8) to place

Race 5

KEAYANG ZAHARA (6) should dominate the Group 2 Ballarat Trotters Cup (2200m) as she looks to add to her remarkable record which stands at 21 wins from 22 starts. She captured the Group 1 Maori Mile (1720m) last start beating her key rivals here.

IM BOBBY (8) belted ARCEE PHOENIX (3) in the Group 3 Shepparton Trotters Cup (2690m) and looks the logical horse to run second. ROCKINWITHATTITUDE (4) is running excellent sectionals at the moment and has more gate speed than ARCEE PHOENIX (3). Will play a Trifecta around those horses and throw in IMPERIAL MONARCH NZ (1) for third also.

Tips: 6-8-4-3

Trifecta: 6 / 4,8 / 1,3,4,8

Race 6

Here we go again! The Luke McCarthy-trained KINGMAN NZ (8) has won all three against Grant Dixon’s LEAP TO FAME (7). Victory here for KINGMAN NZ (8) would suggest it is a changing of the guard, but the Queensland champion won’t take it lying down. The speed map is the intrigue with LEAP TO FAME (7) getting the front line while his key rival has the back row. BULLETPROOF BOY (5) could tackle MACH DAN (1) for the early lead, although FORTY LOVE (4) also has some gate speed drawn inside.

Not entirely sure how much work either LEAP TO FAME (7) or KINGMAN NZ (8) will do in the run, so the $1.65 and $2.30 on offer respectively doesn’t appeal. Going with BULLETPROOF BOY (5) on an each-way basis. Best case scenario is James Herbertson can take a trail on one of the two big guns. From there, he is good enough to cause another upset if the race is run to suit, otherwise, he has very strong place claims.

Tips: 7-8-5-1

BULLETPROOF BOY (5) each way

Race 7

The resuming EYE KEEP SMILING (7) looks hard to beat for Luke McCarthy who now prepares former WA mare STENO (8). A winner of 28 from 40 starts, EYE KEEP SMILING (7) had a recent Menangle trial where she finished second to Jay Ok in 1:51.1, 54.4. She sat fourth in the run and cruised home to take plenty of ground off that horse. She is too short to back first-up from a spell, but looks the most likely winner.

SWEETNIKKILOU (3) has been ripping home in 53.8-54.5 seconds at her past four starts and was only 8m from Bulletproof Boy when running fifth. Just 4.2m ahead of her was Kingman. Primed to run a big race and won’t be a shock if she knocked off the favourite. Not a race that I am keen on from a wagering perspective.

Tips: 7-3-8-2

Menangle

Race 5

A match race between RAKERO ROCKET NZ (1) and DON HUGO (2). Don’t expect it to be exciting for the first 1200m as Cam Hart will dictate as he likes on RAKERO ROCKET NZ (1) while DON HUGO (2) sits on his back and tries to run him down in the long Menangle home straight. Expecting this to be run in single file for almost the whole way as any horse trying to race in the moving line faces a forlorn task.

UBETCHA TIGERPIE (3) and NYACK (4) will be the beneficiaries for trying to run third in the race, while veteran MAX DELIGHT (8) has his work cut out from the horror draw.

Tips: 1-2-3-4

Exacta: 1 / 2

Trifecta: 1 / 2 / 3,4

First 4: 1 / 2 / 3,4 / 3,4,8

Albion Park

Race 5

The rise of the Donny Smith-trained six-year-old gelding CHEERSTOLOU (1) continues as he now competes in the FFA ranks in Queensland. He will lead from the inside draw and if he runs up to last week’s 1:50.2, 52.9 effort, he will simply be winning again.

SPEAK THE TRUTH (8) gets the perfect trailing draw to run second. TIMS A TROOPER (4) is in sizzling form and has strong place hopes. ALWAYS SMOKIN NZ (9) can go three back the fence and is the other key place chance in the race.

ALWAYS SMOKIN NZ (9) to place

Trifecta: 1 / 4,8 / 4,8,9

Junee

Race 5

The $18,360 Junee Pacers Cup sees a field of 10 runners plus one emergency line up over 2170m. SHEZ SWEET LOUISE NZ (4) and WITHDISTINCTION (5) can both show good gate speed here from barriers three and four if the emergency doesn’t gain a start. If SHEZ SWEET LOUISE NZ (4) can find the fence for driver Isobel Ross, then the six-year-old mare is going to be hard to beat after her second in the Oberon Cup (2260m) at Bathurst. They ran a strong 1:55.5-mile rate in that race.

CATCHAFIRE NZ (10) has won his past two for trainer-driver Jackson Painting and has very strong claims in the race. He has won eight from 21 and should have a bit of versatility in this grade – Painting will have options. His 1:56.2 over the 2582m at Leeton was phenomenal in the Leeton Pacers Cup.

WITHDISTINCTION (5) comes out of Menangle racing, including a second behind Smirkin Serene which is a really good form line. Strong claims here. Looks a really competitive event with others having winning claims too.

Tips: 10-4-5-8

CATCHAFIRE NZ (10) to win

Northam

Race 3

CHEKKER (4) resumes for trainer Kyle Anderson and will have regular driver Kyle Harper in the sulky. She raced against some talented three-year-olds last prep and this is a drop in grade on all of those runs. Her recent trial was good for a race of this class and she could prove hard to beat.

SLIPALONG SAINT (10) is a newcomer to WA and has the class to be a leading contender despite the poor draw. LUZIA (3), ICANPLAY (1) and REDDY TO FLY (6) are the other key hopes.

Tips: 4-3-10-6

CHEKKER (4) to win

Race 5

The Village Kid Sprint (1780m) looks a really competitive race and BET ON THE RIVER (2) should show gate speed with BEACH CAPTAIN (3). Expecting BET ON THE RIVER (2) to lead and his form is good – expecting him to run a big race.

CHACO EAGLE (10) was a brilliant winner at Gloucester Park and the winning salute was just as good from “The Windmill Man” Vance Stampalia. This horse has a bit of class and despite the outside of the back row, if there is any early speed, CHACO EAGLE (10) can make them pay.

XCITE ME NZ (6) is flashing green with the sectional times and she does have gate speed too – Kyle Harper may chance the arm. If she lands the lead or close with cover, she is a major player. ILLAWONG MUSTANG (9) is another class runner of the race and he looks right in this too with Shannon Suvaljko driving. If he had drawn the front row and was leading, he’d almost be a good thing.

Tips: 10-2-6-9

CHACO EAGLE (10) to win

For complete Saturday night harness racing fields, click here.

 by Trent Orwin for Harnesslink