Overview
What Once Was won last start and has finished in the first three at all three runs in the last 90 days, and the L Smith galloper gets into Race 5 with 56kg while two of the main rivals carry 61kg. That’s the race I want to be involved in on a Friday card that otherwise asks plenty of questions.
Warrnambool races eight times on a Good surface, starting with a 1531m maiden at 2:00PM and finishing with a Benchmark 62 over 1859m at 5:30PM. Three of the eight are maidens, and horse course form is patchy, so the weight shifts to the riders and stables who know the place. That’s where the card gets interesting: L J Meech has finished in the first three on more than half of 69 rides here, and the Meech and Tom Dabernig partnership at this track is the sharpest angle on the day. These Warrnambool racing tips take a clear position on every race, then finish with the plays.
Warrnambool racing tips: reading the card
The track is rated Good for all eight races, all on the turf. Most runners with course form have only one or two starts here, so the horse table is short: it lists only the six with three or more runs and at least one placing.
| Horse | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zetheros | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0% | 100% |
| Charming Deel | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0% | 67% |
| Big Vee | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0% | 67% |
| Parkrun | 3 | 1 | 1 | 33% | 33% |
| Super Snitch | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0% | 20% |
| Spanish Snitzel | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0% | 14% |
Zetheros is the standout, with three starts at Warrnambool and three finishes in the first three. Parkrun is the only horse in that group with a course win.
The riding ranks are deeper. Meech is the leading rider on volume and place rate, and B Rawiller sits just behind on a smaller sample.
| Jockey | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS L J Meech | 69 | 10 | 36 | 14% | 52% |
| B Rawiller | 25 | 4 | 12 | 16% | 48% |
| Samantha Noble | 5 | 1 | 2 | 20% | 40% |
| Neil Farley | 21 | 1 | 8 | 5% | 38% |
| Alana Kelly | 16 | 0 | 6 | 0% | 38% |
| D Yendall | 52 | 6 | 19 | 12% | 37% |
| Teodore Nugent | 42 | 5 | 15 | 12% | 36% |
| Tom Madden | 63 | 4 | 20 | 6% | 32% |
| MS K Walters | 18 | 1 | 5 | 6% | 28% |
| Melissa Julius | 40 | 3 | 10 | 8% | 25% |
C Maher wins with almost a quarter of his Warrnambool runners, Tom Dabernig brings the volume with 13 wins from 75, and Adam Chambers has the best strike rate of anyone with ten or more runners here.
| Trainer | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Chambers | 14 | 4 | 8 | 29% | 57% |
| C Maher | 51 | 12 | 27 | 24% | 53% |
| Tom Dabernig | 75 | 13 | 36 | 17% | 48% |
| Shane Jackson | 68 | 12 | 25 | 18% | 37% |
| Aaron Purcell | 54 | 3 | 19 | 6% | 35% |
| Maddie Raymond & Patrick Bell | 20 | 2 | 7 | 10% | 35% |
| Symon Wilde | 92 | 10 | 31 | 11% | 34% |
| Andrew Bobbin | 24 | 3 | 8 | 12% | 33% |
| P W Mckenna | 16 | 1 | 5 | 6% | 31% |
| P A Preusker | 26 | 2 | 8 | 8% | 31% |
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Warrnambool race by race
Race 1: Pearsons Nursery Mdn Plate, 2:00PM, 1531m
Vulcana has run second at both starts in the last 90 days, and one of those runs was here. That’s the most solid maiden profile in the field, and it comes with a big weight swing: Vulcana carries 53.5kg while most of the field has 58kg. The C Maher stable wins with almost a quarter of its runners at this track, and Zac Moore takes the ride from barrier 5.
The danger is Symphony Sista, second at its only start, which was also at Warrnambool. It jumps from barrier 1 for Symon Wilde with Jack Hill aboard and will get every chance. Plucky Enuff, fourth and fifth at its two starts, is the best of the rest.
Vulcana to win. It’s the banker for the day.
Race 2: Warrnambool Sheetmetal (Bm66), 2:30PM, 1531m
Which Till Queen turns up? The Archie Alexander runner won its only start at Warrnambool and won twice in a row before a fifth last time. The catch is that it hasn’t raced in the last 90 days, and Holly Durnan has one win from 12 rides here.
Racey Casey is the more dependable option. Six runs in the last 90 days have produced a win and two other placings, worth more than $25,000, and the Jamie Edwards runner gets in light with 55.5kg. D Yendall has won six times from 52 rides at the track. Its only Warrnambool run was a ninth, which is the one knock.
Il Cielo has two wins in its last six but carries 58kg. Racey Casey each-way, with a small saver on Till Queen.
Race 3: Warrnambool Football & Netball Club Mdn Plate, 3:00PM, 1312m
A weak maiden, and I’ll keep it short. Big Vee has the only meaningful course form, placing at two of three Warrnambool starts, and has run second, third and fourth since a spell. The worry is the eighth last time. Tom Dabernig trains it and B Rawiller rides, and both have solid records here.
Victimised ran fourth at its only start here and has had just two runs, so there’s improvement to come for L Smith. Native Dance debuts for Symon Wilde and is the unknown.
Small win bet on Big Vee, or treat it as a watch race.
Race 4: Northpoint Liquor Bottle-O Mdn Plate, 3:30PM, 1094m
Two debutants and a field of exposed maidens. That’s the shape of this one, and Last Piece is the logical choice: third last start, which is the best form in a field of exposed maidens. Samantha Noble rides for S G Noble, with two top-three finishes, one a win, from five rides here. Barrier 4 over 1094m should let it hold a forward spot.
Danseur Noble is the danger. The J F Macmillan first starter has Meech on, and that booking alone means it can’t be dismissed. Gunnatippatinnie, the other debutant, rounds out the three I’d consider.
Last Piece to win, small stakes.
Race 5: Midland Irrigation (Bm62), 4:00PM, 1094m
This is the bet of the day. What Once Was arrives off a win, and the last three runs have all been in the first three, with more than $23,000 in prize money in the last 90 days. The form line reads like a horse finding its level: second, fourth, third, second, then the win. L Smith‘s runner gets in with 56kg, and Kid Dynamite and Just Bolts both carry 61kg, which is a real swing over 1094m.
D Yendall rides from barrier 7. That’s not ideal, but in a sprint with only nine runners there’s room to find cover. Yendall has six wins from 52 rides here, so the local knowledge is there.
Kid Dynamite is the danger: second at its only Warrnambool start, second at its only run in the last 90 days, and in the hands of B Rawiller. The weight is the reason I land on What Once Was. Watch Hellfire Jess too. It won last start and has the Meech and Tom Dabernig combination, which has 22 top-three finishes, six of them wins, from 28 rides together at this track.
What Once Was to win, with an exacta saver back to Kid Dynamite.
Race 6: Lifetime Trophies (Bm66), 4:30PM, 1312m
Thinking Sensation grinds; Zetheros has the track record. That’s the contrast, and both are live.
Thinking Sensation is in the form. Four runs in the last 90 days have produced a win, a second and a third, worth $21,300, and the Matthew Cumani runner has D Yendall aboard. It carries 59.5kg, which is the price of that consistency.
Zetheros has placed at all three Warrnambool starts and won two of its last three. The Aaron Purcell runner hasn’t raced in the last 90 days, so fitness is the question, but it has 58kg and Neil Farley, who places with almost four in ten rides here. Dantooine won its only start at the track and is one of three Tom Dabernig runners, and Ballynacally has won one of two here but carries the 61kg top weight.
Thinking Sensation to win, Zetheros each-way.
Race 7: Lady Bay Resort (Bm62), 5:00PM, 2570m
Over 2570m with 13 runners left after two scratchings, I want a horse that keeps turning up and has the track in its favour. Phoenician fits: it won its only Warrnambool start and has three placings from five runs in the last 90 days, including a second last time. The E W Ewert runner carries 55.5kg, and Teodore Nugent rides from barrier 6.
Genrichero is the danger. Two thirds from its last two starts, two placings from three runs in the last 90 days, and L J Meech in the saddle for Shane Jackson. Dandruff won two runs ago and has two top-three finishes from four runs in the last 90 days, so it’s next on the list.
Phoenician to win. At its likely price in a big staying field, it’s the value play of the day.
Race 8: Nevcon Structural Steel (Bm62), 5:30PM, 1859m
Parkrun won last start, has a win from three Warrnambool runs, and banked $23,540 from five runs in the last 90 days. Barrier 1 over 1859m gives Tom Madden the choice of the rail, and 58.5kg is fair for the form.
Carnival Riches is the threat. It also won last start, has a win from two runs in the last 90 days, and carries 1.5kg less. Charming Deel has placed at two of three runs here and has the Tom Dabernig stable behind it, but has won none of them.
Parkrun to win, saver on Carnival Riches.
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Where the money goes
NAP: What Once Was (Race 5, 4:00PM). Three straight top-three finishes capped by a win, and a 5kg weight edge over two of its main rivals.
Value: Phoenician (Race 7, 5:00PM). A course winner in a big staying field, placed at three of five recent runs. No market was open when this was written.
Banker: Vulcana (Race 1, 2:00PM). Two seconds from two recent runs and 4.5kg less than most of the field.
Each-way: Zetheros (Race 6, 4:30PM). Three runs at Warrnambool, three placings.
Course angle: L J Meech for Tom Dabernig. Twenty-two top-three finishes, six of them wins, from 28 rides together here, and they team up on Hellfire Jess in Race 5 and Corro in Race 6.
If Meech and Dabernig keep landing placings at that rate, every Warrnambool card will start with their bookings.
FAQ
What time does racing start at Warrnambool today?
Race 1, the Pearsons Nursery Mdn Plate over 1531m, starts at 2:00PM. The last, the Nevcon Structural Steel (Bm62) over 1859m, goes at 5:30PM.
Who are the top jockeys and trainers at Warrnambool?
L J Meech leads the riders on today’s card with 36 top-three finishes, ten of them wins, from 69 Warrnambool rides, and B Rawiller has four wins from 25. Among the trainers, Tom Dabernig has 13 wins from 75 runners and C Maher 12 wins from 51.
What are the best bets at Warrnambool today?
What Once Was in Race 5 is the NAP after a win last start and three straight top-three finishes. Vulcana in Race 1 is the banker, and Phoenician in Race 7, a winner at its only Warrnambool start, is the value pick.
Where can I find the best odds for Warrnambool races?
No bookmaker had a market up for the meeting when this was written. Check the Warrnambool racecards on race morning and compare the bookmakers listed above before you bet.