Grafton Racing Tips 30 March 2026 — can Tomba go back to back?
Ararat Racing Tips 30 March — can Il Cielo cap it off?
There’s one horse on this Ararat card that screams “I’m here to win” rather than “I’m here for a day out” and it’s Il Cielo in the 3.30. He’s in the right grade, he’s carrying the right sort of recent form, and he lands in a race where a couple of his dangers look either undercooked or stuck in patterns.
That’s the hook, but the meeting has plenty of smaller angles too: a few maidens where you can take a stand against the serial non winners, and a couple of staying races where barriers and race shape will matter more than any single line of exposed form. This preview gives you Ararat racing tips race by race, with a clear pick, the one that can beat it, and how I’d actually bet it.
Seven races on turf. Distances from 1319m through to 2413m. Let’s get into it.
Ararat, the setup
We don’t have deep “track specialist” profiles across these fields. A handful of runners have been here once or twice, which is a data point, not a trend. So today I’m weighting current form, barriers, likely settling spots and the intent shown by jockey bookings.
From the course notes we do have, a few stable and rider records are at least meaningful because the sample is there:
| Trainer | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Dabernig | 6 | 4 | 5 | 66.67 | 83.33 |
| P A Preusker | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | 16.67 |
| Andrew Bobbin | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0.00 | 37.50 |
| C Maher | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Stephen Lenehan | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Jockey | Rides | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS L J Meech | 9 | 2 | 7 | 22.22 | 77.78 |
| D Yendall | 8 | 1 | 4 | 12.50 | 50.00 |
| E J Walsh | 6 | 1 | 1 | 16.67 | 16.67 |
| W Gordon | 11 | 1 | 5 | 9.09 | 45.45 |
| J Maskiell | 4 | 2 | 3 | 50.00 | 75.00 |
| Tom Madden | 5 | 1 | 2 | 20.00 | 40.00 |
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Race-by-race: Ararat predictions
Race 1: Harvey Norman Ararat Mdn Plate — 13:30, 1319m
The way I want to play this is to keep it simple and back the horse with the most obvious “ceiling” in the race: Black Aces. He’s only had the one start and it was an eighth, but the key for a country maiden is what the stable is telling you. Ciaron Maher bringing a 3yo to Ararat reads like placement, and Teodore Nugent sticking is a proper rider for this level.
Barrier 8 is fine over 1319m here because Nugent can land midfield without being forced to drag back to last. In a maiden full of unknowns and a few with exposed “find one better” habits, I’d rather be with the horse who can jump a length on them with natural improvement.
The danger is Fierce Dreams from gate 1. The form string (5-23) says she’s been around the mark, and the inside draw gives her first crack at the run of the race. If she controls it from the front or sits box-seat and kicks, she can make my pick chase.
Staking: Win bet Black Aces. Small saver exacta with Fierce Dreams if you’re playing multiples.
Race 2: Russ Studio Jewellers Mdn Plate — 14:00, 1319m
Here’s the question that matters: how many chances do you want to give horses who keep finding a reason not to win? I’m siding with Where’s My Sock because the form says he’s ready to bust through and he’s drawn to get the run without spending petrol (gate 2).
That “0224-2” profile is the sort that pays off at a track like this when the race lacks depth. He doesn’t need to improve lengths, he just needs the right tempo and a clean lane. Neil Farley rides, and while Farley’s own Ararat record is thin, the map does the heavy lifting here: low draw, get into a rhythm, and make it a staying sprint from the 500m.
Hughie’s Spirit is the danger. He’s had two goes at Ararat and placed once, which is a small sample but it does tell you he handles the place. If Melissa Julius can get him to relax from gate 10 and peel at the right time, he’s the main threat late.
Staking: Win bet Where’s My Sock. If the market gets cute and pushes him out, I’d consider each-way, but I’m mostly a straight win player here.
Race 3: Harris Accident Repair Centre Mdn Plate — 14:30, 2413m
This is a staying maiden, and they don’t all stay. That’s why I’m happy to make Finance Merchant the anchor of the race. He’s been consistently in the mix (4-3224), and that reads like a horse who keeps putting himself in the finish without having to be ridden for luck.
He’s drawn 11, which is not pretty, but over 2413m it’s manageable if Tom Madden can find cover early. Madden’s got enough experience at the track and, more importantly, Finance Merchant looks like he’ll run the trip strong. In these races, I want the horse who can sustain a run from the 700m rather than the one who needs everything to fall into place from the 300m.
The danger is He’s On Song (gate 10). That “7-532” progression is what you want to see in a maiden stepping to a trip: improving, settling, hitting the line. If he gets a softer run than my pick, he can outkick him late.
Staking: Win bet Finance Merchant. Keep stakes sensible because staying maidens can turn into messy affairs when they crawl.
Race 4: Bet365 Position Payout Mdn Plate — 15:00, 1756m
The market usually latches onto the obvious last start placegetter, but I’m going the other way and backing intent and trajectory: Lady Colonist. She’s a 3yo stepping through her grades, and the “393” formline says she’s thereabouts without having everything go her way.
Gates matter at 1756m when you’ve got a lot of inexperienced horses. From barrier 10, Linda Meech can get her into a spot with cover and avoid the stop-start traffic you get from inside alleys in these bigger maidens. Meech also rides Ararat well with a meaningful body of work: nine rides, seven placings. That’s the profile of a jockey who judges pace and positioning here.
The danger is Fire Type from gate 1. He’s tough and keeps turning up (9-4353), and the inside gate gives Dylan Dunn the option to hold a spot and pinch cheap lengths. If it turns into a sit-and-sprint, the rail draw becomes a real weapon.
Staking: Win bet Lady Colonist. If you’re playing quinellas, box with Fire Type and keep it tight.
Race 5: Ararat Concrete (Bm56) — 15:30, 1756m
I don’t want to overcomplicate the best betting race on the card. Il Cielo brings the right mix of winning habit and consistency: five runs in the last 90 days for two wins and he’s hit the frame four times. That’s not “he can win”, that’s “he’s been living in the finish”.
The map works too. From gate 8, Zac Moore should be able to slide across, sit one off them, and make the move when the others start looking for air. He carries 133.3 pounds but he’s earned it, and this is still BM56 country grade, not a city handicap where the weight crushes you.
The danger is Shay’s Way (gate 2) because he comes off a win (8-7431) and gets the soft draw that lets him control the race from a sweet spot. If he lands leaders back with cover and Il Cielo is forced to make a long run, that’s the scenario that beats my pick.
Staking: Win bet Il Cielo. He’s the best on the program for mine. Build multis around him rather than trying to get cute in the maidens.
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18+ T&C’s Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C’s Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
Race 6: Manhari (Bm56) — 16:00, 2413m
The contrast race: Phoenician looks like the class and form horse, while My Uncle Did It looks like the map horse who can steal it if they let him. I’m still backing Phoenician because his current prep reads like a horse in control of his races rather than hanging on for places: seven runs in the last 90 days, one win and five placings, and an average finishing position around the top couple.
Barrier 8 is okay in a staying race. What matters more is whether Rawiller can get him into a rhythm and not be forced to circle the field too early. If they roll along, he’s the one I trust to keep building from the 800m and put them away.
My Uncle Did It is the danger. He’s coming off a win (8-2241) and if Meech can slot him in from the wide draw and control the tempo mid race, he can turn it into a dash home. He’s had one run at Ararat and placed, which is only a single visit, but it does tell you he didn’t hate the circuit.
Staking: Win bet Phoenician. If you’re risk averse, save on My Uncle Did It because he’s the most likely “steal” horse.
Race 7: Ords Motorcycles (Bm62) — 16:30, 1428m
This is the race where the course angle actually matters because one of them has done it here before. Kijivu won on his only start at Ararat, and he comes in with a formline that says he’s still in good order (6-55215). He’s not bulletproof, but he’s reliable.
From gate 8, Bates can keep him out of the early scrimmage and give him clean air. The trip suits a horse who can travel and then quicken, and Bates has been effective at Ararat across a decent sample, winning one of his three rides here.
The danger is Monix from gate 2. He’s in a sharp patch (342-31) and the draw lets him either lead or sit right behind it. If Monix gets the cheap sectionals, you’ll need Kijivu to be genuinely better, not just “about the same”.
Staking: Each-way Kijivu if you get a price. If he firms up into a short quote, I’d rather play him in multis and keep Monix as the saver.
Where the money goes
I’m building today’s Ararat best bets around one horse: Il Cielo (Race 5, 15:30). He’s been racing like a winner for months, and he’s the one runner on the card whose recent numbers read like a horse who consistently turns up and runs his race.
The value play is Kijivu in the last. He won on his only start at the track, and the Dabernig stable has a proper record at Ararat across six runners: they win plenty and place even more. That’s a real sample, not a one-day spike.
The safer multi leg is still Il Cielo, with Phoenician (Race 6) as the second leg if you want to press. Phoenician’s last 90 days say he’s been living in the first few, and that profile is exactly what you want in a 2413m country handicap where many don’t find the line.
Course angle to keep in your back pocket: Linda Meech rides Ararat like she knows where the winning lanes open. Nine rides for seven placings here is strong, and it matters in these traffic-heavy races over the mile plus.
If Dabernig keeps turning up to Ararat with live ones, you’ll want him circled on your next set of Ararat racing tips too.
FAQ
What time does racing start at Ararat today?
Ararat kicks off at 13:30 with the Harvey Norman Ararat Maiden Plate over 1319m.
Who are the top jockeys at Ararat on today’s card?
On historical Ararat numbers that actually have some volume behind them, MS L J Meech has nine rides here for seven placings. W Gordon has ridden at the track 11 times and hit the frame five times. D Yendall has eight rides here for four placings.
Who are the top trainers at Ararat on today’s card?
Tom Dabernig stands out: six runners at Ararat for four wins and five placings. Among the stables with five plus runners here, several on today’s program have struggled to convert at this track, including C Maher (five runners, no placings recorded in this sample) and Stephen Lenehan (five runners, no placings in this sample).
What are the best bets at Ararat today?
My main play is Il Cielo in Race 5 (15:30, 1756m). For a second push, I’m with Phoenician in Race 6 (16:00, 2413m). If you want an each-way type, Kijivu in the last has the “won here before” tick and arrives in consistent form.
Where can I find the best odds for Ararat races?
Shop around with your preferred bookmakers close to jump time. Odds weren’t available in the feed used for this preview, so prices can move quickly, especially in the maidens. If you’re comparing Ararat odds, check at least two books before you bet.
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