Overview
A Mallyon rides seven races at Ballina on Friday and every one of them is for the M J Dunn stable, a pairing that has won four times and finished in the first three 12 times from 19 rides together at this track. That is the thread running through the card, and it starts early: Private Max opens proceedings at $1.20 after two placings from two runs this preparation.
These Ballina racing tips cover all eight races on a Good track, starting at 1:14PM with a maiden handicap over 1537m and finishing with a 1099m Class 2 sprint at 5:34PM. It is mostly maidens and lower grade handicaps, so recent form carries more weight than class. Markets were open for the first three races when this was written, and those prices are quoted below. Races 4 to 8 had no live prices yet. Read on for a pick in every race, the course numbers that matter, and where we would put the money.
Reading the Ballina card
Course form among today’s horses is thin. Only three runners have been here three or more times, and two of them have never won at the track.
| Horse | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vetoed | 3 | 1 | 3 | 33.3 | 100.0 |
| Kirra’s Sister | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 66.7 |
| Arabian Legacy | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
The riders give us more to work with. D L Turner has the best strike rate of anyone booked today, and A Mallyon and D Peisley both hit the frame in at least half their Ballina rides.
| Jockey | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D Peisley | 25 | 4 | 14 | 16.0 | 56.0 |
| D L Turner | 17 | 6 | 9 | 35.3 | 52.9 |
| A Mallyon | 26 | 5 | 13 | 19.2 | 50.0 |
| L P Rolls | 18 | 1 | 9 | 5.6 | 50.0 |
| Siabh Rigley | 8 | 3 | 4 | 37.5 | 50.0 |
| B Looker | 19 | 3 | 9 | 15.8 | 47.4 |
| Noriyuki Masuda | 23 | 2 | 7 | 8.7 | 30.4 |
Among the stables, M J Dunn has brought 49 runners here and nearly six in ten have run in the first three. Stephen and Jordan Lee win more often per runner, and Siabh Rigley has won on three of her seven rides for them at Ballina.
| Trainer | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M J Dunn | 49 | 10 | 29 | 20.4 | 59.2 |
| Allan Chau | 19 | 3 | 10 | 15.8 | 52.6 |
| Stephen & Jordan Lee | 18 | 4 | 9 | 22.2 | 50.0 |
| L J Clapham | 8 | 1 | 4 | 12.5 | 50.0 |
| D W Dwane | 8 | 1 | 4 | 12.5 | 50.0 |
| Shane Everson | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0.0 | 23.1 |
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Ballina race by race
Race 1: Tab Country Boosted Mdn Hcp, 1:14PM, 1537m
Private Max is the one, and the market agrees at $1.20 with Bet Right. The three year old has been placed in both runs this preparation, and his form line of 3722 says he keeps running into one better rather than running badly. Stepping up to 1537m in a maiden handicap against older horses with poor records looks like the right spot to finally get it done, and the Dunn and Mallyon combination is the strongest on the card.
Sea Turtle, at $6.50, is the only other runner here with recent placings to point to, finishing second twice in six runs over the past 90 days. The finishing 42 at the end of his line suggests he is heading the right way. Tendue’s Spirit at $10 is the next best on form.
Private Max to win, but at that price he is a multi leg rather than a standalone bet.
Race 2: Ballina Rsl Mdn Plate, 1:49PM, 1372m
Can anyone make sense of a maiden where four runners sit between $4.20 and $4.60? Private Max, Dartanyan and Coral are all scratched, which leaves an open race with no standout.
Tramca gets our vote at $4.40 with Unibet. Two of her three runs this preparation have been in the first three, she finished third last time, and Chris and Corey Munce have Benjamin Osmond back on. That is the most solid form in the race. Tomoyuki, the Dunn first starter, will be popular at $4.20 purely on the stable’s record here, but he has nothing on the board yet.
The one that interests us at a bigger price is Spirit Of Asia at $9.50. The three year old was second on her only start, and that run came at Ballina. Noriyuki Masuda rides for D Chujo, a stable with one win and four placings from seven runners at the track. Zoulini ($4.60) is the danger after a fifth on debut.
Tramca to win, small each-way on Spirit Of Asia.
Race 3: Douse (Bm58), 2:24PM, 1372m
Subsiding is the best bet on the card. The three year old won last start, has won on his only visit to Ballina, and from his two runs in the past 90 days he has a win and earned more than $16,000. His form line of 741 is heading straight up, and drawn one he can take whatever position A Mallyon wants.
The market makes Go Left a $3.30 chance, and that is hard to understand. His last three runs read 4, 8 and 9, and he carries the most weight in the field. We would rather oppose him.
Vetoed is the real danger at $3.60 with Bet Right. He has been to Ballina three times, won once and finished in the first three every time, which makes him the most consistent course horse in today’s fields. The trouble is that the seven year old has only one placing from four runs this preparation. All Too Rosey ($16) has a win and three placings from five runs in that period and is a fair each-way roughie.
Subsiding to win at $2.35 with Bet Right. Vetoed for the quinella.
Race 4: 100.9 Zzz FM (Bm58), 2:59PM, 1372m
The three year olds look the way to go here. Brief Authority has run twice this preparation for a win and a third, and he was third on his only Ballina start. He drops into a Benchmark 58 with A Mallyon in the saddle and the inside gate.
Smashing Nova is the danger. The K A Lees runner has two placings from three runs over the past 90 days, and B Looker hits the frame in close to half his rides here. Inquisitor won on his only run at Ballina, but his recent form of 844 is no better than ordinary.
No prices were up for this race. Brief Authority to win.
Race 5: Boxing Day Races At Ballina Mdn Plate, 3:34PM, 1099m
This is a weak maiden and hard to be confident about. Our Smooth Nik was second at his most recent start, his only run in the past 90 days, and that is as good a form line as anything in the race. L P Rolls rides from barrier three.
Prestige Sotirio is the one to respect. He was fourth on debut at Ballina, gets in light, and Siabh Rigley rides for the Lee stable. Coral, a Waller three year old who placed once from two runs this preparation, completes the shortlist. Two runners have no jockey listed.
Small win bet on Our Smooth Nik, otherwise watch this race.
Race 6: Cnw Electrical Wholesale Plate (C1), 4:14PM, 2083m
Valouri has been second at each of his last three starts, and he was also second on his only Ballina run. That says plenty about both his consistency and his habit of finding one better. Over 2083m the four year old should be ridden handy by A Mallyon from gate three, and three placings from five runs in the past 90 days make him the most reliable horse in the race.
Swift Sovereign is the horse who could stop him. He won two starts back, followed up with a third, and Christos Zintilis has had four runners at Ballina for two wins and four placings. D Peisley rides from barrier two. Mahuika Maroi, second on his only course visit and placed twice in five recent runs, is the third name for exotics.
Valouri each-way, with Swift Sovereign in the exacta.
Race 7: Ballina Fair Hcp (C2), 4:54PM, 1744m
Stephen and Jordan Lee have Siabh Rigley on Sunset Trail, and that booking deserves attention. The pair have won three of their seven Ballina starts together. Sunset Trail has won two of his five runs over the past 90 days and placed in a third, which makes him the form horse of the race at 1744m.
Doingiteasy is the other side of the argument. He has been in the first three in all four runs this preparation without winning, and A Mallyon rides for Dunn again. Coccinella has the best course record, a win and a second from two Ballina runs, and his form ends with two wins, but he has the top weight and no runs in the past 90 days. Caishen, with three placings from four, rounds out a deep race.
Sunset Trail to win, with Doingiteasy as the saver.
Race 8: Tab Country Boosted Hcp (C2), 5:34PM, 1099m
Zosma won her only run in the past 90 days, and that is the profile we want in a last race sprint. D Peisley rides for MS L Sheppard from barrier four, and his place rate at Ballina sits above half.
Kirra’s Sister will be well backed and she knows how to run in the money. She has been in the first three in four of six recent runs and twice from three at Ballina, but she has not won at the track and that pattern looks hard to break. Discreet Point, second on his only Ballina start for the Dunn stable, and Hare Street, placed in all three runs this preparation, are both live.
Zosma to win, Kirra’s Sister for the place.
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Where the money goes
NAP: Subsiding (Race 3, 2:24PM). A last start winner who has already won at the track gets a Benchmark 58 against older horses who are out of form. $2.35 with Bet Right.
Value: Spirit Of Asia (Race 2, 1:49PM). Her only race was a second at this track, and $9.50 with Unibet treats her as an outsider in a weak maiden.
Banker: Private Max (Race 1, 1:14PM). Two placings from two runs this preparation, the strongest connections in the race, and no real rival. At $1.20 he is a multi leg only.
Each-way: Valouri (Race 6, 4:14PM). Three seconds in a row and a second on his only Ballina run. Whatever beats him, he should be there at the finish. No price was available yet.
Course angle: A Mallyon and M J Dunn have finished in the first three on 12 of their 19 rides together at Ballina. A quinella or place play on their runners across the card is a better approach than trying to pick which one wins.
If Dunn keeps loading up at home with Mallyon in the saddle, their runners will be the starting point at every Ballina meeting.
FAQ
What time does racing start at Ballina today?
The first race, a 1537m maiden handicap, starts at 1:14PM. The last of the eight races is the 1099m Class 2 handicap at 5:34PM.
Who are the top trainers and jockeys at Ballina?
M J Dunn has the deepest record here, with 10 wins and 29 placings from 49 runners. D L Turner has the best strike rate among today’s jockeys, with six wins from 17 rides, and D Peisley has placed on 14 of his 25.
What are the best bets at Ballina today?
Subsiding in Race 3 is our NAP, Private Max in Race 1 is the banker, and Spirit Of Asia in Race 2 is the value pick at $9.50.
Where can I find the best odds for Ballina races?
Prices were up for the first three races when this was written, with Bet Right and Unibet offering the best odds on our picks. Compare the bookmakers in our table above before you bet, as markets for the later races open through the day.