Balaklava Preview & Best Bets – Monday 05 February

Our form expert provides Balaklava tips for today’s horse racing at Balaklava Racecourse and gives his best bets.    

Balaklava Tips 05/02/2024

BEST BET 🏆   

Race 5 No. 3 STARLITE REBEL – ($4.60)

There were a lot of black book and video watch punters as STARLITE REBEL broke through for an overdue win at Strathalbyn back in December last year. Starlight Rebel caught their attention with a luckless run when racing second-up over 1050 metres here during her prior race start. Caitlin Tootell trailed most of the field on the mare after Starlight Rebel jumped sideways out of the machines. Tootell then opted for inside runs into the straight, only to find her path blocked on several occasions. Caller Tim Edwards certainly let punters know all about the run as he pondered where Starlight Rebel came from in calling her as the second-placed runner across the line. Subsequent dual-city winner had hit the front with momentum at the right time to score while Tootell was diving between horses late. 

NEXT BEST 🥈   

Race 6 No. 6 NOT A SINGLE BID ($4.80)

Murray Bridge trainer Grant Young produced NOT A SINGLE BID to land a last-stride win over this trip at Strathalbyn two starts ago. The pace had been on early with Starlight Rebel and Rising Legend amongst those horses rolling forward. Alana Livesey settled just off the speed on Not A Single Bid while being caught a little deep from their outside gate. She found momentum up the hill and seemed destined to fight out the minor with Rising Legend as Starlight Rebel gave them the slip on straightening. Not A Single Doubt pinged the ears back and really lengthened to close the gap deep inside the furlong. Livesey managed to get her horses’ head down where it counted and justify the late market support. We do expect the runner-up to be hard to beat again today while the third-placed Rising Legend has won at both the provincials and in town since. 

BEST VALUE 💰   

Race 7 No. 8 TAHNEE TREASURE ($7)

There was always going to be some interest surrounding the Steward’s report on TAHNEE TREASURE following the last at Gawler. The mare seemed to be travelling as well as anything (except maybe the winner) as the pressure started to build. Lachlan Niendorf was notably quiet on the mare with horses shifting about in front of him. Don’t mind seeing the horses being handed back to connections in the best possible condition when there’s little prospect of collecting a cheque. Tahnee Treasure is only lightly raced and came into this race off a low benchmark rating. Feel she showed enough to suggest that she’ll make the grade while taking no harm from the run.