Bordertown Preview & Best Bets – Friday 23 February
Our form expert provides Bordertown tips for today’s horse racing at Bordertown Racecourse and gives his best bets.
Bordertown Tips 23/02/2024
BEST BET 🏆
Race 3 No. 3 SHALAGA ($4.40)
We marked SHALAGA as a horse of interest following the review of his first-up run over 1350 metres at Strathalbyn. He did have the race set-up for him somewhat as he settled near the tail with the pace on up in front. He still did have to defy the day’s pattern of racing by swooping from the back as the widest runner into the straight. Shalaga had won that race to the naked eye, until the judge posted the inside horse as the winner. We haven’t managed to find our way onto the horse yet in two subsequent runs since. Jacob Opperman guided him into two more placings in the provincial area at good prices. He stays on as Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor apply the blinkers while sending Shalaga back to country grade.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 2 No. 9 ARTISTIC GAL ($3.50)
Sairyn Fawke gave ARTISTIC GAL a positive ride to settle behind the leading pair after his mount jumped away smartly when resuming. The pace was over 1350 metres at Strathalbyn and Artistic Gal acquitted herself to run a clear second with the winner Global Turn being a class above. Justin Pickering chose to claim with Maggie Collett when stepping his mare up to a mile second-up. The pace was on with Artistic Gal again settling just behind the leaders. She was under pressure prior to turning though did manage to whack away okay back along the inside section. Possibly wasn’t suited by a fast-run mile on a soft track second-up Then hasn’t had the best of luck in two starts since. Pickering sends her back to country grade to where she’s drawn to get a soft run under Sairyn Fawke.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 1 No. 4 HEBRINGS CASH ($7.50)
Richard and Chantelle Jolly send HEBRINGS CASH to Bordertown Racecourse on Friday. The Price Bloodstock horse lands in a considerably weaker race than what he faced on debut. Hebrings Cash showed good gate speed to cross them over 1050 metres at Balaklava. Callan Murray settled behind the tearaway leader at fast pace and found himself in front straightening for home. The stablemate Stokomo grabbed him inside the furlong to battle it out with Sioux Warrior. We regard both of those two horses highly, and Hebrings Cash wasn’t beaten far while being entitled to weaken. Bordertown can present as a much kinder surface to Balaklava while Hebrings Cash can improve from the experience.