Emerald Preview & Best Bets – Monday August 8

Craig Lewis

in Bets of the Day 7 Aug 2022

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

Emerald Tips 08/08/2022

BEST BET 🏆

Race 3 No. 4 SASSY DIVA – ($4.20)

Winning a race straight from maiden grade is no easy task, and that’s what we’re backing SASSY DIVA to do. She ran out an impressive winner of her maiden when racing on debut over 1000 metres at Townsville. She went around at a big price after showing little during her two public barrier trials earlier in the year. Trainer Glenda Bell presented her charge to the races with a clean pair of heels though and Sassy Diva proved too fast from the barriers for Flying Artist. She slipped further clear of her rivals on straightening to go to the line with a winning lead. Flying Artist has gone on to both his next two starts while the other place getter, Snap Chat, was tipped out in a photo finish at his next start.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 6 No. 2 GRAND DE LAGO – ($3.70)

Brooke Johnson takes her three kilos off another noted heavy track performer in GRAND DE LAGO. He’s earned the good horses’ weight off the back of seven career victories, three of them during this prep. Struck favored heavy conditions when boxing seating over 1300 metres before outlasting Kefalonia in Kilcoy. Johnson booted him home three starts later to score on a Good 3 track at the Non-Tab’s in Thangool. Versatile and consistent, Grande De Lago can posi up on the speed to make his presence felt again.

BEST VALUE 💰

Race 2 No. 7 MY ZEBRINKA – ($26)

Tough older gelding MY ZEBRINKA brings the heavy track form to Emerald on Monday. Will strip fitter for two runs plus a trial coming into a class 6 race that rates as a benchmark 70 without the depth. Lobbed out the back on the leaderish Townsville track when resuming over six furlongs in a benchmark 58. My Zebrinka was noticed running on late out wide and trainer Chelsea Jokic duly stepped him up to 1400 metres second-up. Did make some ground late in the big field without creating much of an impression. Jokic keeps herself on for the ride here where the smaller field will suit. This race is harder, however My Zebrinka does tend to improve in the conditions.