Mackay Preview & Best Bets – 05/01/2024

Mackay Tips for Friday, January 5

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 3:  No.2  BLUE KENTUCKY MOON  ($3 with Neds)  

The Graeme Green-trained BLUE KENTUCKY MOON is high-flying this time in and looks well placed here to keep the momentum going today. Last start, the No Nay Never gelding made it four-straight top-two finishes when he was nutted right on the line by a swooper, leaving him with second prize again in an Open Hcp, here over 1050m. Warwick Satherley was aboard that day, making it three wins and two runner-up finishes from five rides for him as he steers the ship again today. In career-best form this preparation, he meets similar company here and at his peak today, he can bounce back take home the chocolates in this contest.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 8:  No.9  NANO STAR  ($4.60 with bet365)

Kerrod Smith saddles-up NANO STAR here who is third-up and seeing the track for the first time. Last start, the Mikki Isle mare was second-up off an 11-week spell when she loomed as a winning chance but ran out of steam at the 100m mark, weakening to finish fourth in the BM55 event, on her home track at Rockhampton. Warwick Satherley returns for his third ride on the mare where she may fare better on the tight-turning track. Well drawn in gate four here, she maps to settle better than mid-field with cover and fitter for those two runs back, she can give this contest a real shake today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 2:  No.6  DEVIL KICK  ($5.50 with Ladbrokes)

The Rockhampton-based DEVIL KICK is no stranger here with her resume showing three podium finishes from five starts at the track and today, she gets her chance to rack-up her first win on the track. Last start, the Scissor Kick mare continued her path of consistency when she made it four-straight minor placings this preparation, finishing a close-up third in a BM60, here over 1800m. A tragedy beaten that day, she slipstreamed the leader into the straight, who then hung out and fell back on the four-year-old who then lost all momentum and had to be re-balanced. Ryan Wiggins did a great job, getting the mare back in her gait and she hit the line well to finish just a long neck from the winner. She steps up in grade today but drops a handy 5kgs in the process. Dale Evans returns for the ride (having steered the mare to two minor placings from as many rides to date). Avoiding any similar interference like last start, she draws nicely in gate three here and at her peak after four starts back, she can beat this field home today.