Mackay Preview & Best Bets – 12/04/2024
Mackay Tips for Friday, April 12
Our form expert provides Mackay tips for today’s horse racing at Mackay Racecourse and gives his best bets.
BEST BET 🏆
Race 1: No.2 ROY’S ROAD
The Zoe Hohn-trained ROY’S ROAD has been a model of consistency and a punter’s best friend since hitting the scene and lines up here looking the one to beat. Last start, the Sizzling mare ended a nine-straight podium finish streak when finishing fifth in a BM65 over 1600m on a Heavy 8 at Rockhampton. The quick back-up appeared to take its toll on the five-year-old that day, along with covering extra ground from a wide run in transit. She returns to the track today (after a 14-day break) and welcomes a new pilot with Ash Butler having his first ride on the mare. She won here two starts back and looks set to do it again in this contest.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 4: No.13 EL OF A SENORITA
The Clinton Taylor-trained EL OF A SENORITA has been a model of consistency since hitting the track boasting eight podium finishes from her nine career starts to date and at the weights today, she looks every chance of maintaining that record in this contest. Last start, the Better Than Ready mare showed the benefit of two starts back when third-up, she clobbered a Class 2 field here over 1300m. Box-seating to the turn, she came around the leader, took over in a heartbeat and left the rest to sort out the minors as she cruised past the post, 2.5 lengths in front of them. Apprentice, Gabrielle Semmens is the new pilot today and after her claim, the four-year-old lines-up here 1.5kgs under the limit. At her peak today, a trouble-free run here should see her there at the finish.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 2: No.4 SWEET KISSES
Georgie Bourke saddles-up SWEET KISSES here and currently two from two with the stable, looks well placed here to bring up the hat-trick today. Formerly with the O’Dea & Hoysted camp in Brisbane, the Better Than Ready filly has knocked the walls down at her only two Nth Qld starts. Last start, she made it back-to-back wins when taking out a Three-Year-Old Open Hcp on her new home track at Townsville. Jackson Murphy had his first ride on the filly that day and rode her a treat. Jumping from the outside gate (10), she settled third-last to the turn and fanned even wider on the turn. Murphy timed his run to perfection and despite being hampered by Craicaro in the run home, Murphy drove her to the line (out wide) and arrived in time to take the honours. She makes her Mackay debut today and gets all the favours from gate one. A clear run to the line today could see her saluting again at odds.