Mackay Preview July 14 – Friday Best Bets & Tips
Mackay Tips 14/07/2023
Our form expert provides Mackay tips for today’s horse racing at Mackay Racecourse and gives his best bets.
BEST BET 🏆
Race 7: No.7 ISIS CARMELLA ($4.25 with BoomBet)
Keith Miller saddles-up track specialist ISIS CARMELLA here who has missed a podium finish just once in nine starts this preparation and in career-best form, looks a huge chance of taking home the Newmarket trophy today. Last start, the Bel Esprit mare looked home for all money in the Battle Of The Bush Final (1200m) at Eagle Farm, but was grabbed inside the final 100m and had to settle for second prize, (conceding 4kgs to the winner). She finished three lengths clear of the rest over the line. Her track record glows with glory as she boasts four wins and two runner-up prizes from her six starts here. Drawn much better today in gate two, Ben Thompson sticks with her for the big one and will take a smart one today to beat her to the line.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 5: No.2 YULONG SOVEREIGN ($4.25 with BoomBet)
Ricky Vale saddles-up YULONG SOVEREIGN here who relishes racing on the Ooralea track and third-up today looks ready to produce his best here. Last start, the Zoustar gelding travelled wide most of the way and clearly in need of a second run, finished sixth, 2.5 lengths behind the winner in a Class 6 Plate over 1100m on his home track at Rockhampton. His record here however, is as solid as a rock, boasting three wins and two minor placings from his six visits to Mackay. Placed twice in as many third-up appearances, he has Ryan Wiggins in the saddle again who has had seven previous rides on the five-year-old for two wins and two minor money finishes. Ideally drawn in gate four today, he maps to settle in the first half-dozen and nearing his peak here, he should prove hard to hold out.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 4: No.10 FLYING SHAMUS ($6 with Picklebet)
Local galloper FLYING SHAMUS is a track specialist and in great of late, looks well placed here to go on with it today. Last start, the Shamus Award mare came off a Class 1 victory on this track when she returned three weeks later and finished a close-up third in a BM0-55 over the 1300m trip. She drew wide that day (gate 10 of 11) and travelled the same which ultimately cost her a win, beaten just half a length on the line. That all changes here as she gets the gun-run from gate one today and maps to settle better than mid-field with cover. Brisbane rider, Ben Thompson, visits the track for Newmarket Day and takes the reins on the four-year-old here who should prove hard to beat on home soil.