Mackay Preview & Best Bets – 19/09/2023

Steve Bennett

in Bets of the Day 19 Sep 2023

Mackay Tips for Tuesday, September 19

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 3: No.6 FRECKLE ROCK ($1.90 with bet365)

The Ricky Vale-trained FRECKLE ROCK is yet to miss a podium finish in six career starts to date and even making his track debut today, he looks in line for win number three in this contest. Last start, the Fastnet Rock gelding was having just his second start for the stable (after transferring from the Maher & Eustace camp) when he beat all but one home in a Class 3 Hcp over 1400m on his new home track at Rockhampton. He drew wide and had some early work to do and finally settled outside the leader. He took over soon after straightening, but as it often does, the 600m Callaghan Park home straight took its toll and the six-year-old new comer to Nth Qld had to settle for second prize that day. The Mackay track is a whole new ball game and with new rider McKenzie Apel taking a 3kg claim today, the gelding carries 6kgs less today and that will play a major role here. From gate five, he maps to settle near the speed and on a tighter track today, he will take beating.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 2: No.5 DOOM DIVA ($3.50 with Picklebet)

The Jared Wehlow-trained DOOM DIVA is in career-best form of late and looks a major player in this contest. Last start, the Domesday mare made it three-straight top-two finishes when she beat all but one to the line in a BM0-55 over 1560m when she saw the Mackay track for the first time. From gate nine (of 12), she settled mid-field, one off the fence and on straightening, set sail after the leader, but arrived too late and had to settle for second prize. Better drawn in gate five, she teams-up with Ryan Wiggins today who is no stranger to the Wehlow camp, boasting a 20% success rate with them. The four-year-old is racing on the bit this preparation and looks a real threat to this field today.

BEST VALUE 💰

Race 6: No.11 FLYING SHAMUS ($4 with bet365)

Local galloper FLYING SHAMUS is a track specialist here and in career-best form looks right in the mix in this contest. Last start, the Shamus Award mare made it back-to-back runner-up cheques when she was nosed-out in a Class 3 Hcp, here over 1100m. Brooke Johnson returns for today’s assignment (having ridden her to victory here back in June) and after her claim, the mare carries just 52.5kgs, which is 1.5kgs under the limit. She also gets the gun-run from gate one where she maps to be box-seating on settling. The consistent mare boasts six podium finishes from her past seven starts and with a trouble-free run here, she looks set to keep her track record intact today.