Mackay Preview & Best Bets – 19/10/2023

Steve Bennett

in Bets of the Day 19 Oct 2023

Mackay Tips for Thursday, October 19

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 1: No.3 BRAND NEW ($2.10 with bet365)

The Clinton Taylor-trained BRAND NEW has been on-song since joining the stable (three starts back) and looks well placed here to make it two wins from his past three starts today. Last start, the Tivaci gelding came off his maiden win (on this track) when he returned here and was a shade unlucky not to go back-to-back, beating all but one home in a stronger BM65 Hcp over 1800m. He box-seated to the turn, then challenged the leader all the way home, finishing a neck second in the end. Yet to miss a podium finish under Taylor, he gets his chance at redemption here with Justin Stanley remaining in the saddle (having been the only rider to partner the galloper since arriving at the Taylor stable). He has the runs on the board and looks the goods in this contest.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 5: No.5 ORCA ($3.60 with bet365)

Stuart Kendrick makes the 10-hour trek from the Sunshine Coast today with just two on the float as he saddles-up ORCA here who is third-up and looks a serious player in this contest. Last start, the Vancouver gelding came off his maiden win at Rockhampton when he finished third in a Three-Old-Old Hcp over 1300m at Yeppoon. This looks a little easier and he has the services of Brisbane rider Ryan Wiggins today. He gets the gun-run from gate one where he maps to settle just behind the speed. With a trouble-free run today, his first look at the Mackay track could be a winning one.

BEST VALUE 💰

Race 7: No.4 BEYOND STAR ($3.10 with Ladbrokes)

Rockhampton-based galloper BEYOND STAR is in top-shelf form now and looks in the firing line to bring up the hat-trick here today. Last start, the Charm Spirit gelding made it two-straight when he clobbered a Class 1 field over 1200m on his home track. He ran the 10-strong field off their legs that day, putting two lengths on them over the line with Warwick Satherley in the saddle. Ideally drawn in gate three today, he could lead here and has Satherley sticking with him for this assignment. If he leads and sets a pace to suit, he could take catching again.