Mackay Preview & Best Bets – Thursday September 22

Steve Bennett

in Bets of the Day 22 Sep 2022

Mackay Tips 22/09/2022

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 6: No.4 IN ORDER ($2.80 with TAB)

Today could turn out to be a raging success for Tahlia Fenlon if she can steer IN ORDER home in this event. The Rockhampton-based mare is three starts into this preparation and has taken home the silver medal in all three starts. Last-up, she box-seated behind the leader to the turn, then Nathan Day eased her off the fence where she fought it out with Age Of Innocence (Ryan Wiggins) all the way down the 600m home straight. She crossed the line a neck short of victory that day. The five-year-old ran her last 600m, 4.9 lengths quicker than benchmark, the best in this line-up. She is way overdue for a change of luck and meets Age Of Innocence 2kgs better today. Fenlon has ridden the mare once previously for a win in similar company here five starts back. Since then, it’s been all minor money for the mare. Today, that can all change and she does look set for revenge here.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 4: No.3 COCHRANE ($3.40 with bet365)

In career-best form, the John Manzelmann-trained COCHRANE hasn’t missed a podium finish in his five starts this time in and back on his home track today, looks the one to beat in this contest. Last start, the Spirit Of Boom gelding beat all but one home in a Class 2 Hcp over 1000m at Townsville. He ran the trip out, 3.9 lengths slower than benchmark, the best here by more than 2 lengths. From gate six, he maps to settle in the first half-dozen (just behind the pace) and has Jade Doolan returning for the ride after tasting success on him twice previously. He is dropping in grade today and after the claim, will carry less weight than last start. In his current form, he should prove mighty hard to beat here.

BEST VALUE 💰

Race 5: No.5 MISHANI TULIP ($4.80 with Palmerbet)

Olivia Cairns saddles-up three runners here in an attempt to win the race named in her honour but the John Manzelmann-trained MISHANI TULIP has the resume to suggest she can spoil the party today. Last start, the Domesday mare brought up her first win this campaign when she beat home a Class 4 field, here over 1800m. Cleverly ridden by Tahlia Fenlon, she stuck to the fence, saving ground, and did best to salute by half a length on the line. She ran the last 600m, 7.4 lengths quicker than benchmark, the best here by 3 lengths and recorded the fastest final 800m, 600m and 400m sectionals for the race. She draws the outside gate today, but is a known back-marker and will settle in the back half of the field anyway. Fenlon has the reins again and in a slightly easier graded race, she can go back-to-back today.