Rockhampton Preview & Best Bets – 02/01/2024

Rockhampton Tips for Tuesday, January 2

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 4:  No.1  DOLLAR  DOLLAR  ($4 with Unibet)

Local trainer, Jamie McConachy, saddles-up DOLLAR DOLLAR here who ticks all the boxes thar suggest he is a prime candidate for the major prize in this contest. Last start, the Irish-sired gelding resumed off a five-month absence when not disgraced, he finished fourth in an unsuitable Class 6 event, here over the 1050m sprint. On a Soft 7 that day, he settled second-last (eight lengths off the lead). In the driving rain, he came down the centre of the track and made up a ton of ground, his last 200m in particular. He is already a winner when second-up, a winner at the track and distance and a winner in heavy going. Ryan Wiggins secures the ride today and up over the 1300m, we should see a bigger effort here.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 2:  No.2  PEPPERDINE  ($2.05 with Picklebet)

Unbeaten since joining the Jared Wehlow stable, PEPPERDINE has the runs on the board and looks the one to beat again in this contest. Last start, the well-bred Pierro gelding made it a hat-trick when he took out a BM55 Hcp, here over 1400m. That win made it two-straight on his new home track, and two from two for jockey Ash Butler as well. The only concern today is the heavy track. He finished unplaced (as a two-year-old) at his only start on a heavy track (18 months ago). Still, they haven’t got near him since moving north from the Matthew Ellerton camp and if he handles the going today, he looks the goods in this event.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 6:  No.2  COBBO  ($7.10 with BoomBet)

Local galloper, COBBO, is shooting for the hat-trick today and if he can overcome the wide draw, he looks in the mix for another win here. Last start, the Carrara gelding made it back-to-back victories when he proved too strong in a Three-Year-Old Hcp over 1100m at Mackay. Despite being a last-start winner, he left the gates unwanted as a $21 chance but led on settling and just ran them off their legs, crossing the line a length in front of them. Ridden by Raul Silvera Olivera that day, he remains the pilot for this assignment today. This looks no harder and now four starts into this preparation, he should be at his peak today. If he can cross and settle on speed, he should prove hard to run down again.