Rockhampton Preview & Best Bets – 02/05/2024

Rockhampton Tips for Thursday, May 2

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 3:  No.2  SHAMEDY

The Graeme Green-trained SHAMEDY enjoys a 78% strike-rate for podium finishes off his 18 career starts and looks all set here to add another notch in those stats today. Last start, the Better Than Ready gelding returned from a failed attempt against city class gallopers at Eagle Farm when back on home soil, he finished third in an Open Hcp affair, here over the 1500m trip. He has won six of his 18 starts to date with five of those right here. Les Tilley has steered him to three of those wins and steers the ship again in this contest. Nicely drawn in gate four, the three-year-old maps to be box-seating on settling and should prove hard to hold out on his home track today.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 1:  No.6  BETTER THAN WORDS

Local trainer, John Wigginton has a handy two-year-old on his hands as he saddles-up BETTER THAN WORDS here who looks a promising prospect and is drawn to go one better today. Last start, the Better Than Ready filly made her racing debut right here where she came from well back to beat all but one home over the 1100m trip. Fitter for that run, she steps-up in distance today which looks ideal after her debut performance. Justin Stanley is the new pilot and from gate two today, he can pick and choose where he wants to settle the filly. Given clear passage to the line, she looks certain to be in the finish today.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 6:  No.5  GILBERT’S GOLD

Local galloper, GILBERT’S GOLD has not seen a first prize cheque for almost 12 months but recent form suggests that can all change today. Last start, the Altius gelding was third-up when he finished bridesmaid again, beating home all but the smart galloper Hell, in a Class 1, here over 1200m. The winner clocked 1:09 on a Soft 5 that day which is pretty impressive on the big Callaghan Park track. Justin Stanley in the new pilot today and from gate two, he maps to have the five-year-old box-seating behind the early speed. Fourth-up today, he should be at his peak and with a favourable run here, he can bring up his second career win in this contest.