Rockhampton Preview & Best Bets – 21/12/2023

Rockhampton Tips for Thursday, December 21

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

BEST BET 🏆

Race 7:  No.14  TOP SPY  ($2.20 with bet365)

Local galloper TOP SPY is second-up today and ticking plenty of boxes here, looks the one to beat at the weights today. Last start, the Top Echelon mare resumed off a 16-week spell when she did well to finish third in a Class 3 set weights race, here over 1200m. She missed the start and settled last to the turn. She could still see them all on straightening and the task of making up the six-length deficit proved too much in the end as her lack of condition came into play. She has placed twice in her two previous second-up appearances and is a two-time winner here. Jockey Les Tilley is aboard again after steering her to a win and four minor placings from his five rides on her to date. Coming in on the limit today, she should prove hard to hold out here.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 5:  No.8  LETMELETGO  ($5 with Neds)

Locally-trained by Jared Wehlow, LETMELETGO comes into this contest boasting four straight top-two finishes and ticks enough boxes here to suggest he can take this out today. Last start, the Pierro gelding fought like a caged tiger down the long home straight here but just couldn’t match it with the winner that day, having to settle for second prize in the 1400m Open Hcp event. He meets similar company here but gets the gun-run from gate one where he maps to settle in the first half-dozen. The 3kg claiming apprentice, Olivia Kendal has the reins for the first time and is no stranger to winning, having ridden 61 winners to date. After her claim here, the six-year-old carries 51kgs for this contest, a 10kg weight advantage over topweight and favourite, Art By Concorde. Weight can stop a train and with this is mind, we are happy to run with the Wehlow stable representative.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 3:  No.5  EYEWITNESS  ($27 with Ladbrokes)

John Manzelmann has a recent addition to his stable with EYEWITNESS who is one from one and looks a good chance of back-to-back victories at very generous odds today. Last start, the Star witness mare opened her account with a win in Open company at Home Hill over the 1000m sprint. Tahlia Fenlon is the pilot today as the mare sees the Callaghan Park track for the first time. Already a winner when second-up, its also worth noting that all six career wins have come over the 1000 and 1100m trips. Dropping back to Class 6 company today, she looks up to this contest and (currently) at double-figure odds, the six-year-old looks well worth an each-way ticket today.