Dubbo Preview & Best Bets - Thursday September 15
Townsville Preview & Best Bets – Thursday September 15
Townsville Tips 15/09/2022
Our form expert provides Townsville tips for today’s horse racing at Townsville Racecourse and gives his best bets.
BEST BET 🏆
Race 8: No.3 FOCUS ($3.80 with bet365)
Local trainer Alby Molino saddles-up FOCUS here and boasting the best track record on the program today, he will certainly take some beating. Last start, the Smart Missile gelding headed north to Cairns where he clobbered a Class 6 field over the 1250m trip. Camped right on the leader’s heels on settling, he travelled sweetly to the turn where the leader drifted off the fence, giving him a saloon passage to join the front runner. Soon after, he hit the front and from there, it was all over red rover as he put more than two lengths on them in the run to the line. Back home today, his resume shows, seven starts on the Cluden Park track, for four wins and two runner-up finishes and he is two from two at the track and distance as well. Frank Edwards returns to the saddle where his record is also impressive, scoring three wins from his five previous rides. Both horse and jockey are in top form and work well together. With a trouble-free run here, he looks the best of the day.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 1: No.1 SECRET QUALITY ($2.25 with Unibet)
Mackay trainer Olivia Cairns heads north today with a float full of horses and she kicks off proceedings here with SECRET QUALITY who is knocking on the door for his first win. Last start, the Whittington gelding ran home strongly but had to settle for third prize in an 1100m Maiden on his home track, beaten half a length on the line. While covering the trip, 5.3 lengths slower than benchmark, that was the best last-start effort in this filed by more than 7 lengths. He also posted the fastest final 800m to 200m sectionals for that race. This is his fourth trip to Cluden Park, having finished on the podium twice and today he gets another crack at shaking the maiden monkey off his back. Well drawn in gate six, Ash Butler back aboard, the scene is set for him today.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 5: No.12 POLITE APPLAUSE ($7 with Ladbrokes)
Olivia Cairns saddles-up three here with our preference going to POLITE APPLAUSE who looks well placed here to bounce back. Last start, the Highly Recommended mare finished mid-field behind her stablemate (Bridezilla) in a Class 1 Hcp over 1300m at Mackay. She was slowly away from her wide gate (8) and settled back in the field, travelling three-wide to the turn. Spotting the leaders a dozen lengths turned out to be a bridge too far but she ran home well, beaten just over two lengths on the line. The four-year-old sees the Townsville track for the first time today and has it over Bridezilla in this contest. She meets her stablemate 2kgs better and has drawn a better gate as well. Scotty Sheargold has the reins for the first time and stepping to the mile looks ideal for her now. She gets the ticks here and looks great value with the bagmen.
