Wagga Preview & Best Bets - Thursday March 16
Townsville Preview & Best Bets – Thursday March 16
Townsville Tips 16/03/2023
Our form expert provides Townsville tips for today’s horse racing at Townsville Racecourse and gives his best bets.
BEST BET 🏆
Race 4: No.5 LEADERSHIP SPILL ($3.70 with Ladbrokes)
Race 4 – 2:47PM CARLTON & UNITED BREWERIES OPEN Handicap (1200 METRES)
Rockhampton galloper LEADERSHIP SPILL brings a most impressive record with him today and just resting on that alone, he looks a sound investment here. Last start, the Top Echelon gelding beat all but one home in Open company over 1050m at Mackay. He ran that trip out, 4.3 lengths slower than benchmark, still the best in field today. That result was his ninth-straight podium finish, which is a solid example of consistency on a race track. His only look at the Cluden Park track was two starts back which resulted in victory in a 12-strong BM70 field where he drew the outside gate that day. He has the outside gate again today but with just eight to face the starter, it shouldn’t be a real burden. His last four starts saw four different riders and today we can make it five as ‘lethal’ Lacey Morrison takes the reins for this assignment. Although yet to win in Open company, he has placed five times against the class and is a winner here from his only start. He looks set to remain unbeaten on the Townsville track today.
NEXT BEST 🥈
Race 2: No.4 CUNNAMULLA ($2.35 with BlueBet)
The Steve Massingham-trained CUNNAMULLA has found the podium at his past three starts and with the form on the board, looks well placed here for back-to-back victories today. Last start, the Zoustar gelding kept his improvement going by ringing-up his first win for this campaign. On his home track in Cairns, he arrived in time to snatch victory in a Class 2 Hcp over 1400m, running his last 600m, 4.2 lengths quicker than benchmark, the best last-start effort here by more than 3 lengths. His finishing speed saw him run the fastest final 400m and 200m sectionals as well. At his peak today (after five starts this time in), Jason Taylor sticks with him for his third-straight ride and already a winner at Cluden Park, he looks the goods here again.
BEST VALUE 💰
Race 7: No.4 PHANTOM SPIRIT ($3.90 with Palmerbet)
The Sharlee Hoffman-trained PHANTOM SPIRIT is a recent arrival at the stable (formerly with Mick Mair on the Sunshine Coast), who is second-up here and looks well placed to remain unbeaten on the track today. Last start, the Spirit Of Boom gelding gave connections plenty to cheer about when making his stable debut, he clobbered his rivals in a BM60 Hcp, here over the 1000m sprint. With such a short run to the turn from the 1000m chute, Lacey Morrison had him in front on settling and from there, gave them a galloping lesson as he went on to win by more than a length, eased near the line. He can only strip fitter from that first-up win and has Morrison sticking with him for this assignment. There is plenty of early speed in this race but drawn ideally in gate two, Morrison should have the five-year-old right on the pace from the outset. He is yet to win when second-up but the move to the tropical north may see that all change today.
