Mildura Racing Tips 18 July 2026 — Can Codename finally land it?
Hobart Racing Tips 19 July — is Blacker the key?
Hobart Racing Tips 19 July — is Blacker the key?
There are Hobart cards where you’re hunting one clean edge and letting the rest fall into place. This is one of them. J K Blacker doesn’t just have numbers at this track, he’s got volume: 145 runners here for 17 wins. That matters more than any shiny one-from-one course stat, because it’s built on repetition and intention.
So the plan today is simple. Use that stable gravity, then get picky about which of their runners are actually set up by race shape and map. You’ve got five races on turf, mostly around that 1312m sweet spot, plus a 1750m that looks like the day’s most readable betting contest. These Hobart racing tips are written like you’d talk it through over a coffee: who I want to back, who can beat them, and where I’m happy to sit out.
Hobart — the setup
Hobart’s been kind to riders who know when to go and when to wait. E Byrne Burke is the standout on the raw record here: 81 rides for 17 wins and 34 placings. That’s not a vibe, that’s a body of work. Behind him, Bree Temple has made her chances count (24 rides, 5 wins), and A Darmanin’s place strike is strong enough to keep respecting him when he lands on something with upside.
Limited course form across today’s fields — plenty of runners have only one or two goes here. Where there is a deep sample, it’s mainly with the big stables and the senior riders, so that’s where I’m leaning.
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| Jockey | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E Byrne Burke | 81 | 17 | 34 | 20.99 | 41.98 |
| A Darmanin | 29 | 4 | 12 | 13.79 | 41.38 |
| K Sanderson | 29 | 4 | 10 | 13.79 | 34.48 |
| Bree Temple | 24 | 5 | 8 | 20.83 | 33.33 |
| T Baker | 62 | 5 | 17 | 8.06 | 27.42 |
| Trainer | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J K Blacker | 145 | 17 | 37 | 11.72 | 25.52 |
| S Gandy | 101 | 8 | 36 | 7.92 | 35.64 |
| J L Keys | 117 | 15 | 49 | 12.82 | 41.88 |
Race-by-race
Race 1: Winning Edge Presentation Mdn — 11:18, 1312m
Black Raptor looks the most reliable way to start the day. The form line is the giveaway: 302 says he’s been around the mark without needing excuses, and from gate 1 Sheridan Clarke should be able to hold a spot and avoid doing any work early. That matters in these maidens where half the field finds trouble by choice.
The danger is the one with the right recent spike: Unfiltered (242) reads like a maiden who keeps getting his chance and keeps being honest. He’s the kind you’d love if he drew a marble, but barrier 12 means Radley is going to have to make decisions early. If he pushes forward, he risks being wide; if he drifts back, he needs luck threading through.
I’m also keeping an eye on Windara Rock It who ran second on his only Hobart start. That’s a data point, not a trend, but it’s enough to include if you’re playing quinellas.
Play: Win bet Black Raptor. Small saver quinella with Unfiltered if you’re worried about the map.
Race 2: Graham Family Funerals Mdn — 11:52, 1509m
This is a puzzle about whether the reliable place horse finally gets his moment, or whether the progressive three-year-old just has more gears. I want to be with Don Turboas. His Hobart record is tidy without over-selling it: two runs here for a win and a placing, and the bigger point is he’s flying lately. Over the last 90 days he’s had three starts for one win and he’s hit the frame every time, averaging a finish around the top two. That’s not padding, that’s form you can bet into.
Gold Tianna is the danger because she keeps turning up and running well. Seven Hobart runs without winning doesn’t scream killer instinct, but three placings here shows she handles the place and she maps to get the right trail from gate 6 with Darmanin.
If you’re shopping for a blowout include, Bruny Boy ran third on his only Hobart start and that can be enough in a maiden if the favourite gets stuck in a pocket.
Play: Don Turboas to win. If you want insurance, exacta box with Gold Tianna.
Race 3: Thank You, Tony Scott! Plate (C1) — 12:30, 1750m
The day’s best betting race, for mine, because it’s got a clear profile horse and the map suits. Don Turboas backs up into a Class 1 with a pattern that holds together: recent win, then he stays competitive, and he’s already proven at this track. Jessie Bazan’s placement reads like confidence, not guesswork.
The horse I fear is Merlin Beach. He’s been consistently thereabouts (125323) and he’s had three goes at Hobart for two placings. From gate 2 with Darmanin, he gets first crack at the leaders and can pinch it if they crawl.
Them’s The Breaks is the other one to keep onside in trifectas. Three Hobart runs for two placings says he finds the track, and Jackson Radley’s small-sample place rate here is better than people think (8 rides for 3 placings).
Play: Win bet Don Turboas. If the price is short, play him as a multi banker and take a quinella with Merlin Beach.
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Race 4: Ladbrokes Mega Multi Hcp (C1) — 13:10, 1312m
This is where the Blacker and Gandy stables start throwing punches, and you’ve got to decide whether you trust the horse with the course habit or the horse with the better draw. I’m siding with Geegees Mercedes. Five goes at Hobart with four placings is proper track affinity, and barrier 6 with Darmanin is exactly the kind of setup that lets her land midfield with cover and get a clean last 400m.
My danger is Geegees Ace, because he won on his only start here and he’s got that sharp profile that can make you look silly if you get cute. Just keep the sample size straight: it’s one run, one win. Useful, but it doesn’t make him a course specialist. The bigger question is whether he gets the same run in a bigger, deeper field.
I can’t ignore Verhoeven either. Three Hobart runs for a win and another placing, and Sigrid Carr runners can improve sharply when they find a rhythm in the grades.
Play: Each-way Geegees Mercedes. Saver win bet Geegees Ace if the market drifts and gives you a price worth taking.
Race 5: Kevin Sharkie (Bm68) — 13:47, 1312m
The market usually finds this kind of race hard because it mixes older grinders with a couple of in-form types. I’m keeping it simple: Furneaux to win. Three starts at Hobart for a win and two more placings makes him the closest thing on the card to a track horse at this distance range, and his recent form is strong as well: three runs in the last 90 days for a win and he’s been in the money every time. From gate 2, Tayla Cameron can ride him like the best horse.
The danger is Sky Land. Five Hobart runs for a win and two placings tells you he can show up here, and he’s coming off a win in his recent sequence (323691). If he crosses cleanly from 11 and finds cover, he’s a real threat late.
One more to mention: Geegees Missile gets the inside alley and the lighter weight profile you want in a benchmark. He’s not as reliable to win, but he’s the type who can stick on for second if the leaders dominate.
Play: Win bet Furneaux. Quinella with Sky Land if you want to play the safe version.
The plays
NAP: Furneaux (Race 5, 13:47). He’s the rare one today with solid course evidence and matching current form. Three Hobart runs, three times in the frame, plus a recent win, is enough to anchor the card.
Value: Geegees Mercedes (Race 4, 13:10) each-way. Four placings from five Hobart starts is the sort of repeatable edge that holds up even when the race gets messy.
Banker for multis: Don Turboas (Race 3, 12:30). His last 90 days reads like a horse in the right part of his prep, and he’s already handled Hobart.
Each-way play: Geegees Mercedes again, but keep stakes sensible. Big field, plenty of map outcomes, you want the place dividend working for you.
Course angle to keep riding: J K Blacker’s Hobart volume (145 runners) makes him a stable you treat seriously on this track, but don’t back the brand. Back the runner that maps.
If E Byrne Burke keeps popping up on the right horses at Hobart, it’ll be worth following him race-by-race next meeting rather than treating him like just another name in the racebook.
FAQ
What time does racing start at Hobart today?
Racing starts at Hobart at 11:18 with Race 1, the Winning Edge Presentation Maiden over 1312m.
Who are the top trainers and jockeys at Hobart on today’s numbers?
E Byrne Burke is the leading rider on the course stats: 81 rides here for 17 wins and 34 placings. Trainer-wise, J K Blacker has the strongest high-volume record at Hobart on today’s card with 145 runners for 17 wins.
What are the best bets at Hobart today?
My Hobart best bets are Furneaux in Race 5 (13:47) as the main win play, and Geegees Mercedes in Race 4 (13:10) as the each-way option on her strong Hobart placing record.
Where can I find the best odds for Hobart races?
Odds weren’t available in the feed at time of writing, so shop around with your preferred bookmakers close to jump time, especially for Race 4 and Race 5 where small late moves can matter. If you’re using bookies with betslip links, you’ll need the live selection IDs from the bookmaker odds feed to generate a direct click-through.
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