Taree Racing Tips 23 June — is Powerful Tune the banker?
Mackay Racing Tips 23 June — can Exodas stay unbeaten here?
Mackay Racing Tips 23 June — can Exodas stay unbeaten here?
The most actionable thing on this Mackay card isn’t a guess about tempo or a breeding hunch. It’s a simple question the meeting forces you to answer: do you take on Exodas at his track, or do you accept the map might be ugly and back him anyway?
He’s 4-from-4 at Mackay, and he turns up again in a three year old handicap where plenty of his rivals are still learning how to win. There are only four races on the program, all on turf, and the distances cluster around that 1400m to 1700m sweet spot where positioning matters and “runs on late” can become a polite way of saying “gave them too much start”.
These Mackay racing tips lean on two things: who actually handles this circuit (not just once, but repeatedly), and who’s trending the right way in recent racing. Where the stats are thin, we don’t pretend they’re gospel. We just use them as a nudge and get back to the form.
Mackay — the setup
Limited course form across today’s fields, but a few runners bring real repeat evidence rather than one-off visits. The standout is Exodas, unbeaten from four runs at Mackay. On the human side, Adam Sewell is the rider you want when it gets tactical here: 36 rides at the track for 11 wins and 20 placings gives you a proper sample, not a lucky week.
Trainer-wise, Lachie Manzelmann basically owns the afternoon by volume, and it’s not empty numbers either. He’s had 68 runners at Mackay since early 2024 for 15 winners and 26 placings. That’s enough history to treat his placements here seriously, even if every individual runner still has to do the job.
Ladbrokes Review [Updated March 2026] | Ladbrokes.com.au Pros & Cons
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| Jockey | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Sewell | 36 | 11 | 20 | 30.56 | 55.56 |
| Aidan Holt | 24 | 6 | 11 | 25.00 | 45.83 |
| R Wiggins | 36 | 6 | 17 | 16.67 | 47.22 |
| Raul Silvera Olivera | 28 | 3 | 13 | 10.71 | 46.43 |
| Trainer | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lachie Manzelmann | 68 | 15 | 26 | 22.06 | 38.24 |
| MS R Binder | 8 | 4 | 5 | 50.00 | 62.50 |
| T Button | 10 | 3 | 5 | 30.00 | 50.00 |
| Ricky Vale | 34 | 5 | 21 | 14.71 | 61.76 |
Race-by-race Mackay predictions
Race 1: Book For Mackay Cup Sat 25th July Hcp — 12:52, 1312
The market will gravitate to Better Blitzem, and I get it. The form string 1-11322 screams reliability, and from gate 4 he lands in the right part of the race without needing anything clever. For a two year old handicap, that’s gold, because plenty of these are still working out whether they want to be brave when a horse eyeballs them.
The pushback is weight and maturity. Better Blitzem lumps 138.8, and if this turns into a sharp sprint late, that impost can bite. The horse I want as the danger is Dub Stepping. He’s had three runs at Mackay for two wins, which is an emerging pattern rather than a lifetime stamp, and he gets in much lighter at 127.8. If he crosses from gate 5 and gets his own rhythm, he can be the one who has something left at the last 100m.
Alberta Bound has only the one Mackay run to judge him on, and he finished third there. Treat that as a single data point, but his broader form (11-434) suggests he’s not far away.
Staking: Win bet Better Blitzem. Small saver on Dub Stepping if you want protection against the weight swing.
Race 2: Ladbrokes Hosted Pots Hcp — 13:27, 1422
Here’s the puzzle: do you let barrier 7 talk you out of a horse that simply doesn’t lose at this track? I’m not. Exodas has been to Mackay four times for four wins, and that’s not a “likes it here” vibe, that’s a proper body of work. His recent form backs it up too. In the last 90 days he’s gone six runs for four wins, and when he doesn’t win he’s not even consistently in the placings, which tells you he races like a winner or bust type rather than a plodder who always grabs third.
The main danger is Lucky Lass, and she’s not a token mention. She’s been here three times for two wins, and the stable behind her, MS R Binder, has a legitimate Mackay record across a real sample: 8 runners for 4 winners. If Lucky Lass rolls forward from gate 9 and Exodas is forced to do early work from 7, that’s the scenario where the unbeaten record gets tested.
If you’re hunting a blowout for multiples, Mayor Of Kingston draws gate 1 and gets Adam Sewell, who rides this joint as well as anyone. The horse’s course record is four runs for one placing, so you’re betting map and rider more than history, but in these three year old races that can be enough to sneak into the minors.
Staking: Exodas win bet. Quinella saver with Lucky Lass if you want to respect the stable strike and her own two wins from three here.
Race 3: Ladbrokes Mega Multi (Bm60) — 14:04, 1422
This is the best betting race on the card because it has a clear form edge without needing to invent a story. Determination comes in with a tidy 35121 profile, draws gate 2, and maps to get the run of the race. He’s also been racing well recently: four runs in the last 90 days for two wins and three placings. That’s a horse holding his form, not flashing it once and disappearing.
Humble Hero is the danger because his current form is the hottest in the field. He’s won his last two (2-2211) and doesn’t need to improve much to win again. The catch is the Mackay sample. He’s only had one start here and he placed, so call it “handled the track” rather than “loves the track”. He also draws 7, which can force a decision: push forward and risk doing work, or snag back and hope the leaders come back to you.
Five Star King is the place horse I keep coming back to. Two runs at Mackay for two placings tells you he’s comfortable here, and gate 1 helps him hold a spot. He doesn’t have the same recent winning punch as the top two, but he’s a strong anchor for trifectas if you play them.
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Staking: Win bet Determination. Exacta saver with Humble Hero. If you’re playing wider, include Five Star King for the placings.
Race 4: Ladbrokes Popular Srm Mdn Plate — 14:42, 1706
The contrast here is brutal: you’ve got the horse that keeps knocking on the door versus the ones who keep finding reasons not to. I want to be with Frosty’s Gotcha. His form line 023224 says he’s right there, and his recent racing backs that up: five runs in the last 90 days for four placings. He’s not winning, but he’s putting himself in the finish, and that matters in a maiden over 1706 where many won’t truly run it out.
The map helps too. Gate 1 lets him hold a position without spending petrol, and that’s often the difference between running second again and finally getting a head in front.
The danger is Willow Capri. She’s been consistent without breaking through (742452), and while she hasn’t won at Mackay, her course record reads better than most: four runs here for two placings. She draws gate 4 and can stalk the right backs if the leader overdoes it.
Cash Pit is the other one to mention for those who like a price. He’s been around the mark lately (8-2633) and gets Tom Orr, but from gate 9 he’ll need luck and timing.
Staking: Each-way Frosty’s Gotcha. Save on Willow Capri if she drifts to a backable price given her steadiness.
The plays
NAP: Exodas (Race 2, 13:27). Four runs at Mackay, four wins. Even if the draw forces him to do a bit early, this track keeps rewarding horses who know where the winning post lives.
Value: Five Star King (Race 3, 14:04) as a place or top-three style bet if your book offers it. Two trips to Mackay, two placings, and gate 1 means he doesn’t need to be a star to be in the fight.
Banker for multis: Determination (Race 3). Recent form is rock-solid (two wins from four last 90 days) and he draws to control his own destiny from barrier 2.
Each-way play: Frosty’s Gotcha (Race 4). He keeps turning up in the money lately and draws the pole in a maiden that should reward a horse who stays out of trouble.
Course angle to keep: When you’re torn in a Mackay 1400m race, lean toward the rider with the biggest proven sample here. Adam Sewell wins about three of every ten rides at the track and hits the frame more often than not, and that combination of judgement and timing matters on days where the speed looks even.
Next Mackay meeting, keep an eye on whether the market starts overreacting to wide draws, because today’s card has at least one horse good enough to make gate position look like noise.
FAQ
What time does racing start at Mackay today?
Mackay kicks off at 12:52 with Race 1, the Book For Mackay Cup Sat 25th July Handicap (1312m).
Who are the top jockeys at Mackay on today’s numbers?
Adam Sewell leads the meaningful course sample on the card: 36 rides at Mackay for 11 wins and 20 placings. Aidan Holt is next in line with 24 rides for 6 wins and 11 placings, while R Wiggins rides plenty here too (36 rides, 6 wins, 17 placings).
Which trainer should punters respect most at this Mackay meeting?
Lachie Manzelmann dominates by representation and has the record to match: 68 runners at Mackay since early 2024 for 15 winners and 26 placings. He also saddles multiple runners across Race 1, Race 2, and Race 3.
What are the best bets at Mackay today?
The safest anchor is Exodas in Race 2 (13:27) because he’s unbeaten from four starts at Mackay. The other strong push is Determination in Race 3 (14:04), drawn to get every chance and arriving off two wins from his last four runs.
Where can I find the best Mackay odds?
Prices can vary across bookmakers close to jump time, especially in the smaller fields. Compare markets with your preferred book, and if you’re shopping around, check a few operators just before each race because fluctuations can be sharp at provincial meetings. (No live odds feed was available in today’s data.)
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