Check out our tips and best bets for Saturday’s racing around Australia, headlined by the G1 action at Eagle Farm, plus racing at Rosehill, Sandown-Hillside, Murray Bridge and Belmont.
Our Melbourne tips are courtesy of Katelyn Mallyon, with her full rundown on her best bets below.
READ: Stradbroke Handicap day full preview & tips
READ: Katelyn Mallyon’s Sandown tips & best bets
READ: Stradbroke Handicap runner-by-runner preview
BEST BETS
Sandown R3 No.16 Name Dropper
Landed some huge bets when winning on debut at Eagle Farm. Went to the paddock and has come back in Melbourne with three jump outs before heading straight to the 1400m. Looks ready and set in a very winnable race.
Rosehill R9 No.6 Franz Josef
Franz Josef (6) is promising. Looked gone last time out at this track and distance but when challenged, found a second wind and ended up taking it comfortably. Better barrier here and an improving surface will aid him.
Eagle Farm R9 No.15 Fawkner Park
Annabel Neasham has had a good Winter Carnival and Fawkner Park (15) hasn’t run a bad race this preparation and was strong through the line when just missing in a three-way finish of the Doomben Cup. Tyler Schiller stays on and with a tempo to suit will be hard to hold out.
BEST VALUE
Sandown R6 No.10 Angry Skies
Fit now and winkers back on. He races well at Hillside and is drawn to get a gun run.
Rosehill R7 No.11 Pisanello
Godolphin’s Pisanello (11) won like a future star second-up at Scone and then nothing really went right last time out at Rosehill. Zac Lloyd came off and said the horse didn’t handle the wet ground and he also travelled four wide without cover for the trip. Drawn wide again so he’ll need some luck, but it’s an improving track and enough speed in the race to allow Adam Hyeronimus to slot in.
Eagle Farm R2 No.12 Manhood
Firm ground and no weight suits Manhood (12) which has promised more than delivered but has won twice here previously and put the writing on the wall two starts back at Rosehill. A wide gate and soft track cost him at Scone last outing but with 6kg less he will get all the favours with Zac Lloyd from the ace.