We have studied the form from all races across the country for Saturday, February 4, and provided our best horse racing tips.
If you were starting to get the feeling that the racing is just getting better and better every week, then you are right.
The stars of last spring are appearing with increasing frequency as we edge into the final trimester of summer, and those autumnal feels come over you every time you pick up a form guide lately.
We saw the Golden Rose winner resume right back to his best on Australia Day. That was closely followed up by the Caulfield Guineas winner putting in a brave effort on Saturday when runner up in the Expressway, and this week we see the return of a colt that many were tipping was better than the lot of them before he was waylaid by injury.
Although Aft Cabin is among our top picks for this week, as testament to the quality of fields on offer, he hasn’t made it to our top three. However he does look a more than handy lock as a multiplier if you want to roll him into our other top picks on offer earlier in the day.
We have made five selections in total and are confident that we have found you some winners! So, read on below to find our best horse racing tips for this Saturday, February 4.
Randwick, Race 1 – 3. Mexico ($4.40/$2.15)
This has been a handy little race since its inception. Not necessarily for the winners, but some nice horses have come out of the race at 3YO and 4YO.
But all of that is of little interest to us as we search for one in the right here and now. And I think Mexico fits that bill.
The 1000m jump and run is definitely his go. They’ve messed around with his gear a bit to date but settled on the blinkers again first up.
Great effort on debut in the Melbourne version of the Inglis race when he camped outside the leader around The Valley and hit the front with 100m to go.
The horse that ran him down late looks above average and trialled well recently.
Then he didn’t quite see the trip out over the 1100m and might have felt the good 3 track late that day.
Trialled best of the morning his first look this time in, running 43.24 home sub 33 on a soft rated track. Then won easing up on the line after dominating in his second heat over the 1045m.
Whether he is able to maintain that sort of brilliance to make him a legitimate top line 6 furlong 2YO remains to be seen. But as was alluded to earlier, we are looking for winners this Saturday over 1000m.
The stable mate looks very handy, and I think he really could have pushed Sicilian in his two trials if he wanted to. They both line up here, but I think they’ll both just be boxing on late behind the Capitalist colt over 1000m. Might be a different story down the track.
The Shark’s Tip
3. Mexico ($4.40/$2.15)
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Randwick, Race 2 – 1. Banana Queen ($3.90)
Has to give the boys some weight here, and draws sticky, but I don’t think it will matter.
This mare is aiming for a picket fence here after winning her past three basically untested.
Hands and heels first up, then copped three down the shoulder after she had already hit the front with 100m to go in midweek grade second up, then it was much the same treatment when she just walked through a split at the 300m at her first go at Saturday metro grade.
That win was as effortless a win as I’ve seen all year and I’m certain she will win this, and go on to win much, much better races.
Star potential.
The Shark’s Tip
1. Banana Queen ($3.90)
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Newcastle, Race 3 – 8. Esky ($10/$2.65)
Prepared to overlook his last start disappointment in what I would best describe as an interesting sort of race.
The stewards didn’t see it that way, but I doubt that would shock many. The race has thrown a winner and a couple of placings since and I’m prepared to say there are a couple more that will win races out of that event.
I certainly think Esky is one of them going off his first up run.
He really hit the line strongly there over the 1350m on the inside track at Newcastle. Then he was just run off his legs second up in a race where just about every rider put up the white flag after 50m.
I think he is better than that, and can play a part here back in grade, up in trip, and at a price.
The Shark’s Tip
8. Esky ($10/$2.65)
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Randwick, Race 8 – 3. Aft Cabin ($2.00)
Happy to go with him here at around even money.
There is no doubt that Zou Tiger is a quality animal, but he’s been bettered fairly comfortably by those at the very elite level of this age group. And I tend to think Aft Cabin is right there with the likes of Jacquinot and Zougotcha.
So if Zou Tiger is the main danger, as the market suggests, then I don’t think we are talking apples v apples.
Missed the Caulfield Guineas through injury, but not having the G1 next to his name works well here at set weights and penalties. Trialled well, so no concern injury wise.
Think he camps off them and rounds them up comfortably setting up some really exciting 3YO clashes in the coming weeks.
The Shark’s Tip
3. Aft Cabin ($2.00)
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Sandown, Race 8 – 5. Detonator Jack ($2.25)
Another at the short quote but I’d be more than happy to have him as a live hope in the anchor leg of my multis by this stage of the day.
He’s a horses for courses track which the stable have certainly recognised with three of his four runs this time in being either here or Flemington.
He goes up in trip and drops in weight even though he tackles the same grade race on account of some out of form, high rated horses stretching the scale out here. And he meets the majority of the bottom half, of whom the dangers are most likely to come from, at compressed weights. An event on par with Halley’s Comet in terms of rarities, and when it does occur, it is generally profitable.
There’s a lot of ticks on that list alone. Throw in J Allen at 56.5kg and Pounding winning again a fortnight ago, and you have to think he is one of the better bets you’ll see for a while.
The Shark’s Tip
5. Detonator Jack ($2.25)
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Best Bet – 1. Banana Queen (Randwick, Race 2)
Next Best – 5. Detonator Jack (Sandown, Race 8)
Best Roughie – 8. Esky (Newcastle, Race 3)
*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of Dabble.
