We have studied the form from all races across the country for Thursday, January 19, and provided our best horse racing tips.
Whilst it was highly unlikely you would have seen Track Curator Nevesh Ramdhani up on the podium performing ‘The Sprinkler’ at Sin City Nightclub on Saturday evening. There’s every chance the big man might cut loose on the glitter strip this weekend if he is able to get through Thursday’s Magic Millions Day Mark II after copping a wet start to the week. He was dealing with a track already rated a Heavy9, and more showers forecast as we head towards the rescheduled $11 million race day.
There’s not much left to say that hasn’t already been said about the weekend’s ‘Watergate’ debacle, and I think most punters along with Ramdhani would all agree, the bulldozers can’t start soon enough on what is a long overdue major upgrade of the well worn Bundall facility.
That’s all set to go down on Monday, but between now and then there’s eight races, each worth a million dollars or more, that need to be run and won. So let’s get into it.
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 Thursday, January 19.
Gold Coast, Race 1 – 1. Ef Troop ($4.40)
Fraught with danger betting in the first on a track that is going to be largely unknown but the upside is you know exactly what you are going to get with this veteran.
Agreed, he has been a money muncher in the past and is a big reason why you see bookmakers driving Mercedes Benz’s whilst us punters do our best to get a rego check done on our Toyota Camry, but I like what he did first up and I’m buoyed by the fact they tipped him out on a high last time in.
No heavy track stats, but he won on a soft this time last year suggesting the old boy might just be starting to appreciate the jar out of the ground. And whilst he’s yet to win on this track, he’s raced and placed several times here, on this day, as well as one very ugly incident for a 4th place many moons ago as a 2YO.
He has the class factor about him, and I’m finding it hard to line the favourite up after just an even effort first up and then placing in a $750k invitation only race at Toowoomba.
He is good enough to carry top weight, race handy, and hold this bunch at bay.
The Shark’s Tip
1. Ef Troop ($4.40)
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Gold Coast, Race 2 – 12. Street Dancer ($8.50/$2.90)
Looking for some value here in a very open race.
This 5YO son of Pride of Dubai has been very good to us in the past, hardly putting a foot wrong since transferring to the care of David Van Dyke.
Going off what we saw in the limited races on Saturday, the middle to outside of the track is going to be the place they’ll all want to be, so I’m not overly perturbed by the wide draw.
The former Group 3 Gloaming Stakes runner up has the tactical speed to either take a sit early and work forward when it suits mid race, or camp just outside the leaders and build momentum into it.
You are probably going to need to be fairly fit to do that and win this in the ground but I’ve got no queries there, five runs into a summer campaign after racing well throughout the QLD winter.
Looked home last start before the promising Irish Playboy took all the shortcuts and nabbed him late.
He is a pretty handy middle distance horse this bloke, he is super fit, racing in great form, and I don’t think you need to be a superstar to win this.
Represents good value at each-way odds.
The Shark’s Tip
12. Street Dancer ($8.50/$2.90)
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Gold Coast, Race 3 – 2. Sovereign Fund ($6.50/$2.40)
This is the first of two bets we had in our top 5 from around the country last Saturday that we are going to stick with here.
I think he is the best horse in the race. Not put off by the wide draw as he will most likely come into 13. Four of the last six winners have jumped from double figure draws including Houtzen from 16, Sunlight and Away Game from 12, and Coolangatta last year from 10.
They are pretty handy gallopers in their own right, but this bloke does look pretty smart also.
He sat deep and was far too good for them in the Wyong Millions. Then beat nothing and had it all his own way last start when he came to QLD for the first time, but you could not help but be impressed by the way he quickened.
I think Cylinder is the best of the 2YO’s I’ve seen thus far even though he is still a maiden. That taps into the form line through Fire Lane who defeated Cylinder narrowly in the Max Lees Classic before proving too strong for race favourite Empire of Japan last start, but in between he copped windburn from this Capitalist colt out of the Snowden yard.
Jamie Kah sticks which is a good lead, he’s won on the soft, and I think he can replicate the old man by winning this race.
The Shark’s Tip
2. Sovereign Fund ($6.50/$2.40)
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Gold Coast, Race 4 – 7. Hell I Am ($9.00/$3.00)
I didn’t have him in our set for Saturday when most assumed the race was going to be run on a firm track, but things are different now.
This guy absolutely relishes wet tracks, which is enough to sway me that he is the one to beat over Russian Conquest who is none from four on heavy ground, and meets him a kilo worse off at weights on account of James McDonald riding a kilo over.
Had no trouble catching this horse when Pike and McDonald were riding him, and I’ve had no luck catching Ben Coen since he’s been here, having only recently picked myself up off the floor after his ride on Lion’s Roar in the Summer Cup, so I’m not disappointed to see Jamie Kah take over.
Surprised they haven’t come for him given his wet stats, but I’d encourage you to grab the close to double figure odds whilst they are still on offer.
The Shark’s Tip
7. Hell I Am ($9.00/$3.00)
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Gold Coast, Race 6 – 1. King Of Sparta ($1.85)
We made him our best Saturday and it would be hard to jump off him given what he lines up against here.
Strong winner first up when putting pay to a few of these.
He was the Guineas winner here last year, and has good second up stats.
Rider Chad Schofield dropped the stick at the top of the straight last start, but it mattered little as he still sprinted quickly and spaced them
Shooting For Gold looks the only horse with the quality to threaten him, but he meets him at the same weights for a comprehensive 2L defeat.
They have dodged wet tracks with him in the past, but that is generally early on in his campaign. And he is a winner of the Group 3 Bletchingly on a Soft7.
Expect McDonald to be happy to camp off this small field and prove too strong for them in the run home.
The Shark’s Tip
1. King Of Sparta ($1.85)
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Best Bet – 1. King Of Sparta (Gold Coast, Race 6)
Next Best – 7. Hell I Am (Gold Coast, Race 4)
Best Roughie – 12. Street Dancer (Gold Coast, Race 2)
*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of Dabble.
