Chasing Saturday racing’s value bets? Our expert roughie selections from two of the key meetings are waiting for you at Ladbrokes!
We had a bit of a shocker without uncovering a winner in last week’s Saturday roughies, so this weekend is all about atonement!
The cards might be light on Black-Type racing, but with the spring carnivals fast approaching there’s a few eye-catchers getting around.
Having gone over the form, we’ve picked a couple out of Caulfield and Bunbury that may have been overlooked.
Get the inside word from Ladbrokes’ “value whisperer,” Lucy Henderson, as she reveals her exclusive top roughies below.
Caulfield Race 1 (12:05PM AEST) – $150,000 Sportsbet Get On Now Handicap (1100m)
WIN: No. 1 Gin Spirit ($7.50 at time of publish)
GIN SPIRIT (4), the class filly of the race for mine, looks a strong play in the opener on Sir John Monash Stakes Day.
The apprentice claim from Logan Bates will be beneficial for this Team Hayes-trained daughter of Spirit Of Boom, who carries weight but has the record to back it up.
With two wins from four career starts and a solid 2-from-3 at this distance, she’s a proven fresh performer.
Her autumn campaign saw her perform at Group 2 level at Caulfield and secure a Listed victory in the Cinderella Stakes at Morphettville.
She also ran a brave second in the Group 3 Ottawa Stakes (1000m) at Flemington behind subsequent Golden Slipper performer Military Tycoon.
Following two encouraging winter trials, she returns fit and ready, and from a good draw in gate four, she’s expected to be a major factor at good odds to kick things off.
Caulfield Race 8 (4:15PM AEST) – Group 3 $200,000 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m)
WIN: No. 10 New York Lustre ($8.50 at time of publish)
Seeking a prime value bet in this year’s Sir John Monash, all signs point to the resuming NEW YORK LUSTRE (2) for mine.
This ultra-consistent daughter of Manhattan Rain returns to the races for the first time since April, boasting a phenomenal fresh record of three wins from four starts.
Trained by Group 1 winner Enver Jusufovic, she’s been a model of reliability throughout her career, saluting in five of her eight outings and only once finishing out of the money.
Last seen dominating a Benchmark 78 at The Valley over 1000m on the ANZAC Day long weekend with a hefty 59.5kg, her proven ability up to six furlongs means the distance is no concern.
With talented Jamie Melham, who has a winning history with her, in the saddle and a dream run anticipated from barrier two in a small field, she presents as a very attractive prospect at appealing odds in the feature.
Caulfield Race 9 (4:48PM AEST) – $130,000 Sportsbet Get On Black Book Handicap (1700m)
EACH WAY: No. 13 Ocean Beyond ($12 at time of publish)
For our each-way play in the day’s final race at Caulfield, I’m taking a strong look at OCEAN BEYOND (2), who appears to be overs in what’s an open contest.
Despite a winless record from nine starts at Caulfield, Simon Ryan’s seven-year-old son of Ocean Park has secured three placings here, including some very narrow defeats to rivals he’ll meet again.
Notably, he was just a nostril-flare third behind Angry Skies over the mile at this track in May, and has maintained decent form since, including a fourth in the Swan Hill Cup.
Crucially, he finished a close fourth, less than a length from Jimmy The Bear in last weekend’s Listed Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) at Flemington, despite being at triple-figure odds.
Based on that impressive run alone, he seems overlooked and can certainly feature in the money on the short turnaround.
While he rises from 54kg to 57kg, he only has an extra 100m to see out, and Craig Newitt maintains the ride.
Watch for him making a late charge.
Bunbury Race 6 (5:50PM AEST) – Listed $125,000 Belmont Oaks (2019m)
PLACE: No. 9 PRETEY ROYAL ($27 at time of publish)
PRETEY ROYAL (4) is at blowout odds in WA’s feature race this weekend and happy to have something on this Royal Meeting filly at the price to land in the money.
Sharon Miller’s in-form improver remains a maiden after 14 starts but has been showing something of late to suggest she could be about to break that.
Has run top four in her past six starts including back-to-back second placings last month leading up to this Black-Type test.
Two back she caught the eye when runner-up at Pinjarra over 1800m making up lots of ground to close the margin to 0.7 lengths behind the winner Sweet Surrender.
At her latest over 2200m at Northam on June 26 she was a beaten odds-on favourite behind runaway winner King’s Troop who took out his first race at his 10th start that day.
Back a furlong in distance she presents fit and should appreciate the return to 2000m.
This is a tough assignment, but with blinkers on she’ll settle back and could have enough in the tank late to get past a few and close hard for a surprise placing again.
Good luck punters!