Saturday’s Best Bets: Ladbrokes Form Analysts

PLAYIN’IT SWEET (1) looks extremely hard to beat in the west this Saturday.

The Adam Durrant-trained filly is thrown in under the set weight conditions of the race given she has won five races while her nine rivals combine for two wins in total.

Adding further to how well she is placed in this race, Holly Nottle’s 3kg claim will see her carry just 57.5kg.

She returned from a spell last start over this course and distance and gave a super account of herself, leading until the shadows of the post to go down by a neck.

She’ll strip fitter and should enjoy a nice run, making her my best bet anywhere in Australia on Saturday.

KING GUTHO (1) returns to the Gold Coast looking to go one better than last year’s Magic Millions Country Cup where he finished just under a length second.

The Joe Cleary-trained gelding was last seen finding the line strongly to win at Queanbeyan in The Thunderbolt which is a stronger race than this.

A recent trial will have tuned him up nicely.

While he’s drawn sticky, Tommy Berry is back in the saddle and there looks to be abundance of speed which will help him find a position.

WARWOVEN (4) is a raging favourite for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, and I can’t find a reason not to be with him.

The Bjorn Baker-trained colt was ultra-impressive on debut over 1000m at Randwick where he settled third, four lengths off the leader, before letting down strongly to win comfortably by 2.15 lengths.

He came north to Eagle Farm last start where he made a mess of his rivals to comfortably win over this distance by 3.32 lengths.

The son of Sword Of State had plenty left in the tank and will have come on nicely since that run.

He’s drawn well and maps to stalk the speed before launching in the straight.

NINJA (1) draws the car park, but I don’t think that’s enough to stop him from winning the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.

The Michael Freedman-trained gelding was outstanding last start in the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate where despite being slow away and settling near the tail, he let rip with a devastating turn of foot to put his rivals away in the blink of an eye to win by 4.79 lengths.

He was stiff not to win the start prior when resuming in the Pierata Plate with a half-length third to Grafterburners after being held up and impeded badly.

If Tommy Berry finds a spot with cover, he’ll take a power of beating.

NEED SOME LUCK (4) is a model of consistency and has come back this preparation in terrific form.

The Peter Snowden-trained gelding loved the heavy conditions first-up at Flemington when winning the Listed Fisher Stakes before producing a forgivable run in the Ladbrokes Meteorite second-up when caught wide throughout.

He bounced back to winning form in a big way last start in the Buffering at Eagle Farm where he let down strongly to salute by a length.

That kept his record his perfect record over this distance intact.

Given he was six weeks between runs, he’ll be cherry ripe for the Magic Millions Cup.

• Top 3 – Hidden Wealth (1)           
• Top 3 – The Instructor (2)           
• Top 4 – Payline (4)           

I’m targeting the Magic Millions Snippets for my Same Race Multi this week.

There’s no rocket science to this bet; I just think there’s three chances to win it, and the trio will be fighting it out.

Hidden Wealth (1) is my on top top selection for the race on the back of his impressive win in the Falvelon. Champion trainer Tony Gollan couldn’t have this guy in better condition.

The Instructor (2) comes north after a super run in the Canterbury Sprint where he was nudged out late by future Group horse King’s Secret. He’ll have come on nicely since that first-up hit out.

Finally, I’m throwing in my old mate Payline (4). The striking chestnut arguably should have won The Syndicate last start after missing the start. He’s always a live chance in these races and I think Damian Lane going on could be the difference.   

ALABAMA FOX (5) has shown steady improvement across her four starts this preparation.

After finishing second at Warwick Farm and Randwick, she was duly rewarded for her consistency with an easy win at this level last start.

Facing similar conditions again this week, I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish again.

ITAZURA (6) steps up in grade, but his winning form and fitness edge over several key rivals stand him in good stead again.

After resuming with a minor placing over 1000m at Moe, the Tagaloa gelding improved sharply to score an effortless maiden victory.

The rise in distance to 1400m appears ideal, he is well weighted, and I’m confident he can continue his winning form.

WARWOVEN (4) puts an unbeaten record on the line and in my opinion, is a fitting favourite in this contest.

Having stamped himself as one to watch down in Sydney on debut, Warwoven franked that performance with another comfortable victory in Queensland last time out.

I’m eager to take on the short-price favourite in the 3YO Guineas and SPANISH TREASURE (6) is one that I think can give some cheek at a big price.

Spanish Treasure finished fourth behind the likes of Grafterburners in his first run back this time, while he takes winning form into this after breaking his maiden right here on the Gold Coast last week.

I like that he’s on the quick back up and in my opinion, he shapes as one of the day’s best each way prospects.

NEED SOME LUCK (4) looks perfectly placed in the Magic Millions Cup, in my opinion.

It’s fair to say he was a little flat in the Ladbrokes Meteorite second up from a spell, but that performance was bookended by impressive wins in the Listed Fisher Stakes at Flemington and the Buffering up at Eagle Farm last time.

Given that recent performance was off a freshen up of six weeks, I’m confident he’ll be right back on this weekend.

• Win – Cross Tasman (7)
• Top 3 – Herward (16)
• Top 4 – Pippie Beach (1)

CROSS TASMAN (7) is unbeaten in two runs back from a spell and I think he’ll complete the hat-trick in the last at Rosehill this week.

He put paid to them under 60.5kgs fresh from a break and was a dominant winner at Randwick on Boxing Day.

This is slightly harder, but I am eager to stick with him until he gives me a reason not to be.

With him as my winner in a Same Race Multi, I’m also going to include HEREWARD (16) finishing in the Top 3 and PIPPIE BEACH (1) finishing in the Top 4.

Hereward is also chasing a hat-trick this week but faces a slightly harder task from the wide alley, while Pippie Beach is open to further improvement third-up from a spell and will relish some relief in the weights.

OUR CHIEF (3) looks set to be right in the firing line, with Mark Zahra jumping aboard a runner that’s knocking loudly on the door. 

The Danny O’Brien-trained three-year-old has been building nicely this prep, flashing home from a tough spot when third at Cranbourne first-up before backing it up with another brave effort at Headquarters last Saturday, looming as the winner over the mile only to be run down late by Flying Done. 

The stable wasting no time and rolling him out again on the quick backup speaks volumes, and while this is his first crack at the 2000m, the way he hit the line last week suggests the extra trip won’t be an issue. From a perfect gate, he looks ready to take plenty of catching. 

HURRY MISS (9) is sure to have her share of admirers after an eye-catching effort on Boxing Day, slicing through traffic late to grab second in a fillies and mares contest. 

The Matthew Dale-trained mare, by Alabama Express, was forced to come from the tail, momentarily held up before ducking back to the inside and finally seeing daylight, charging to the line to finish just over a length away. 

She profiles to take another step forward third-up and a wide draw may actually suit her get-back, run-on style. The booking of Dylan Gibbons adds further intent, and she looks ready to make her presence felt again. 

WARWOVEN (4) has held favouritism for the 2YO Classic since bursting onto the scene with a dominant win at Eagle Farm to start the year, and it’s easy to see why. 

His debut victory at Randwick over 1000m was just as slick, putting them away by more than two lengths and stamping himself as a serious talent. Rachel King knows the colt inside out now, and from an ideal gate the pair should slide straight into the box seat early, giving him every chance to justify the market support. 

NINJA (1) could not have been more impressive when winning the Vo Rogue Plate last start. 

The Freedman-trained sprinter rounded up the field to bolt in 4.7 lengths clear in a stunning last to first effort, one he could (and should) repeat on Saturday, especially if he jumps on time. 

The draw is a little tricky, but he just needs to find some cover early under Tommy Berry to salute at short odds. 

GETAFIX (18) brings strong Sydney form and a plum inside draw into the Magic Millions Cup, giving him plenty in his favour. 

The O’Shea/Charlton-trained gelding signed off last prep in style when taking out the greys race at Flemington on Cup Day, earning a deserved break before resuming at Canterbury on New Year’s Day, where he worked home soundly from the back to finish midfield. 

A three-time winner at the 1400m, he maps to settle back in the run under Zac Lloyd and look to unleash late, with the setup suggesting he can be charging when it counts. 

• Win – Cross Tasman (7) 
• Top 3 – Pure Alpha (9) 
• Top 4 – Pretty Powerful (10) 

CROSS TASMAN (7) put his rivals to the sword on Boxing Day at Randwick by a solid 2.6 length margin and now goes around in search of his hat-trick. Maps to get all the favours from barrier 4 and I think he’ll love getting out over further.  

PURE ALPHA (9) is always tough to trust but is worth including on his second-up form that includes two wins from three starts. Forgive his fresh effort at Warwick Farm two weeks ago where he finished down the order from a very tricky gate. 

PRETTY POWERFUL (10) is a progressive type who just needs some early luck having drawn the carpark. He was an impressive winner at Warwick Farm fresh and really stuck to the task well to third up to this grade at Randwick to kick off the New Year, beaten only 2.5 lengths by Alabama Fox.