The major focus on any Saturday is metropolitan racing but there's plenty of us out there that don't mind a dabble at the support meetings across the country so here's our best bets.
On Saturday, we’ve come up with a tip at the Newcastle, Bendigo, Gold Coast, Wagga, Narromine and Wodonga meetings.
NEWCASTLE
ISTRIA (Race 8 No. 3) This Godolphin mare looks well placed to break through on Saturday. She’s had two runs back this campaign, both solid efforts in good midweek metro races. First-up she raced too fresh and didn’t have a lot of luck in running when beaten less than a length by the handy Cocoexcel before the second-up run which saw her chase home the classy Slow Burn and Vienna Romance, herself a city winner recently. This is a significant class drop, she’ll appreciate getting out to 1400m and should prove too good.
BENDIGO
PENTIAN (Race 2 No. 6) The race has a bit of depth but that should just help us get some sort of price about the lightly raced Darren Weir-trained Pentian. His debut was solid behind a smart filly, he then stayed at the same trip and couldn’t match his stable mate’s kick in the straight but did keep coming after sitting out three deep the trip. He’s by Pentire so he’s only going to take big steps with every run under his belt and the step up to the mile on the big track looks ideal. He’ll box seat from the good gate and should prove too good. Play quinellas with Boss Tweed that will also love the step up to the mile.
GOLD COAST
COSMIC VIEW (Race 4 No. 8) A three-year-old filly by Mossman, she’s having her first start for the Toby Edmonds stable on Saturday. Didn’t show a great deal in her two Sydney runs but her trial last month indicated she’s going to be something to beat in a 900m maiden on the Gold Coast. She began quickly to take up the running and in the straight when everything was ridden along, Cosmic View’s rider was holding the horse together. Given a little shake at the 100m, she drew clear before being nabbed on the line but if they’d wanted too, she’d have won the trial easily. On Saturday she’s drawn the gun gate and will take some beating.
WAGGA
TAKOOKACOD (Race 1 No. 13) Former Sydneysider having her first start for a new stable. The veteran of just two starts, Takookacod was far from disgraced on debut when beaten 2-1/4 lengths by the handy filly Lipizzan and finishing less than a length from Envy Of All. In her next run she found 1200m on a genuine heavy surface beyond her but it wasn’t a terrible performance, beaten less than five lengths by Wild Heart. Resumes here without a trial and the 1000m looks ideal. Provided she hasn’t gone backwards, she looks placed to perfection to record her first win.
NARROMINE
NORTHERN MYTH (Race 4 No. 9) Not much of a meeting but this horse is well weighted on Saturday under the set weights conditions and a repeat of her latest run will have her in the finish. She’s been going around in class two company so should appreciate coming back to class one/maiden grade. In her latest run she was three wide without cover before taking off prior to the home turn and stuck on gamely in the straight to go down by less than 1-1/2 lengths. Drawn to get a better run this time and the mile appears within reach. Hard to beat in a moderate race.
WODONGA
LIBERTY LAD (Race 4 No. 2) Not the easiest of meetings with Benchmark 58 the highest grade race but we think we can get something out of the Brent Stanley-trained Liberty Lad. He’s only had the seven career starts and if you take out the wet track runs he’s yet to run a bad race. He broke through in good style last start and the way he ran through the line suggests the longer trip will be ideal. Up against a field of horses that are stuck in this grade, he should be able to balance up at the back of the field and run over the top of them.
