Raceday focus: Best bets, analysis and latest odds for Saturday

TAB tipping expert Nick Quinn gives his suggested bets for the feature races at Flemington and Eagle Farm.

BEST BET: YULONG JANUARY (Flemington, R5 No.3)

VALUE BET: GRACE AND HARMONY (Eagle Farm, R8 No.6)

LAY OF THE WEEK: PARRY SOUND (Rosehill, R7 No.8)

WINTER CHAMPIONSHIP HEAT 4 (1400M)

Flemington, R5, 2.05pm

Punters are keen to stick with last-start Flemington winner Yulong January, who has backed from $4 into $3.10.

Yulong January has recaptured the form that saw him win four straight in late 2019 and early 2020.

He has a terrific record over 1400m with six wins and three placings from 14 attempts and is a three-time winner at Flemington.

The support should continue for him and on a challenging day he shapes as one of the better opportunities.

Rubisaki is on the second line of betting and should appreciate a drop in grade after racing at Group level her past two outings.

Odeon looked like he was going to go past Yulong January last start but is worth including in the multiples with the addition of premiership-leading jockey Jamie Kah.

Aramayo at $13 should also be included in multiples.

He was part of the Godolphin team earlier in his career and trained by John O’Shea, Darren Beadman and James Cummings before heading to Singapore where he won three races.

He caught the eye last start at Flemington for new trainer Chris Waller and steps up to 1400m where he has one win and three seconds from seven attempts.

THE TIP: YULONG JANUARY the win.

The early money has come for Yulong January. Picture: Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

MAHOGANY CHALLENGE HEAT 4 (2000M

Flemington, R7, 3.25pm

The three-year-olds clash in the VRC Member Maureen Salter Plate over 2000m with Rueber heading an open market at $4.40.

Reuber has placed at his last three starts, including a close second to Horrifying at Flemington by Horrifying last time.

He stays at 2000m where he has never missed a place in three attempts and he looks a smart each-way play with Craig Newitt in the saddle.

If you wanted to take a more conservative approach, have 75 per cent of your bet on the place and 25 per cent on the win as I’m confident he will again be in the placings.

Second-elect Redwood Shadow comes though the same formlines as Rueber.

Marcolt broke through at Wangaratta three starts ago and looks to be improving.

He is another to come through the Flemington race won by Horrifying.

The runner at double figure odds who I anticipate will run will is

Namakwa can run well at big odd after stepping up in trip to win well at Ballarat last start.

THE TIP: RUEBER each-way.

Grace And Harmony is one of six Chris Waller runners in the Queensland Oaks. Picture: Trackside PhotographySource:Supplied

QUEENSLAND OAKS (2200M)

Eagle Farm, R8, 3.53pm

Master trainer Chris Waller has a great record in the Queensland Oaks having won three of the past five editions with Winx (2015), Egg Tart (2017) and Youngstar (2018).

Waller will saddle up six of the 14 runners in the Oaks but the race is wide open.

Waller’s runners are Only Words ($8.50), Easifar ($17), Grace And Harmony ($6.50), Charms Star ($7.50), Signora Nera ($17) and Ruru ($101).

The runner I am leaning to is Grace And Harmony.

She resumed from a spell with three straight wins before catching the eye last start in the Roses.

She has drawn to gain an economical run here with in-form jockey James McDonald in the saddle.

Bargain was a $6 second-elect before Tuesday’s barrier draw but now heads the market at $4.80.

Media Award caused a monster upset by winning the South Australian Oaks at $81 and has attracted early support, firming from $11 into $8.

She went into that race on the back of victories at Kyneton and Geelong and should again be in the finish.

Duais has the strongest form in the race and was runner-up in the Group 1 ATC Oaks behind Hungry Heart at Randwick in April.

I have cooled on her simply because of the barrier draw but she has the class to overcome it.

THE TIP: GRACE AND HARMONY each-way.

Originally published asQuinny’s Mailbag: Yulong back to his best

Source: Read Full Article