Top 5 Early Insights

Published: 22 Sep 2016

Praying for rain - Lucia Valentina relishes a wet track, but showers aren't forecast until Saturday night

Mostly dry weather ahead of the weekend and we could get two GOOD tracks at Caulfield and Rosehill Gardens. Good news for followers of the popular gallopers BLACK HEART BART (Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke at Caulfield) and FIRST SEAL (Group 2 Golden Pendant at Rosehill Gardens).

Ahead of The Race Guides going on-line Friday 9am, check out the Team's Early Insights below.

No.1 Too Late for Lucia

"LUCIA VALENTINA is on track for a tilt at the Cox Plate, trainer Kris Lees keeping her fresh ahead of a second-up start in the Underwood this weekend. The problem is she's a smaller mare that loves testing conditions. Forecast showers on Saturday night will come too late."

Bet on BLACK HEART BART now at $2.4

click here to see market for Caulfield Race 8

No. 2 Blake's Better

"Poor Kathy O'Hara had a shocking time on PRIZED ICON a couple of weeks ago when he took on the older horses in the Chelmsford Stakes. Blake Shinn gets the ride this time and he's had a trial to get the used to the Group 1 winner."

Bet on PRIZED ICON now at $3.7

click here to see market for Rosehill Race 6

No. 3 Sticking to the Inside

"There's some wide open Group racing in Sydney and Melbourne on Saturday, including the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke stakes. It's a handicap so it's sure to be a close finish and sticking to the 'plumb' inside draws could pay dividends at big each-way odds."

Bet on FAST'N'ROCKING at $31, TIVACI at $11 and THAMES COURT at $23

click here to see market for Caulfield Race 7

No. 4 Heavenly Run

"In a very open Golden Pendant, the feature race at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, getting the right run could make the difference. HEAVENS ABOVE is drawn to get the back of FIRST SEAL in the run and she'll be very strong at the finish."

Bet on HEAVENS ABOVE now at $6

click here to see market for Rosehill Race 7

No. 5 Sneaky Swoopers

"Horses like BULLRUSH and EXTENSIBLE will be hard to beat in the last race at Rosehill Gardens, but keep an eye on a couple of sneaky bets down the bottom of the weights. Both ENCOSTA LINE and MAGICAL STANCE will relish a dry Rosehill track and can fire fresh with any luck from the wide barriers."

Bet on ENCOSTA LINE at $20 and MAGICAL STANCE at $23

click here to see market for Rosehill Race 9