Best Bets
Our Balaklava Racing Tips for Wednesday’s meeting.
Sanbuck (Balaklava Race 5 No. 4)
This four-year-old Reward For Effort gelding trained by Byron Cozamanis has two wins and nine places from 21 starts. He was held up from the turn to the 200m and just battled evenly once clear for 3.1 lengths 5th over 1100m at Strathalbyn on 26 May, then drove through to lead on the rails and kept going for a 2.3 length win over 1100m at Gawler on a soft track on 16 June. That was a dominant win and a repeat of that effort would see him win here.
$3.20
Each Way
Turf Tapper (Balaklava Race 7 No. 4):
This seven-year-old gelding has six wins and 11 places from 48 starts and has two wins over this distance. He sat off the pace before peeling wide between runners to chase solidly and just miss for 0.5 length 2nd over 1100m at Strathalbyn on 26 May, then he never looked likely when 8.7 lengths 7th over 1100m at Gawler on 16 June. He has the speed toovercome the wide barrier draw and might appreciate the extra distance at this stage of his preparation. He is worth an each-way wager.
$9.50
Best Lay
Zeppa (Balaklava Race 8 No. 4):
This three-year-old Foxwedge gelding trained by Tony McEvoy is the early favourite in this BM 58 handicap over 1609m. He battled steadily for 4.9 lengths 7th over 1500m at Bendigo on 16 May, then ran on strongly from 12th to make good ground in the final 200m and finish 3.1 lengths 2nd over 1800m at Murray Bridge on 13 June. He has only won one of his 11 starts and I’m prepared to risk him.
$5.50
You can place lay bets with Betfair
Race 1
8 Smart Promise
4 Whosezou
1 Hill Road Raider
5 Jakazone
Race 2
1 Mutinous
3 Gosden
5 Set To Rock
8 Miss Divoc
Race 3
3 Blah Blah Blah
6 Go Bundle
7 Green Opinions
11 Amber Haze
Race 4
2 French Rock
10 Ciliata
1 El Magnificence
5 Rustydustysunshine
Race 5
4 Sanbuck (BB)
2 Morialta
8 Call Me Archer
5 It’s A Shame
Race 6
1 Lady Highly
2 Lutz
6 Sostenido
4 Bartender Blues
Race 7
1 Flying Pierro
9 Zoustorm
4 Turf Tapper
15 Spencer Gulf
Race 8
2 Call Me Dexter
14 Eurogem
4 Zeppa
8 Desidero
View more tips
Horse Racing Tips: VIC Sunday 18th May 2025
Key Comments The track is in the good range. The highlight of the card is the Casteron Cup. The best bet is knocking on the door and will take plenty of beating over the jumps. Best Bet Prismatic (Casterton Race 5 No. 1) Jumps form is good for this. Has been up there behind some smart ones and looks really well placed against these. Short but should get the job done. Analyst: Bryce Parker
Horse Racing Tips: QLD Saturday 17th May 2025
Key Comments It's Doomben 10,000 day and the feature races are the Listed Bernborough Handicap over 1600 metres (race 4), Group 2 Spirit Of Boom Classic over 1200 metres (race 5), Group 3 JRA Chairman's Handicap over 2000 metres (race 6), Listed Bright Shadow Quality over 1110 metres (race 7), Group 1 Doomben 10,000 over 1200 metres (race 8) and the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate over 2000 metres (race 9). The track is rated soft and the rail is in the true position.See our runner-by-runner previews for
Horse Racing Tips: SA Saturday 17th May 2025
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Horse Racing Tips: WA Saturday 17th May 2025
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