Friday Racing Tips - Donald Racecourse 21/07/23

Victorian racing sees a bumper eight race card go to Donald racecourse this Friday and I am honestly surprised at the calibre of racing we get. It’s a $300k meeting overall with each race worth around $40k and there are four maidens to kick the card off followed by two BM70 and two Bm64 contests in which we should see some smart runners from the top Victorian and outer state stables. I have picked out my best bets for the day below and am keen to grab some early value so hoping to have these tips out early, follow me below as I highlight my best betting spots for the race meeting at Donald this Friday!

(Note: Odds provided by Playup)

Selections:
#3 - Gimme Gold  - $1.85
#8 - Loco For Coco - $5.00
#7 - Lady Of Steel (ROUGHIE OF THE DAY) - $18.00
#5 - Allonsy - $8.00

BEST BET - #3 - Gimme Gold
Simon Wylde rarely places his runners without a lot of consideration and has brought over five winners from nine horses to this course this year and Gimme Gold looks like an astutely placed runner for the camp who debuted at this track in the Heavy going two weeks back when racing up to hit the lead from behind the speed at the 100m and finding the line powerfully to beat all and be claimed late by another runner coming from the back of the field who looks progressive herself. He will have plenty to offer here second up with heaps of upside and is the one to beat here.

THE DANGER - #8 - Loco For Coco 
Loco For Coco looks a progressive four year old for Andy Bobbin who has only been unplaced in two of her six career starts and is yet to miss the placings in three runs this prep, only finding one better in smart types in her last two when having to do lots of work from wide gates in both those runs. She is hard fit now, in form, Bates retains the ride and finally gets onto a track / distance combination where she can have her chance even having drawn out wide.

VALUE BET  - #7 - Lady Of Steel (ROUGHIE OF THE DAY)
Lady Of Steel can be a big improver here for Shay Keating and can speck at odds. The runner has had a few runs this time in, two runs back came at this track / trip where she came from eighth and two wide to start a big run shifting even more out wide working home well and finding the line strongly to place. She then raced again at the track/trip and did a similar thing and just grinded home to finish midfield. That run was in the Heavy and she will only be stronger and fitter for it and if the run prior is anything to go by she is a chance at odds here. Lightweight from the claim from kennedy, barrier one, hard fit, knows the course… Lots to like.

Selections:
#7 - All About Eve (BEST BET) - $4.20
#2 - Field Of Flutes - $4.20
#3 - Glock - $6.50
#6 - Harbin - $4.40

BEST BET - #7 - All About Eve (BEST BET) 
All About Eve has the superior form lines of this race, the fastest times and one of three most experienced jockeys in the field aboard. There is clearly a lot to like about her racing for Andrew Noblet and taking a big step down in competition. She’s had two runs at the 1000m, both of which saw her run 57 second times and one of which was first up so we know she will be competitive fresh. She gets Bates aboard who will be able to mitigate her drawing the widest gate and with only nine runners in the field as long as she isn’t lengths behind them she shouldn’t find much trouble getting a spot to come on from. Top chance in what is a strong sprint.

THE DANGER - #2 - Field Of Flutes 
The lightly raced Maher and Eustace product Field Of Flutes was scratched from a midweek assignment and saved for here so connections' choice to do so must be respected and he gets a key claim from field that sees him weigh in at 56 kg for this assignment. He comes back after a 5 week break which seems to be the key to him as the stable continues to do this. He’s only been out of the placings once in six career starts, is a true sprinter and will lob forward from the draw and make his own luck out front. 

VALUE BET  - #3 - Glock 
Glock is a horse I have a lot of time for off the back of his win last week at Bendigo in the Heavy and I am quite keen to see how he handles the quick turn around. I was on him last week when he set third in the run before floating to the front and powering away from the field to be lengths clear with 200m to run still and never was in doubt from there for an awesome and ever impressive win. He maps to find the front easily again and that last win did not look like a fluke, keen to see how he shows up on the back up.

Selections:
#9 - Whiskey Hangover (NEXT BEST) - $3.90
#2 - Let’s Sea - $4.80
#13 - Trak Chiller - $17.00
#5 - Pythagoras - $11.00

BEST BET - #9 - Whiskey Hangover (NEXT BEST)
There are a couple of decent chances in the get out at Donald on Friday but I am keen on the B & J Hayes trained Whiskey Hangover who I think should but pretty tough to beat from barrier three. He has either won or come runner up in his three runs back from a spell this time in and only found one better very late after taking control of the race last time out over this distance at Sale. They’ll have the option to ride him closer from the low draw and I think he will be hard to hold out from there.

THE DANGER - #2 - Let’s Sea
Let’s Sea is a Maher and Eustace trained gelding that resumes off a long 33 week spell after finishing his Summer prep off with a mile win at Ararat in BM58 grade. He resumed last time over the 1300m in the Heavy at Bendigo and ran a 1.21 first up. Both his 1400m times are quicker than the favourite's last run (also at 1400m) and he draws one barrier outside the fav at barrier four, with more speed than the runners inside him and Coffey aboard I think they could make a soft time of things from on the speed but also think it could become a tactics battle in this race and could see Egan riding Whiskey Hangover on Let’s Sea’s back. Good race.

VALUE BET - #5 - Pythagoras
Pythagoras ideally wants it wetter but all three runs at the 1300m that he’s had have been times near the top of the field and the Purcell Meech combo is flying at the moment. He seems to handle all conditions and ran with 1.5kg more two back where he had to do too much early under the weight. He doesn’t go into this very well weighted again but not many of these do and think he can fill a trifecta/first four spot.

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Jye McNeil is an accomplished jockey, having won several black type races, including the prestigious 2020 Melbourne Cup aboard Twilight Payment. He has also received the Victoria Racing Club's Champion Jockey Award in two consecutive seasons (2019/20 and 2020/21), underscoring his reputation as one of Victoria's finest jockeys. He is known to perform exceptionally well on major race days, and he has secured a significant number of rides for this weekend's racing at Donald Park Lakeside, I have outlined them all below:

R1 - #2 - El Patroness - $2.45
R3 - #6 - Manhattan Thunder - $12.00
R5 - #4 - Toronto Terrier - $6.10
R6 - #3 - Stormbolt  - $4.80
R7 - #5 - Arizona Activist - $18.00
R8 - #3 - So Si Bon - $4.65
R9 - #13 - Tonneofgrit - $18.00

One of the most significant considerations in picking up multiple winners is the track bias, which favors horses that don’t get too far back in the run at Flemington Racecourse. As a result, horses drawn on the inside have a better chance of performing well compared to those drawn towards the outside. I have factored in this aspect when making my multi bets, taking into account the horses' respective preps and their drawn barrier positions. Follow below for a multi to track over race day!

R3 - #7 - Lady Of Steel  - PLC $3.70
R6 - #7 - Lady Of Steel  - PLC $1.75
R8 - #9 - Whiskey Hangover - PLC $1.75

Total Odds = $10.70
$50 Stake = $535.00 Return!

Odds provided by PlayUp, sign up for a new account here to get started.

Our experts have curated a bet type information page which delves into all the different types of exotics betting, check it out for clarification on the different types of exotics betting or just to brush up on your knowledge.

Donald Racecourse Trifecta Tip (RI 6)

1st: 2, 3, 6, 7
2nd: 2, 3, 6, 7
3rd: 2, 3, 6, 7

$50 stake = 207% flexi

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