Friday Racing Tips - Moonee Valley Racecourse 16/02/24

Racing returns to Moonee Valley for a belter half a million dollar Friday night race card and I am very excited for this race day as the quality of racing really starts to rise in Australia as the Autumn Group 1 races season kicks off this Saturday. I have gone across the card and picked out my best betting spots and outlined them below so follow me!

(Note: Odds provided by Playup)

Selections:
#1 - Mawhera (BEST BET) - $2.50
#3 - French Flirt - $4.00
#2 - Vilnius - $3.10
#4 - Spangled Sipper - $5.50

BEST BET - #1 - Mawhera (BEST BET) 
I don’t think the efforts that Mawhera has been putting in for the Bussutin and Young camp are any flukes and I think he likely reinforces that with another win here. He won in style over the 1400m at Cranbourne when resuming well to racing two back before just laying in the straight a bit when racing here last time out. He will be better for the experience however and hard fit can win again now.

THE DANGER - #3 - French Flirt
It took French Flirt a little bit of time to break through for the Laing camp but now that she has I think she can go on with things here. She took a few runs this time in to build up fitness before stepping out at Pakenham last time out as an odds on favourite over the mile where she raced up to hit the lead at the 200m and drew lengths clear of them. That was a dominant effort and she’ll only be stronger off of it.

VALUE BET  - #4 - Spangled Sipper
Spangled Sipper has been having a cracker debut prep at the races for the Bobbin camp with a win and two close runner up placings and I think he has to be given a chance in this field. His last run saw him step out here over the mile a couple weeks ago where he drove hard late in the piece in a tough effort where with any more luck he really should have won. Only goes well now.

Selections:
#7 - Samuel Langhorne (ROUGHIE OF THE DAY) - $6.50
#4 - Staunch  - $4.40
#2 - Eight Martinis - $5.50
#3 - Sorry Sailor - $11.00

BEST BET - #7 - Samuel Langhorne (ROUGHIE OF THE DAY) 
I have been waiting to see when Samuel Langhorne was going to next step out after the way he returned to racing for Mick Kent. He wasn’t seen at the races for 41 weeks since breaking maiden at start number four before coming back to racing at Sandown Hillside at the end of last month where he was held up until the 400m before powering home in an absolute jet go to place third over the 1600m then. It was a beautiful return and I think with natural improvement he won’t have to find too much to win this, albeit a proper contest here.

THE DANGER - #4 - Staunch
Staunch has to rate as a key danger for the Laurie camp here coming off what have been two solid runs in his past two efforts and the most recent of which was at this track and trip two weeks ago where he was held up until the 300m after sitting just behind the speed but when he did get clear air he still had plenty to offer when kicking into third place there. Shinn takes the ride now, better for the run last time out and will be strong here.

VALUE BET  - #3 - Sorry Sailor 
Sorry Sailor has clicked up very well for the Kavanagh camp and has to be given a look here being in form for this and with the booking of Craig Will and the light weight. He put in a good effort over the mile two back at Hamilton before coming off of a little break and stepping out at Benalla over the mile again but this time flying through the run to win well. He’s hard fit, ready for the step up to this trip and I am keen to see how he handles it.

Selections:
#9 - Nokhbah (NEXT BEST) - $2.50
#5 - Midnight Devil - $3.80
#2 - Berry Bubbly - $7.50
#8 - Scream - $9.50

BEST BET - #9 - Nokhbah (NEXT BEST)
Nokhbah looks like a very progressive horse for the Hayes boys who comes back here after a 23 week from the races and seems the leading contender here. The last time he stepped out was at Cranbourne where he found the lead and was never in danger from there and I think given that is the way he likes to run, with plenty of early burn, resuming with a good gate he can win again here.

THE DANGER - #5 - Midnight Devil
Midnight Devil has been running very well and although she gets a tough contest here it is hard to knock her based off of the way she has been performing. After winning earlier in the prep she stepped out at Sale two weeks ago when finding the lead and giving nothing else a chance to get into the race in a restricted 64. I think that whilst this is tougher she will be up to the task and make this a race.

VALUE BET - #8 - Scream 
I think Scream just found them a touch too sharp last time out when needing a break from racing and producing a down the track effort. However, he won very sharply at Mornington prior to then and I think that he just hadn’t recovered enough when last stepping out. He’s now been given a break from racing and has had a trial to lead him back in, can hit back hard.

Plan on betting on the races this Friday? Betting online is surprisingly simple these days, and our Best Bookmakers area is the simplest way to discover the best online betting sites to follow our expert’s tips.

Playup is my top selection for Racing this week as they are providing some of the best overall fixed odds amongst the Australian bookies at the moment for racing. They are also very generous, often offering a number of racing promotions such as money back in bonus bets for 2nd and 3rd for a selected runner in a race of your choosing. They cover all Australian thoroughbred racing and are quite comprehensive in their international racing markets.

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Jamie Kah is always in form, being one of the top five jockeys in the country for over a year now. She has been combining with Moody and Clarken/O’Shea for some big wins over the years and they again compose the majority of her rides for Friday. I have outlined them below.

R1 - #4 - See Marie - $5.50
R2 - #18 - Liberated Girl  - $7.00
R5 - #7 - Jean Valjean - $2.45
R6 - #10 - Little Miss Kubi - $5.50
R7 - #3 - Ironclad - $10.00

For My multi at the Valley I have chosen my best runners in the sprint distance but also tried to stick to the theme of inside runners as I believe at the Valley over this distance range with the rail where it is that it is very advantageous. Follow me below for a fun bet to track over the day at Moonee Valley racecourse.

Moonee Valley R2 - #1 - Mawhera - PLC $1.40
Moonee Valley R7 - #9 - Nokhbah - PLC $1.35
Moonee Valley R6 - #7 - Samuel Langhorne - PLC $2.00

Total Odds = $4.00
$50 Stake = $4.00Return!

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.

Moonee Valley Racecourse Trifecta Tip (R2)
1st: 1, 2, 3, 4
2nd: 1, 2, 3, 4
3rd: 1, 2, 3, 4

$50 stake = 208% flexi

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If you are looking for the best promotions this week for Wednesday's racing I wouldn’t look past Unibet, often they offer odds boosts in addition to the money back promotions. Don’t forget to check your account as well for personal offers. 

Promotions often change so make sure you sign up at unibet.com.au to see what promotions are applicable to you and you may even be surprised to find some promotions that weren’t mentioned here!