Friday Racing Tips - Sportsbet-Ballarat Racecourse 22/09/23

Racing returns to Sportsbet-Ballarat for a solid eight race card this Friday with three maiden races on the card to kick things off followed by racing in mixed benchmark / open grade and I am very keen on a few of the Victorian and outer state stable runners that have been put forward for these meetings. I have run through the card and picked out my best betting spots so follow me below as I run through the Ballarat race card for this Friday!

(Note: Odds provided by Playup)

Selections:
#3 - Magic Chloe - $3.20
#4 - Rioyuki - $4.40
#9 - Hayai Mesu (ROUGHIE OF THE DAY) - $7.50
#6 - Great Taste - $4.80

BEST BET - #3 - Magic Chloe 
I do think that the current favourite, Magic Chloe, shapes up well in this field dropping out of Saturday grade racing for the Preusker stable. She’s had a few runs this time in but hadn’t seen racing for a massive 50 weeks before coming back so it is natural she has taken a bit to get going. Her last run at Sandown Hillside over this trip saw her come on strong from not the easiest of runs and do well to finish just outside the placegetters. Softer field now, good gate and a claimer to offset top weight, only runs well IMO.

THE DANGER - #4 - Rioyuki 
Rioyuki has a very good second up record and steps out to a winnable race for the Williams stable. He resumed off of a 24 week spell a few weeks back at Geelong over the 1200m where he only got going later in the piece and was very strong through the line late in the piece from out wide. He’s got a win and two close runner-up placings in three second up runs and getting out to 1400m now looks suitable for him.

VALUE BET  - #9 - Hayai Mesu (ROUGHIE OF THE DAY)  
Hayai Mesu should be approaching something of her peak now for the Hayes boys and has more upside than most, I think she will go very well here third up. She resumed off of a 20 something week spell at Benalla where she was strong through the run and nearly took that race out to only just fall short into second late before putting in another solid effort last time out at Geelong. She would have got a big fitness benefit off of that run and looks very well placed in this field third up, top chance at odds.

Selections:
#7 - Precious Charm (BEST BET) - $4.40
#2 - Etienne - $2.40
#10 - Vincere  - $14.00
#5 - Bencoolen - $5.50

BEST BET - #5 - Bencoolen 
Precious Charm has only had one career start but if she can overcome second up syndrome I think that she looks very well placed off the back of that start to win again. The debut came in a maiden race at Donald about a fortnight ago over this distance where she set third before taking over at the 200m and being dominant to the line. The time and splits read well and she will have more to offer, Meech on looks good, top chance.

THE DANGER - #2 - Etienne
Hard to knock the odds on favourite for the Busuttin / Young stable in Etienne who extended his win streak to three in a row when resuming at Morphettville Parks off the back of a long 34 week spell. He resumed over the 1000m in Saturday company when utilising the light weight to find the front and never be in doubt from there. He will have more to offer second up and I see him running well here.

VALUE BET  - #10 - Vincere 
Vincere, I think, is being somewhat overlooked in this field and should be nearing his peak third up here for the Feek’s. He’s had two runs this time in, both coming at Bairnsdale where he put the writing on the wall first up with a close placing before going out to this trip there and coming off the fence from on the leaders’ heels to power home for a smart win. He looks to have more upside third up and can take this out at big odds.

Selections:
#11 - Ima Shelby (NEXT BEST) - $4.80
#5 - Ascension - $9.50
#2 - Frankie Pinot - $9.50
#4 - Junipal - $9.50

BEST BET - #11 - Ima Shelby (NEXT BEST)
Feature race of the day, the $100k Gold Nugget and I think that the Hayes boys have a fair bit of intent with Ima Shelby in this race. She seems to have returned in good order for the stable when winning a strong 1400m Sandown Hillside race first up, beating the likes of Netanyahu and then going out to this distance at The Valley where she was on the wrong part of the track but still motored home into third place. She will be at something of her peak now third up, better for the run at this trip and this isn’t an overly strong race.

THE DANGER - #5 - Ascension
Ascension is a very good horse for Maher and Eustace who resumed off of a half year spell at Caulfield a few weeks back where he needed the run in a strong BM100 race and now comes into this a lot fitter, with upside and a very good second up record. He has three wins in five second up runs, draws a good gate, Coffey retains the ride and I think all signs point towards a good showing in a reasonably soft field.

VALUE BET - #2 - Frankie Pinot
I think that Frankie Pinot is going very well despite just not finding a winning run this prep. The Mcevoy product stepped out over this distance at Caulfield a few weeks back where she did things tough on the pace up top but still kept finding the line in a very bold effort from out wide. She rates very highly off the back of that run and I think can take this out with the right kind of run.  

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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John Allen is one of the most consistent going around and is a top chance to take out the tab jockey challenge and the market reflects that on his rides. He has a near 50% place rate this season and a 16% win rate, keep in mind he jockeys more frequently than most. I have outlined all his rides below:

R2 - #4 - Non Grata - $8.00
R3 - #18 - Salsaset - $101
R4 - #2 - Brung King - $8.00
R7 - #2 - Beefheaters - $5.50

Tomorrow's Sportsbet-Ballarat races will be important to have big finishing ability for the sprints, that’s how the bias plays at the track. Being near the front, drawing inside of barrier ~10 is the optimal place for these races. I'm giving weight to proven jockey/stable combinations. Follow me below for an enjoyable bet to track throughout the race day!

Sportsbet-Ballarat R5 - #7 - Precious Charm - PLC $1.75
Sportsbet-Ballarat R7 - #11 - Ima Shelby - PLC $1.90
Sportsbet-Ballarat R4 - #9 - Hayai Mesu - PLC $2.30

Total Odds = $7.64
$50 Stake = $382.37 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.

Sportsbet-Ballarat Racecourse Trifecta Tip (R7)
1st: 2, 5, 7, 10
2nd: 2, 5, 7, 10
3rd: 2, 5, 7, 10

$50 stake = 207% 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!