Wednesday Racing Tips - Sportsbet-Ballarat Racecourse 14/02/24

Racing comes back to Ballarat racecourse this Wednesday for a cracker midweek card in Victoria as racing all around the country really starts to heat up and I am keen to get stuck into things and have picked out three of my best betting spots on the card as we look towards big Autumn Group 1 races this Saturday. Follow me below for my best betting spots!

(Note: Odds provided by Playup)

Selections:
#6 - Igotcha (BEST BET) - $2.45
#5 - Mawhera - $4.40
#2 - Vivideel - $4.80
#4 - Boondocks - $6.50

BEST BET - #6 - Igotcha (BEST BET)
Igotcha looks set to get another win aboard for Ciaron Maher here after only putting in good efforts in his three career starts with a win and close placing in the three runs. He came off of a 24 week spell last time out when running well two weeks back at Sandown Hillside. The way he came on strong late suggests to me that he will be even stronger here out to the 1600m and I think he is a solid bet.

THE DANGER - #5 - Mawhera
Mawhera looks the main danger here, having not put a bad foot forward in three runs to kick the career off for the Busuttin and Young stable. He resumed off of a 17 week break when racing over the 1400m at Cranbourne and winning well first up before last racing at The Valley when running well again into the placings and just laying in a bit in the straight. He rates well coming back to race here third up now and hard fit.

VALUE BET  - #4 - Boondocks
Boondocks has only had the four career starts for the Hayes boys but has only put in one bad effort in running in those starts. He ran two close placings, one of them being in Saturday grade at Caulfield before jumping as a very short favourite at Cranbourne last time out where he found the lead and wasn’t challenged at all from there. His last run he struggled a bit but I think he hits back hard here

Selections:
#6 - Pondalowie (NEXT BEST)  - $2.00
#2 - De Bergerac  - $3.00
#3 - Rock The Bar - $7.50
#4 - Mount Olympus - $10.00

BEST BET - #6 - Pondalowie (NEXT BEST)
Pondalowie has had just the career debut for the Browne camp but I think he has to be given an element of respect off the back of it. He debuted at Bendigo over the 1000m a couple weeks back when finding the lead early and giving a strong kick at the top of the straight to win well on debut. You would think there is plenty of upside to come off the back of that effort and I assume he runs well here.

THE DANGER - #2 - De Bergerac
All you can do is win and I think that it is hard to knock De Bergerac off the back of how he debuted for Graeheme Begg at Seymour at the end of November where he stepped out over this trip untrialled and came wide in the straight to fly home in a very strong effort that saw him win there. He has had a nice trial to lead him back into racing and appears to be going well for the return here.

VALUE BET  - #3 - Rock The Bar 
Rock The Bar is yet another last start winner who won on debut and has to be given respect here. He debuted in October for Danny O’Brien at Murtoa when coming from third along the rails to chase strongly and win very well late when powerful through the line. Has had a sharp trial win since and hasn’t really given anyone a reason to jump off her.

Selections:
#5 - Rhapsody Chic - $3.50
#7 - Girl  - $4.00
#9 - Miss Titeline - $5.50
#9 - Miss Titeline  - $11.00

BEST BET - #5 - Rhapsody Chic
Rhapsody Chic has only had the two career starts, with the most recent being for Anthony and Sam Freedman since coming back from a 10 week break and coming over from New Zealand. He made his Aus debut at Cranbourne when running home well over the 1200m to place third. He now comes back off of a 25 week spell and off the back of a decent trial, should run well. 

THE DANGER - #7 - Girl 
Girl has run quite well in for the Corstens camp with two wins and three placings and now seems to come back here with a fair bit of intent. One of her wins came first up when kicking off the campaign last time out and I think that with the booking of Shinn she’s clearly been placed here with a fair bit of intent. Go well here.

VALUE BET - #6 - Rising Sun (ROUGHIE OF THE DAY)
Rising Sun should be able to hit back hard here for the Dwyer camp after pulling up with an irregular heart rhythm last time out when never able to get into the race and forced to do things wide. He was very dominant in winning when making his debut at Horsham prior to then and three subsequent winners have emerged since so go well here.

Plan on betting on the races this Wednesday? 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.

Join us on Saturday, Wednesday and Friday Racing tips, with articles throughout the week for the greatest free horse racing tips provided by our experts. Each week, our team’s racing tips highlight the most noteworthy race days and tracks, as well as expert analysis and best bets for selected races.

Additionally, we notify you of any significant scratchings affecting the races as well as any details about the track, notable jockeys to follow, or other factors that we feel are good to know. We will also cover any bonus bet or other promotions that are running that day and even have recommendations for other bets like multi tips, and our daily quaddie.
 
For a more in-depth explanation of horse racing bet types and tips for placing, visit our tips and information page.

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 - $4.00
R3 - #18 - Salsaset - $101
R4 - #2 - Brung King  - $4.80
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 R1  - #6 - Igotcha  - PLC $1.45
Sportsbet-Ballarat R5  - #6 - Pondalowie  - PLC $1.18
Sportsbet-Ballarat R1  - #6 - Rising Sun  - PLC $2.80

Total Odds = $4.50
$50 Stake = $225.00Return!

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.

Sportsbet-Ballarat Racecourse Trifecta Tip (R1)
1st: 2, 4, 5, 6
2nd: 2, 4, 5, 6
3rd: 2, 4, 5, 6

$50 stake = 207% flexi

Promotions are traditionally the primary way for punters to create an edge over the bookies, as they can save your cash when your runner fails to win, in the instance of Unibet they often offer 2nd and 3rd money back in bonus bets for a selection of races on the midweek and Provincial racing days. Coupled with their generous odds I have to put them as the top bookie promotion wise at the moment for Australian racing. 

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!