Rockhampton Best Bets & Preview | January 29

We're back racing at Rocky on Thursday after missing a couple of meetings due to the floods, and while there are small fields across the afternoon as a result, there's a couple of good bets to be had. We're on a Good 4, while the rail is out 0.5m the entire.

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Race 1: 2YO Handicap (1100M)

Craiglea Monnie debuted in a really hot 2YO race, before tackling the older horses in maiden grade at her next two starts. She wasn't disgraced two back at big odds, then went to Thangool over 800m where she was good, running second to a 4YO and gapping her other rivals. Back against her own age is the key now, and she should have fitness on her side.

Race 2: Maiden Plate (1100M)

The market didn't want to be with Wayno on debut, but he ran well, finishing third behind subsequent winner Evaready Miss. That looks the right form for this, while his tickover trial suggests he's come through the run well, winning the heat by 10.5L in solid time over the 1000m. With natural improvement at start two, he should be very hard to hold out for the Vale stable.

LOL, he's opened $1.28 :///

Race 3: Benchmark 60 (1600M)

Replace The Ace was unsuited last start when dropping back from 1800m to 1400m, but he ran really well on the back of a decent tempo, before being found wanting late. That run should really lay the platform for him now fifth-up and getting back out to 1600m. In a fairly thin race, he looks the one they all need to beat.

Race 4: Benchmark 65 (1300M)

I thought this was a race in two between Flying Animo and Saraqael, but with Flying Animo scratched, we're left with $1.30 for Saraqael, so staying out.

Race 5: Ratings Band 0-55 Handicap (1400M)

I'm confident that Bold Blaze is the best horse in the race and he'll be the one to follow out of it, but first-up over 1400m off a six-month break is concerning. The Last Saga however was terrific first-up over 1200m behind Presocratics, savaging the line from last to run fourth. Now second-up, out to 1400m and back in grade, he can show his best.

Race 6: Open Handicap (1100M)

You would never have been comfortable in the run if you took the $3.30 about Scrub Chain in his first-up run at Mackay, but I did think it was a run full of merit. He got back from the wide draw in an leader-dominated race, then lost his spot at the 600m, before really finding the line strongly. He does come back to 1100m from 1200m which is a negative, but he gets a race with more tempo, while getting away from Mackay and onto a big track is a positive. With no weight on his back, he can sit off and launch at them late.

Race 7: Class 2 Handicap (1050M)

It's not really a race I want to get too involved in, with a few of the better horses in this no doubt looking for further than 1050m. The one that could get away with it though is the resuming Crown Guinea, who hasn't been seen since July. She went super first-up last prep, before bolting in second-up over 1200m and then running well behind city winners Estrondo and Taltarni Fields. Drawn low, she'll get a soft run in behind them and can then sprint sharply late.

Living Breathing - R6 Scrub Chain

Selections

Race 1: Craiglie Monnie

Race 2: Wayno

Race 3: Replace The Ace

Race 4: No Bet

Race 5: The Last Saga

Race 6: Scrub Chain

Race 7: Crown Guinea