Rockhampton | May 30 | Best Bets + Preview

It’s a bright and early start for Rocky today, with eight races kicking off at 10:10am, before the Sunny Coast takes us into the night. Frankly horrid conditions grace the Beef Capital today; we’re on a Heavy 8 with more rain forecast during the day.

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Race 1: 2YO Handicap (1050m)

Saraqael has tasted defeat just once in four starts, and that was in a $150,000 sales race. He’s won twice on Soft 5 going, and did win a trial by 4L on a Soft 7, so I expect him to handle the conditions and be too good.

Race 2: 2YO Maiden (1200m)

Bungarribee Rain was specked on debut at double figures and made up good ground late to finish second on a soft track. She’s been back to the trials since and finished second behind Nooshbahoosh who won at Cairns yesterday on debut by 2L. She gets no weight on her back here, has fitness on her side and some decent form to suggest she’ll be hard to beat.

Race 3: Maiden Handicap (1600m)

These should all retire maidens. They’ve had 108 starts between the seven of them, and they’re all yet to break through. Staying out, but good luck to patient owners.

Race 4: Class 3 Handicap (1050m)

Expecting Devil Devil to open short with the scratching of Big Cat. A good race to stay out of.

Race 5: Open Handicap (1050m)

Take the comment from Race 4 and apply it here. Desert Koby is probably a $1.30 chance, and that might be overs.

Race 6: Benchmark 58 (1200m)

Price dependent, but I could have two bets in this. The first is Nicconori. He’s yet to see a heavy track, but he did win his maiden on a soft deck, albeit a Soft 5, however he’s by Nicconi and that breed typically handle heavy going well. With 3kg off his back from a low draw, he might take catching.

The other is Latin Love who has been racing in consistent form, stringing back-to-back wins together on a Soft 7 and a Soft 6, before running well in a strong Class 3 last start. She’ll handle the going and be strong late.

Race 7: 3YO Handicap (1200m)

This is a strong 3YO race, with some nice horses going around. Obligated was the Living Breathing last week, but he was scratched pre-race and now finds a tougher race with a big weight on a heavy track. Scrub Chain is where I’ve landed. He’s first-up off a 9-week break, so he should have some residual fitness. I liked his trial, and in two heavy track runs, he’s won and finished second, so he’s ticked that box. From gate 2 with T Fenlon aboard, he’ll be launching at them late.

Race 8: Class 1 Handicap (1400m)

They were climbing out of trees to back Alfa Dundee last start in maiden grade and he arrived just in time. While he looks a horse that will want further than 1400m, this is going to be a tough 1400m late in the day, so a horse like him will be strong through the line you have to think. He’s drawn to do no work from gate three, and Justin Stanley sticks with him.

Living Breathing - Race 8 #5 Alfa Dundee

Selections

Race 1: Saraqael

Race 2: Bungarribee Rain

Race 3: No Bet

Race 4: No Bet

Race 5: No Bet

Race 6: Nicconori & Latin Love

Race 7: Scrub Chain

Race 8: Alfa Dundee 🔒