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Rockhampton Best Bets & Preview | The Archer Race Day | May 3
It's episode 5 of The Archer, a $1 million slot race at Callaghan Park, with arguably the best field to date having been assembled. The first of a quality eight-race program is scheduled for 12:50pm on Sunday afternoon, with the track rated a Good 4 under fine and smokey conditions. Race 1: Ratings Band 0-60 Handicap (1100M) It's undoubtedly the lowest-quality race of the day, but you have to start somewhere. Ten Carat Lucy is fast becoming Central Queensland's Tom Melbourn

Mugs Punting
18 hours ago4 min read


Ipswich Best Bets & Preview | April 29
Well this is more like it. Picture this; it's Wednesday, you think midweek racing at Doomben or Eagle Farm. Well, that is a hard no, we are out at Royal Ipswich and The Mugs have another runner! We will be racing on a Soft 6 track with the rain the last few days with the rail out 10m for the entire course while the first race will jump at 12.58pm. Race 1: MAIDEN (1200M) This is the race where you simply stick to those drawn in with the rail position but with a lack of expo

Mugs Punting
3 days ago3 min read


Rockhampton Best Bets & Preview | April 24
We're only nine days away from The Archer meeting at Callaghan Park, so it'll be interesting to see how the track plays ahead of one of the biggests days on the global racing calendar. Seven of the best are scheduled under blue skies, with the rail out 6.5m the entire and the track rated a Soft 5. The first will jump at 1:01pm. Race 1: 2YO Maiden Handicap (1200M) If you backed all of Nat McCall's runners at Rocky over the past three years, you'd be absolutely laughing, with

Mugs Punting
Apr 233 min read


Doomben Best Bets & Preview | April 22
The carnival is right on our doorstep now, and there's a few likely types stepping out at the races on Wednesday for what will be an eight-race card at Doomben. The rail goes out 9.5m for the entire circumference, while the track is rated a Soft 5. The 2YOs kick off the meeting at 12:33pm. Race 1: 2YO Handicap (1110M) The opening price for Dolly Boom would have been juicy, but that didn't last long as she was hammered into $1.65 as of Tuesday afternoon. She produced an eye-

Mugs Punting
Apr 213 min read


Doomben | April 15
That was one wild weekend, we saw the unbeaten champ go under and I think I am still recovering. We have what will surely be a good 4 track with the sun out and summer style weather around with the rail out seven metres for the entire course and the first race to jump at 11.56am. Race 1: MAIDEN (1110M) Race full of maiden runners, big field, it’s a simple no thanks. Race 2: Benchmark 68 (1110M) This is a very even race and is a smaller field and surely Vivika who shoul

Mugs Punting
Apr 153 min read


Eagle Farm | April 8
After a mug trip to Sydney, seeing the Rockhampton champion dominate the mid-week racing is back at Eagle Farm. We have what will surely be a good 4 track with the sun out and summer style weather around with the rail out eleven metres for the entire course and the first race to jump at 12.38pm. Race 1: MAIDEN (1000M) Desanto was good without winning the other day but drawn low again on with the rail position suiting on pace dominant horses should suit this horse. Taylor

Mugs Punting
Apr 83 min read


Doomben | April 1
Doomben is where we head today and looks like they have adjusted the race numbers again with a meagre seven race card. We have the rail out five metres for the entire course with the first race to jump at 1.38pm. Race 1: MAIDEN (1200M) There is a real lack of exposed form in the first today and for that reason I am staying out, Tony has one up from down South first up after a few trials and the Lees team has the other fancied runner, follow the market between those two.

Mugs Punting
Apr 12 min read


Eagle Farm | March 25
Back to headquarters on what looks a spectacular Wednesday, sun is out, the horse flesh is ready to go and so are the mugs. We have the standardised eight race card today with the rail is out nine metres for the entire course with the first race to jump at 12.55pm. Race 1: MAIDEN (1000M) Aristocratic Girl has been good a few runs this preparation and with her on pace style I think the race sets up nicely for her. She can stalk the speed and has a great front riding jocke

Mugs Punting
Mar 253 min read


Rockhampton Best Bets & Preview | March 24
Seven races will be set for decision at Callaghan Park on Tuesday afternoon, with the first race set to go at 1:45pm. On Monday evening, the track was rated a Soft 7, but we'd expect to see good improvement prior to the first race. The rail will be out 8m the entire. Race 1: 2YO Handicap (1100M) This will prove to be a key lead up into next month's Capricornia Yearling Sales 2YO Classic, where Wasabi Barbie looks a big hope. She was beaten by the eventual QTIS Jewel winner at

Mugs Punting
Mar 233 min read


Doomben | March 18
This may be the third week in a row we are Doomben so surely by now we are getting the hang of it. The track should be drying after a bit of minor rain over the weekend so not sure how we are still on a soft 5 today. The rail is out eleven metres for the entire course with the first race to jump at 1.03pm. Race 1: MAIDEN (2070M) A maiden over the 2000M is not the way to launch into a profitable day so good luck if you are betting but this is one we will be staying well aw

Mugs Punting
Mar 183 min read


Doomben | March 11
It was monsoonal weather over the weekend and thoughts are with those further North who are more impacted by this wild weather. We are back to Doomben for this card and that means post the rain that there will be plenty of give in the track. The rail is out eight and a half metres and we find ourselves on a heavy 8 track with the first race to jump at 1.38pm. Race 1: MAIDEN (1350M) This is a handy little race and there is one here that was very brave last start out wide o

Mugs Punting
Mar 113 min read


Doomben | March 4
The mid-week racing continues again and the weather does not no what to do with itself up here in the not so Sunshine State. The rail is out six and a half metres and we find ourselves on a soft 5 track with the first race to jump at 1.38pm. Race 1: MAIDEN (1110M) Happy to stay out of this race being mostly maidens on what will be a wetter track with the rain overnight. The Munce trained Naughty Neil has trialled up well and does get the booking of Maloney so will be lean

Mugs Punting
Mar 43 min read


Doomben | February 25
The group one racing has restarted down South and while all that is going we are back to Doomben seven race cards. The weather has cleared from a few weeks ago however it appears from track reports there is a little sting about. The rail is out four and a half metres and we find ourselves on a soft 5 track with the first race to jump at 2.16pm. Race 1: MAIDEN (1200M) The maiden to start the day and to be honest a lot of these races today do not have a stack of quality abou

Mugs Punting
Feb 253 min read


Rockhampton Best Bets & Preview | February 24
Seven races will be run and won on Tuesday at Callaghan Park, on a day where I think we can bet with a bit of confidence. The rail goes out +5m, an extra 1.5m from last Tuesday's meeting. Race 1 gets underway at 1:34pm. Race 1: 2YO Plate (1100M) Hard not to side with one of the two horses with race experience, but deciding on which way to go is tricky. Ready Marea was a good winner on debut against the older horses, while It'sall About Mary was well beaten in Brisbane on debu

Mugs Punting
Feb 242 min read


Eagle Farm | February 18
We are back with quality racing down south with group ones this weekend and a few of the high quality Queenslanders up and about. Back to headquarters today for a lovely eight race card with a few of the runners we have backed the last couple of weeks, the question is do we double down, or look elsewhere. The rail is out twelve metres and we find ourselves on a soft 6 track with the first race to jump at 1.38pm. Race 1: MAIDEN (1800M) This race looks impossible to start t

Mugs Punting
Feb 183 min read


Rockhampton Best Bets & Preview | February 17
A small six-race card has been assembled for Tuesday racing at Rocky this afternoon, with just 52 horses to face the starter. The track is rated a Soft 6 and the rail is out 3.5m the entire. Racing gets underway at 1:34pm AEST. Race 1: BM60 Handicap (1817M) I thought one of the better bets on the program came up in the opener, with Ricky Vale and McKenzie Apel combining with Kayleen's Profit . She had a nice cushy run last start over the mile here, but she was just held up fo

Mugs Punting
Feb 172 min read


Doomben | February 11
Can I lift today and finally churn out a best bet and a few other winners, the move back to Doomben after rain overnight does not light me up with confidence but here we are. The rail is now out nine and a half metres and we find ourselves on a soft 7 track with the potential for more rain and the first race to jump at 1.43pm. Race 1: MAIDEN (1650M) The maiden to start the day is interesting, Paper Doll comes in with seconds galore but in behind Swag last start who was disa

Mugs Punting
Feb 113 min read


Rockhampton Best Bets & Preview | February 5
Callaghan Park plays host to a strong 8-race meeting on Thursday, which sees big fields right across the course of the afternoon. Stu Kendrick and Mark Currie both look to send a strong hand north from their Sunshine Coast bases, while the locals are sure to put up a fight, headlined by 2025 Rocky Cup winner Logan Street Lion in Race 6. The track is rated a Good 4, while the rail is out 3.5m the entire. The field for the first will face the starter at 12:57pm. Race 1: Maiden

Mugs Punting
Feb 53 min read


Eagle Farm | February 4
Headquarters on a Wednesday, after a monster ten race card on Saturday. The rail is now out eight metres so they will be getting every closer to the outside rail, high fives the kids in attendance. We find ourselves on what will surely be a good 4 track with the dry weather we have been having and the first race to jump at 1.38pm. Race 1: MAIDEN (1000M) Maiden with only two having a start, this is what we call a genuine lottery. Race 2: Class 6 (1000M) My lord this is a m

Mugs Punting
Feb 42 min read


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. 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

Mugs Punting
Jan 293 min read
