Besty's Best: Sale

Turf Talk

Sale: With the rail shifting from true to +3m, expect lanes 4+ to come into play. When the rail is true at Sale it can be tricky to make ground, but it generally plays fairer once it moves out.

Kilmore: First meeting for a while, so with fresh ground inside, on-speed horses should get their chance. Kilmore has that downhill run into the home bend that some horses don’t handle – a bonus for any that have already performed well at the track.

Sale Race 3 – Auxiliary & Paramount Plus

Keen to work around (2) Hanuman, who looks poisonous odds at $2.80. He’s got some talent and tactical speed, but this is a stronger race than the two he’s contested this prep.

(1) Auxiliary got a mile back on debut at Moe but hit the line strongly. He drew wide there over 1000m and settled at the tail, but with Blake Shinn taking over from a good draw, expect him to be right on speed – as he was in his trial prior to that debut. The extra 200m suits and at $7 he looks terrific value.

Think Greg Eurell has a stranglehold on this race. (4) Paramount Plus has moved very nicely in his jump-outs this time in. He was well in the market in both Pakenham runs last campaign and ran soundly without threatening. Drawn to get a lovely run here and at $14 he’s a genuine chance to figure.

(8) Jett Smash has only had one jump-out into this debut but showed ability. I’d imagine he’s had a few quiet trials at Barwon Heads and the strong early support suggests he’s here to run well. Willo on is a bonus too.

Betting suggestion: Backing (1) Auxiliary at $7 and (4) Paramount Plus at $14.

Sale Race 5

Good quality maiden.

(11) Ottolenghi is the obvious starting point. She jumped out nicely before her debut at Seymour, where she ran into a smart one in Ruska Roma. The extra 200m here suits and Blake Shinn sticks. She’ll be right up on the speed.

Expect (1) Chowdown to improve sharply. He got a mile back here on debut but produced the best last 200m of the entire meeting when charging late. Since then he’s had a quiet tick-over jump-out where he looked good. Wide draw likely sees him back again, but he’ll be strong late.

At $71, (8) Duntulm Lass is a ridiculous price. She’s always shown ability in trials, but raced greenly last campaign. Into her second prep, she should improve her manners and could surprise.

Good race.

Betting suggestion: Something on (1) Chowdown and (8) Duntulm Lass. Saving (11) Ottolenghi to at least break even if she wins. Example: 1 unit on Chowdown, 0.1 units Duntulm, 1 unit on Ottolenghi.