The weather is fine on the Gold Coast and the track is a Good 4. The rail is out 4m from the 1000m to the winning post and 2m for the rest of the track.
Our best bet is Keep It Real in Race 8. We also like Tramca in Race 1, but that is a harder race to judge, with several horses on debut.
Race 1
Selection: Tramca (7) Current odds: $3.50
Tramca has been gelded since a poor first preparation and looks much better this time. His trials were only fair, but his first run back was strong, with one of the best final 400m sections in the race. He should be hard to beat late if the debut horses do not handle race day. Nation is the main danger after a very good trial and has been well backed. Bodmin Moor had good form last preparation but disappointed first up, so watch the market on him. This is a medium-strength bet because of the unknowns.
Selections:
- Tramca (7) - $3.50
- Nation (9) - $4.00
- Bodmin Moor (6) - $6.00
Race 8
Selection: Keep It Real (1) Current odds: $2.90
Keep It Real ran well first up for a new stable last start, and the earlier form in the southern states was solid. Keep It Real draws the inside barrier and gets a 3kg claim from a good apprentice, which is a big help. The main danger is the favourite from barrier 13 at $2.70, but that horse has a wide gate to overcome. We prefer Keep It Real at the bigger price.
Selections:
- Keep It Real (1) - $2.90
