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Racing and Sports highlight our standout plays at Australian TAB meetings for October 25.
Australian thoroughbred TAB meetings are today held at Moonee Valley, Queanbeyan, Mornington, Sunshine Coast, Scone, Gawler, Launceston and Innisfail.
MOONEE VALLEY: RACE 3 @ 7:15 PM
VERDAD (1) has been a bit costly this time in but gets plenty in his favour here and really should be winning. He's been beaten by two handy enough horses in BM84's at his past two over a bit shorter and now finally gets to a mile while also dropping back in grade to a fairly thin BM78. He rates clear of these and can repay the faith. WAIMARIE (6) has been okay at her past couple since winning two in a row, perhaps not seeing out the 1800m last time. Back in trip here, she should take catching. HEAVENLY EAGLE (10) won well two back at Seymour before a forgivable run at Caulfield last time. Drawn to get back but Shinn on is a positive. MORNINGTON PIER (11) will be rock-hard fit now following a nice effort at Sale last start when second. Has claims.
SELECTIONS: Keen on Verdad.
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QUEANBEYAN: RACE 1 @ 1:14 PM
MAKTABI (3) has been nudged out both starts this preparation with the latest here over this trip when he led. Fitter again and drawn inside. Rates to be winning. IMPENDING HARMONY (6) is also third-up and was only beaten 1.5L at Canberra last time. Maps well and has placed her only run here. Maps well and should go close. RAILWAY AVENUE (1) has been off his peaks but did have good support at Orange last time. He will be ridden quieter today and won't be far away with Cahill staying aboard. ROMANTIC TOM (7) has a soft gate and will be around the mark.
SELECTIONS: With Maktabi.
MORNINGTON: RACE 8 @ 5:30 PM
DRY FIRE (3) produced a big effort to score as expected fresh up at Tatura before improving again to be a dominant all-the-way winner at Ballarat just over 3 weeks ago. He is facing another rise in class but looks to be above average and he can complete the hat-trick. SIGNAL (1) is an honest gelding who was third in a similar field here nearly 4 weeks ago. He has enough pace to settle handy to the pace and should be right in the finish again. ZENA BOY (6) caused an upset when winning here by a short-head fresh up and then whacked away at Geelong last time out. The blinkers are back on and with the advantage of a good draw, he is expected to bounce straight back into the money here. GUNDAROO (5) has been holding his form since winning at Albury in July. He was only beaten by a short-head at Benalla 4 weeks ago and is showing no signs of having had enough this prep. Stick with him on an each-way basis.
SELECTIONS: Dry Fire to win.
SUNSHINE COAST: RACE 2 @ 7:21 PM
JUNGLE JET (2) is the likely favourite here after ending his last campaign with 3 second-place finishes in a row. He is fresh up over a mile so would have completed plenty of work at home and with a recent trial win under his belt, he is the one to beat. PAPAL WARS (6) is a locally trained gelding who has been knocking on the door after being runner-up in his last couple of starts. He won't lack fitness dropping back to the mile and his first win is not far away. PAUL EDWARD (7) has been trying to win a race for some time and made up some late ground when finishing third here a fortnight ago over 1400m. The extra furlong will help and he should be thereabouts again. LIKA WRECKIN' BALL (4) is on debut over a mile and in a small field, he can figure in the finish.
SELECTIONS: Jungle Jet to win.
SCONE: RACE 5 @ 3:20 PM
STING JET (8) battled on evenly for a midfield finish when resuming in a Randwick Highway over 1000m last start. Drops 3.5kgs today and his second-up form reads very well. Nicely drawn and gets a few gear changes so everything points towards a big run. Interesting move by Rod Northam to switch SHARP SHOCK (1) back to 1100m after his tough win in the Coonamble Cup over a mile 12 days ago. Loves racing at Scone so off a strong tempo he could be the one flashing home. OUR BOY OLLIE (4) is back from a 23-week spell. Often takes a run or two to find form but he looks very well weighted with the claim and he gets the gun run from the close draw so he might surprise a few. SMART AND DAPPER (5) showed pace but weakened first-up over this trip at Warwick Farm. Has a far better second-up record and Weir going back on is significant - she has three wins from four rides on the gelding. Track specialist VERY SHARP (6) is also in the mix.
SELECTIONS: Sting Jet to get the cash.
GAWLER: RACE 5 @ 5:50 PM
EVENTUALLY (9) was in a league of her own here last start when making a mess of them in a similar grade. Will drift back again from the draw before launching late. EASY BEAST (2) didn't give his rivals a sniff here last start when leading pillar-to-post. 3kg claimer goes on to aid the big weight. Should prove tough to reel in if the same tactics are implemented. ESKY (3) returns. Doesn't boast a strong first-up record but rates on best figures and gets a key booking in Holder from a nice draw. Don't underestimate. Smaller cases can also be made for KING HALSTON (8) second-up and the rock-hard fit KIRKLISTON BLU (4).
SELECTIONS: Eventually to win again.
LAUNCESTON: RACE 2 @ 6:35 PM
TUSKEGEE (14) improved again missing 1L here and then came back and didn't have the best of it heavily bet. Peaks on a 7-day return and deserves another chance. PAULARTES (12) is a former Victorian resuming for the Trinder yard. She's trialled well and is likely to be presented forward this time around. She won't have to improve much to fight out the finish. SCARLETTI (3) resumes and will need some luck skipping over from a wide gate. His fresh run at Hobart three-back stacks right up. AFFAIROFTHEHEART (6) was in the market but was cruelled by a wide gate first-up. Maps well today and has a handy 2kg claim. Prefer her over further but she also goes in at a price.
SELECTIONS: Going with Tuskegee.
INNISFAIL: RACE 6 @ 5:03 PM
MAZZARATTI (1) will be suited to this trip and was runner-up over 820m at Ewan in his penultimate start. He benefits from a 3kg claim and may have found the right race to break back into the winners' circle. MIDAS STAR (4) led for a long way here 6 days ago and was only swamped late, finishing runner-up by a head. He cops a wide gate this time but is rock hard fit and can have a say in the finish again. HEAD HONCHO (2) showed plenty of pace and ability as a juvenile. He looked sharp when winning a recent trial and having Justin Huxtable in the saddle fresh up is a strong lead. Watch closely. Can win. CALM IS POWER (5) was fourth in a tougher grade at Atherton nearly 2 weeks ago and won at Ewan before that. He has more upside than most in this and should be right in the finish again.
SELECTIONS: Mazzaratti each-way.