Top bets from The Armchair Punter for Grand Final weekend

Stephen Brassel - Friday September 29

Great weekend for a bet and I'm bookending with a couple of Robert Smerdon-trained runners, one in the opener at the Valley on Friday night and the other in the last at Caulfield on Saturday.

I reckon this is an experiment I can get right at Moonee Valley Friday night.

EXPERIMENTATION (Moonee Valley, Friday night Race 1 No.7)
The form out of his debut performance, when beaten on the line at Seymour has been only moderate however at his second start this bloke led throughout and won with ease on the Pakenham synthetic when out to 1200m. Looks a nice type and obviously derived great benefit from his first-start experience. Drawn well and expecting he'll be either leading or sitting on the leader. Sure he's up in grade and has to take synthetic form to turf but I'm comfortable enough to have a decent bet to kick of a big weekend.
BET: WIN
ODDS: $4.20 @ Sportsbet ($4.80 Power Play)

SUPER TOO (Moonee Valley, Friday night Race 4 No.6)
She's only short in the market but I'm happy to take the odds and load up. Super Too is a flying machine and draws barrier one so watch her go! At Randwick last time out she led them a merry dance in breaking a seven-year track record clocking 55.72 seconds for the 1000m. She has also raced well in Melbourne previously, although that has been down the straight at Flemington but she's got so much natural speed I doubt they can catch her around the Valley and the 955m record could well be under siege.
BET: WIN
ODDS $3 @ Luxbet

IN HER TIME (Randwick, Race 6 No.10)
Top class mare who took her game to another level when last in training and her trials this time in would suggest she's ready to go to an even higher level again. Had her ears pricked, looking around when an easy trail winner at Rosehill recently and although she did beat nothing it's the manner in which she went about business which impressed me. Chautauqua is favourite but his Grand Final is a few weeks away yet and this mare is primed to go now with the eye on a possible inclusion in The Everest. Drawn the inside gate and she'll be there for a long way.
BET: WIN:
ODDS: $6 @ Centrebet

SNITZSON (Randwick, Race 7 No.13)
I'm having a wide throw here at a horse I've got a lot of time for and reckon, at the odds, we'll be getting a great run for our money. He's now had three runs back from a spell and is looking for the 1600m and with 50.5kg is not going to know himself. When last in work looked unlucky when third in the Australian Guineas at his only start at 1600m and has been racing like he wants that distance here. His Australian Guineas run was the sixth in that preparation and I reckon the further he gets into a preparation the better he gets. A worthy gamble.
BET: EACH-WAY
ODDS: $41 @ William Hill ($61 Price Pump)

ABILITY (Caulfield Sunday, Race 9 No.2)
The stable thought enough of him to pay up for Friday night's Moir Stakes at the Valley where he missed a run as an emergency but that's a good enough pointer for this. Since being gelded he's four-from-four and just looks better every time he goes around. Drawn the car park but he's going to get back anyway and there's sure to be plenty of speed on so look for Dwayne Dunn to wind him up late. Reckon we close off the massive weekend of the punt in a big way with a decent bet.
BET: WIN
ODDS: $5.50 @ Sportsbet ($6.50 Power Play), William Hill ($6.50 Price Pump), Ladbrokes ($6.50 Odds Boost)

More Reading...
Private Harry Half-Sister a Classic Star for Rheinwood Pastoral
Unbeaten three year-old Private Harry shot to fame when downing Golden Slipper winner Lady of Camelot to win the $3million Magic Millions Sunlight Plate last month and if you believe he has the potential to be a serious sprint star of the future, you’re going to be more than interested in his half-sister that will be offered at Inglis Classic next Monday morning.
Lime Country to Cheer Three Inglis Millennium Runners!
Greg and Jo Griffin of Lime Country Thoroughbreds sold 15 yearlings at Inglis Classic last year at an average price of $132,333 and amazingly three of them have not only made it into the Inglis Millennium field, but they all have a serious shot at winning the lucrative scamper worth $2million.
Dundeel Filly Wins Virtual Match Race
With six scratchings from the field of nine declared for the first race at Warwick Farm on Wednesday just three runners went to the post, but it proved a good contest with victory going to the red hot favourite, whose trainer Matthew Smith believes she is headed to stakes class.
Derby or Kiwi for Tivaci 3YO Tuxedo?
Probably for the first time in New Zealand turf history, a Kiwi trainer has made a $3.5 million race his backup plan. 
El Vencedor Chasing G1 and a Bonus
El Vencedor has been an unstoppable force at Ellerslie, and while there are looming targets at northern headquarters for the gelding, a lucrative bonus and prize money on offer at Te Rapa this weekend have lured his connections south. 
Cool Classic for Newhaven Park
It’s never a long wait for the next Newhaven Park bred and sold stakes-winner to arrive with talented filly The Playwright taking out the Group III ATC Widden Stud Stakes last Saturday and it might not be long until the next with Cool Aza Beel colt Cobra Club engaged to run in the $2million Inglis Millennium.
Inglis Millennium Barrier Draw
There is $2million up for grabs in the ATC Inglis Millennium (1100m) on Saturday with a full field, plus emergencies declared for the race which has a new favourite after Zoustar filly Price Tag drew gate 11, while the unbeaten stakes-winner With the Law will have to jump from gate 18.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday February 4
Here is the full list of 23 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Blue Diamond Tilt For The Playwright
Tricolours’ Racing boss James Moss has revealed tough Written By filly The Playwright is likely to make it three starts in three states with a Blue Diamond tilt in a wide ranging chat on the Tara Talks Racing podcast, including some of the theories behind a track record of finding cheap yearlings that become stakes winners.
Savaglee Ready to Take on Older Rivals
Savaglee has conquered all before him at age-group level in New Zealand, and on Saturday, the star colt will take on the older horses in a star-studded edition of the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m).