Top bets from Paul Joice for Saturday August 12

Paul Joice - Saturday August 12

With fine weather forecast and a good track expected I am sticking with Rosehill on Saturday.

No need to spread the wings too far on Saturday - I'm sticking to Rosehill.

PEACOCK (Rosehill Race 5 No 4)
If you were going off first-up stats you wouldn't be backing this Godolphin runner but a gelding operation and a recent Rosehill trial have me backing my own judgement – this bloke is flying. James Cummings has given the son of Lonhro two lead-up trials for this and they've been impressive. Showed some early pace before racing away for a five-length romp two weeks ago. Tackles the 1350m so will have the fitness in his legs and off a soft draw I have Blake Shinn mapping to settle handy with a gun trail. Worthy gamble.
BET: WIN
ODDS $4 @ Sportsbet ($4.60 PowerPlay)

TREKKING (Rosehill Race 6 No 3)
This looks a three-horse race with Menari and Siege Of Quebec well found in betting. That leaves Trekking as the value runner and I'm confident he'll give this a real shake. Gets 4kg off Menari which is a significant weight pull. Trialled in super fashion winning at Randwick with plenty in reserve and did win around this route on good going on debut as a two-year-old. Siege Of Quebec comes back from 1400m to 1100m which isn't ideal considering he will cop plenty of pressure up front. For me Trekking looks the logical play – and logic works wonders in this game.
BET: WIN
ODDS $5.50 @ William Hill ($6 PricePump)

GRETNA (Rosehill Race 8 No 4)
I can only go on what I see and Gretna's recent nine-length barrier trial win tells me Chris Waller has this four-year-old mare ready to go! Gretna has always impressed me as a type. She's big, strong and oozes class. But her record doesn't back that up with only three wins from 17 starts. I'm going to take the punt on her here first-up in a race devoid of pace and pressure. She should land in the first two and will prove tough to get past.
BET: WIN
ODDS $6 @ William Hill ($7 PricePump)

SPECIAL MISSILE (Rosehill Race 9 No 4)
Special Missile is charging through the grades and I don't see any reason why that will change. Settled close-up and was always going to win in his latest midweek Benchmark 72 win and despite jumping into Benchmark 80 grade, drops 1.5kg. Drawn to lob in the first few and with only an even tempo expected, the backmarkers are going to have plenty of work to do. Brenton Avdulla knows the horse well having three previous rides for two wins and a second.
BET: WIN
ODDS $5.50 @ Bet365

Advertisment
More Reading...
Zoustar 6YO Stepping up to 2000m
Pre-post favourite Habana will head into unfamiliar territory at Ellerslie, but there is confidence in his camp that it will be a smooth transition.
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Te Akau Chasing Another Cup Day Success
Last year’s Melbourne Cup Day concluded in success for Mark Walker in the Gr.3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m), a race he will chase back-to-back crowns in on Tuesday with Kiwi mare Quintessa.
Bellatrix Star May Back Up in G1 Champions Sprint
Te Akau and Fortuna Racing’s filly Bellatrix Star proved she is among Australia’s top sprinting three-year-olds last Saturday at Flemington, finishing second in the A$2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
Melbourne Cup Tips – Tara Talks Racing
Tara Talks Racing is now online having had a Sunday arvo drink or two as we go through the Cup horses, so what do Clocker and I like for this year’s Melbourne Cup?
Kiwi Longshot Hope for Cup
Grant Cooksley came tantalisingly close to getting his hands on the Melbourne Cup as a jockey, and he is hoping to rectify that on Tuesday as a trainer when he lines-up Trust In You in the two-mile feature.
Kiwi Grey Targets Subzero on Cup Day
The Subzero Handicap (1400m), a race solely for registered grey thoroughbreds, has proven to be a fan favourite at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, and this year, Kiwis will have their own grey to barrack for.
Antrim Coast to Fly Flag for The Oaks Stud
The well-renowned colours of The Oaks Stud will feature across two feature Trans-Tasman meetings this week, kicking off with Antrim Coast lining up in the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
Two heats at the Rosehill trials on Monday morning over 900m and the quickest of those was won by an expensive son of Golden Slipper winning first season sire Farnan.
Will it be a fairytale finish for Tasmanian-bred mare The Map?
Fresh from sweeping the sire awards at the 2024 Tasmanian Racing Awards this season, the Armidale Stud team is in line for another significant achievement with The Map (Alpine Eagle x This Moment) flying the flag for resident stallion Alpine Eagle in the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup on Tuesday 5 November.