EXPERT RACING TIPS: BALAKLAVA

BALAKLAVA PREVIEW AND TIPS | EXPERT TIPS | WEDNESDAY JULY 9TH 2025

Betting Strategy

Hard to bet confident here with the wild weather around as some horses look like they might have the best exposed form but weather and track conditions can make you look stupid. Bending Away has had a fair time off the scene after pulling up with an injury last start before the long spell. Looks to have come back in great order with some very impressive trials. Draws well and bred to handle the track. Mighty Aphrodite is a first starter here for the Jolly stable and they never take the Price bloodstock horses to the races without being ready. Is another that has looked good at recent trials. Supreme Valkyrie resumes from a spell and put together a couple of 2nd placings before the spell. Might not have the same upside as some of these but the race experience is there. Draws for a soft run in transit and Jason Holder is a key booking fresh. Sain As makes his debut here for the powerful Clarken/O’Shea stable and won a recent trial in preparation for this.

Betting Strategy

BACK: 12. Mandarin (WIN & PLACE) for 1 unit


Was pretty keen on Mandarin last start at a price after a luckless run prior but was ridden a bit average 3 wide the trip with no cover and couldn’t come on in the straight. If you can forgive that then this horse could be a nice each-way play. Will have no issues with the tough conditions. Just needs luck in running. Elite Thunder had a debut to forget missing the kick then finding trouble in the run. Put the pen through that and butter up here. Regular stable rider in Jake Toeroek takes back over. Should improve sharply. Nadege is another horse that raced wide last start at Gawler and can be forgiven. The start before was a City 3rd placing to Mystic Wonder who has come out and won again impressively. That’s strong form lines for a race like this. Starcho Libre was excellent on debut then had some trouble in running last time out. Forgive that. Draws well and handles the heavy. Winkers go on first time.

Lachlan Mosley

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Betting Strategy

No bet race. Kikkuli drops back from a metro class debut when wanted to do a few things wrong first up when over-raced and wanted to duck in under pressure and basically threw away any winning chance. Been back to the trials with a stylish win and should appreciate the gear changes and drop in grade. The owners of Territorian are probably running out of patience for that elusive MDN win but the horse still runs well nonetheless. Was really good first up when only just grabbed on the line for 0.1L 2nd. Will be fitter for it and Jason Holder sticks the ride. Looks to have come back well after switching to the Bain/Taylor yards at Angaston. Canyon Wind has been going OK since joining the powerful Stephen Theodore stable. Ran OK for 3rd last start at Bordertown on a heavy track so at least you know he will handle the conditions. Gear changes aplenty and Todd Pannell sticking the key. Icanhearzou had excuses first up when raced 3 wide the trip and knocked up. That’s a forgivable performance. Terminal Shock the best of the rest. Caught the eye late last start and extra trip suits.

Betting Strategy

No bet race. This race is that bad that I could barely find 4 horses to put in the numbers. Empirestateofmind over-cooked things at Sandown and knocked up. This is easier. Bocheeva had good market support at Bordertown and ran an eye-catcher for 2nd behind a dominant Silent Emmy. Proven on the heavy tracks. Landmark Alley had long odds market support in the same race but overdid things and knocked up. Perhaps respect market support? Namadji has won one race from thirty starts but is often thereabouts in these poor mid-week staying events.

Betting Strategy

From The Block was backed as if unbeatable into $1.28 first up in Australia and held on for a strong win at Gawler in heavy conditions. Will have taken plenty of benefit from that and this looks no harder. Looks like the track will be heavy again. Might have more upside than these. Likely to start short and prove hard to beat. Cosmic Spy was a dominant winner on debut then tested the waters in a 100k restricted final but only whacked away. Perhaps a touch too soon. This is a lot easier right back in grade. Can win again. Looks like a good horse for the future. Samanth was OK here last start but perhaps was in the quicksand part of the track. By Foxwedge he’s bred to swim so prepared to give another go in these trying conditions. The same could be said about Silver Chaos who is becoming a barrier rogue but jumped last start and was a dominant MDN winner. Bred to swim. A win wouldn’t surprise.

Betting Strategy

BACK: 1. Nostryia (WIN & PLACE) for 2 units @

Nostryia is finally showing that early promise with a narrow 2nd then a metro win first and second up. Forget about last run when he just did too much work and popped in the straight. Draws well and the 4kg claim helps and loves the heavy surfaces. Hard to beat with all those boxes ticked. Kindra Park is returning from a spell and generally takes a run or two to get into things but I am going to elevate this in the numbers as it’s had two starts on heavy for a win and a 3rd. Has placed here in the past and gets the 2kg claim for promising young jockey Matthew Chadwick. Reine of Nine bombed the kick last start and was forced to play catch the entire and lost all chance of winning. Plugged home OK for 4.9L 9th. Drops back from metro to midweek level and the barrier blanket goes on to help with the jump. 3kg claim suits. Italian Informant was a good winner two back but then did nothing at Bordertown when hot favourite. Not sure the horse saw out a strong 1300m so the drop back in trip should suit.

Lachlan Mosley

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Betting Strategy

BACK: 5. Important Product (WIN & PLACE) for 2 units

Important Product was heavily backed last weekend and didn’t have the best of luck when sat basically 4-5 wide the trip at Gawler. Tried to let down but had nothing at the finish for 4L 7th. Forgive that and the horse likes wet tracks. Draws well and like the booking of Ben Price. Goes well here at Balaklava. Warm Breeze is looking for the hattrick after two dominant victories since coming across from NZ. Bred to handle all conditions and the claim for Matthew Chadwick helps. Looks the hardest to beat. Runaway Belle is returning from a break after failing to come up last prep. Boasts positive trials behind recent Melbourne winner Sixteen Reasons and Group 1 winner Queman. That’s clearly the hot form for a mid-week at Balaklava. Rocktagon didn’t have a great deal of luck before a break last time out. Tuned up to this nicely with a recent trial performance behind some handy horses. Won first up in the past and handles conditions.

Lachlan Mosley

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Betting Strategy

BACK: 11. Spelman (WIN & PLACE) for 1 unit

Was pretty keen on Spelman last start when heavily backed $15 to $8 and was dead set trucking on the Heavy track but was sitting behind the wrong horse that gave up quickly and the horse got shuffled too far back and lost all hope. Forgive that. Stubby sticks and the horses 2nd up form is really good. Likes heavy tracks. Mystical Wisdoms returns to mid-week from a failed effort at metro level when the horse overdid things and didn’t come on. Forgive that. Previous form was excellent and this is clearly an easier assignment. Obi was a gun winner two back thanks to one of the better rides you will see from Caitlin Jones. Then tackled metro level and didn’t have much luck in the straight. Forgive that. Back to the mid-week and is 2/2 at the track. Hard to ignore. Port Nights is lightly raced but was a dominant MDN winner down the South East on a heavy 10 last time out. Will get similar conditions here and might have some progression.

Lachlan Mosley

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Betting Strategy

Dobbinair is clearly the best horse in the race returning from metro level but just hasn’t had things to suit in very strong 3yo races. Will find this much easier and is well placed with the 3kg claim for Isaac Sit. Draws well and looks a good way to get out in the last. Suggestive Miss was OK first up at Gawler when slowly away and only really whacked away for 6th. Will strip fitter for that and bred to handle conditions. Like the fact a senior is taking over. Piwhane is racing in great heart and was a smart winner at Bordertown on a heavy track when coming from well back. Meets similar conditions here and draws for a soft run in transit. Can win again. Never Surrender was excellent closing for a 0.9L 4th at this track last time out. Extra 100m in trip suits and handles heavy tracks. City horse when right so should be measuring up here.