EXPERT RACING TIPS: MOONEE VALLEY
Best Bets
Jackson Oldham
BACK: 1. Too Darn Lizzie (WIN) for 3 units (Rated at $2.20)
Too Darn Lizzie brings in the obvious best formlines in the race behind Treasurethe Moment and a strong map advantage. No knocks Gala Queen and Sneaky Sunrise but I thought both would be better suited around a bigger track.
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Jackson Oldham
LAY: 1. Jimmysstar (WIN) for 3 units (Rated at $4.40)
Jimmysstar obviously has the talent to win another Group One, he went straight past She’s Bulletproof in the Oakleigh Plate last start but was able to blend into the race nicely, he won’t get those favours from the inside draw, the map looks tricky enough to oppose.
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MOONEE VALLEY PREVIEW AND TIPS | EXPERT TIPS | SATURDAY MARCH 22ND 2025
RAIL: True | TRACK: Soft 5
With the rail back in the true and some juice in the track, I wouldn’t be surprised if the inside holds up ok early then horses edge off fence later in the day and those Lanes 5-6 which have played best at The Valley for the better part of 18 months come into play.
Best Bets
Jackson Oldham
BACK: 1. Too Darn Lizzie (WIN) for 3 units (Rated at $2.20)
Too Darn Lizzie brings in the obvious best formlines in the race behind Treasurethe Moment and a strong map advantage. No knocks Gala Queen and Sneaky Sunrise but I thought both would be better suited around a bigger track.
back
Jackson Oldham
LAY: 1. Jimmysstar (WIN) for 3 units (Rated at $4.40)
Jimmysstar obviously has the talent to win another Group One, he went straight past She’s Bulletproof in the Oakleigh Plate last start but was able to blend into the race nicely, he won’t get those favours from the inside draw, the map looks tricky enough to oppose.
lay
7. Bur Dubai
6. Steel Run
10. Dschingis Prestige
9. My Rock Aly
Betting Strategy
Bur Dubai wasn’t suited first-up in Australia then ran a cracking race second-up behind Revelare, up in trip again suits.
1. Chergui
2. Prestige Forever
7. Jenni Moo Moo
6. Pure Passion
Betting Strategy
Little between Prestige Forever and Chergui, the former had the edge at Flemington but Chergui should’ve gone much closer in a Diamond since and is on the quick back-up. No knocks on both Jenni Moo Moo and Pure Passion either, good race.
13. Top Calibre
5. Pivot City
2. Perilous Fighter
6. Elouyou
Betting Strategy
Top Calibre was held-up at a key stage first-up and I thought he found the line well over the last 100m. I actually like the wide draw for him as he does lack of a short, sharp turn of foot.
13. Sun God
7. Capper Thirtynine
1. Verdad
14. Stay Focused
Betting Strategy
Not much between top and bottom, Sun God has a timeform rating to be right in the finish here and has jumped out sharply.
2. Dashing Duchess
7. Ziryab
6. Basilinna
9. Fortune
Betting Strategy
Dashing Duchess in nearing peak fitness, the run was better than it looked last start. Ziryab was very well paced at Flemington and I thought he was slightly flattered, although gets a good map advantage.
2. Shanwah
8. Emphasize
3. Opening Address
5. Detroit City
Betting Strategy
Shanwah keeps going to a new level and gets all favours from the map. Emphasize had excuses last start, is talented but gut feel is that last start run might have gutted him for the preparation.
1. Too Darn Lizzie
3. Gala Queen
4. Sneaky Sunrise
2. Cilacap
Betting Strategy
BACK: 1. Too Darn Lizzie (WIN) for 3 units (Rated at $2.20)
Too Darn Lizzie brings in the obvious best formlines in the race behind Treasurethe Moment and a strong map advantage. No knocks Gala Queen and Sneaky Sunrise but I thought both would be better suited around a bigger track.
5. Grinzinger Belle
4. Molly Bloom
1. Quintessa
13. Another Prophet
Betting Strategy
Grinzinger Belle runs here after a setback in Sydney last week, her last start at this track and distance she beat all bar Vibrant Sun. She gets an obvious map advantage.
7. She’s Bulletproof
5. Benedetta
4. Schwarz
1. Jimmysstar
Betting Strategy
LAY: 1. Jimmysstar (WIN) for 3 units (Rated at $4.40)
Jimmysstar obviously has the talent to win another Group One, he went straight past She’s Bulletproof in the Oakleigh Plate last start but was able to blend into the race nicely, he won’t get those favours from the inside draw, the map looks tricky enough to oppose.
11. Mckeyla
8. Scillato
7. Clean Energy
3. Amelita
Betting Strategy
Mckeyla bolted in, in very sharp time last start at Sandown, this is obviously harder but I believe she has really strong upside.
10. Mytemptation
3. Hedged
12. Moby Dick
6. Extratwo
Betting Strategy
Mytempation has a great chance to keep his unbeaten record in tact, I thought he had improvement to come from the mounting yard first-up and overcame a lane bias to win stylishly down the straight, gut feel says he is better back around a bend and maps well. Extratwo and Moby Dick will both need plenty of luck from inside gates.
THE VALLEY TIPS | RACECOURSE
SUMMARY
Known simply as The Valley, Moonee Valley Racing Club is the home of the Cox Plate, billed as Australasia’s weight-for-age championship. The $5 million race, which celebrated its centenary edition in 2020, became synonymous with Winx after Chris Waller’s mighty mare won it four years running. The Valley is also synonymous with night racing, having been the first club in Victoria to race under lights. Both the Group 1 Manikato Stakes and the Group 1 William Reid Stakes are run under lights. Whether it’s a day or a night meeting, our team of tipsters is adept at identifying the best Moonee Valley bets.
FAST FACTS
- The $200m redevelopment of The Valley is due for completion in 2026, with the racecourse due to close after the 2024 Cox Plate to facilitate construction of the new grandstand. The club’s aim is to convert the precinct into the world’s leading night racing destination.
KEY EVENTS
The W.S. Cox Plate, which was first run in 1922 with a prize purse of just £1,000, is The Valley’s showpiece occasion. Currently worth $5 million and with several champion racehorses adorning its illustrious honour roll, the Cox Plate is widely considered to be Australian racing’s truest weight-for-age test. Mighty mare Winx dominated the Cox Plate between 2015 and 2018, surpassing the feats of Kingston Town to become the first horse in history to win the race on four occasions. Winx won the 2018 Cox Plate at odds of $1.24 and was even shorter in 2017, jumping the $1.18 favourite, but Betfair’s Moonee Valley tips tend to offer punters more value!
TRACK PROFILE
Known for its tight turns, The Valley is very much a ‘horses for courses’ type of track. The home straight of just 173 metres is the shortest straight in Australia, meaning it pays to be up on the speed (particularly in sprint races) as backmarkers rarely make up much ground. With a similar track profile to The Valley, horses trained at Mornington have a better-than-average strike rate here.
When the rail is moved out 5m (or more), the track often favours horses drawn inside as they can dictate the pace of the race and make a winning break coming round the final turn. The Valley’s drainage system is excellent, with the track rarely rated in the Heavy range. Betfair’s experts take all the track variables into account when bringing you their Moonee Valley tips.
HISTORY
Moonee Valley Racecourse was established in 1883 by William Samuel (W.S.) Cox, in whose honour the Cox Plate is named. In 1882, Cox purchased a farm belonging to John F. Feehan – in whose honour the Feehan Stakes is named – for the sole purpose of establishing a racetrack. With the club entirely owning the freehold land on which the racecourse sits, Moonee Valley is distinguished from other Melbourne metropolitan racecourses such as Caulfield and Flemington.
Check out Betfair’s best bets for Moonee Valley today.
