EXPERT RACING TIPS: NEWCASTLE
Best Bets
Mitch Lewis
BACK: 4. Homeric (WIN) for 2 units (Rated at $2.10)
A race that has been savaged by scratchings and deductions. HOMERIC lines up well here on the heavy track. He managed to win his maiden on a wet track and has performed well since then. He is rock hard fit now into the prep which should be to his advantage in these conditions in the small field.
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NEWCASTLE PREVIEW AND TIPS | EXPERT TIPS | THURSDAY AUGUST 14TH 2025
RAIL: +6m Entire TRACK: Heavy 8
Expecting a fair track here as generally this big open track at Newcastle can give runners a good chance from all positions, perhaps the inside lanes will play inferior given the expected heavy rating.
7. Faye Runaway
8. Icon Dream
4. Farraige
1. Artzino
Betting Strategy
FAYE RUNAWAY comes up short in this race now after the key scratching of STORM PARK. FAYE RUNAWAY looks to get every chance and will race in a strong position and fit now 3rd up with a light weight. ICON DREAM was a better run last start despite her finishing position and she can improve 2nd up. FARRAIGE is a long time maiden by now, but he has good heavy track form and should handle the conditions and gets a chance and ARTZINO could show up here at this distance fresh.
3. Dollars
2. Brut Nature
1. Ridgeback
7. Painted Wings
Betting Strategy
BACK: 3. Dollars (WIN) for 2 units (Rated at $1.80)
DOLLARS looks a key hope to break through for a maiden win, maps well to the inside and ran a recent 2nd here at this track. This looks an easier level maiden than what he contested in his last few and he gets a suitable set up. He has come up short after scratchings and deductions so in hope the market can correct as the race gets closer and be gets back to a better price.
10. Savvy Hallie
4. Ruination
6. Charlina
7. Dietrich
Betting Strategy
SAVVY HALLIE resumes here today. She has trialed well in 2 lead up runs and bring in easily the strongest form lines after contesting stronger group level races in her 2YO season. She is clearly the one to beat if she handles the wet track but has come up very short here so not keen to be betting.
2. Wal’s Me Mate
3. Rockbarton Max
1. Last Druid
5. Beau Bandit
Betting Strategy
Another race that has been effected by a chunk of deductions. WALS’S ME MATE was a good winner 1st up and can take improvement out of that in a race that doesn’t appear to be too much harder than that last start. ROCKBARTON MAX was a winner on debut and lines up here 2nd up, he maps to be out in front and controlling the tempo. LAST DRUID resumes and finds himself in what appears an lower rated race than what he contested through last prep. BEAU BANDIT next who resumes for a 2nd prep after a smart win on debut earlier in the year.
8. The Stars
1. California Command
5. Floral Legend
3. In And Out
Betting Strategy
THE STARS looks to get her best chance in a race like this today. She has had 2 runs this prep and been well in the market in both. 3rd up here now today and peaking in fitness, gets her best chance for a breakthrough win. CALIFORNIA COMMAND was solid in his resuming run, should improve 2nd up and maps to be in a strong position in run. FLORAL LEGEND resumes, he has looked in good order in 2 lead up trials and should give it a shake but the wet track could be testing. IN AND OUT is another resuming, he contested stronger maidens last prep and while likely will improve over a further distance deeper into the prep, he wouldn’t surprise here 1st up.
3. Aged Care
4. Frontex
10. Iron Hat
11. Tong Ho
Betting Strategy
AGED CARE has been consistent this prep with 3 solid runs in a row now. The heavy track is a small query, but he will likely race forwards up on speed in a race that appears to not have a quick tempo which could be to his advantage. FRONTEX is the only other runner expected to be up on speed, if these 2 get to control the tempo of the race, they could prove tough to get by late, FRONTEX coming in 1st up may text him late so probably needs it soft. IRON HAT has a win on a heavy track while majority of others are untested in the wet and TONG HO could be an improver from a last start maiden win, but may need luck from a wide position.
4. Homeric
2. Inncourt
5. Impressionism
7. Rockbarton Flash
Betting Strategy
BACK: 4. Homeric (WIN) for 2 units (Rated at $2.10)
A race that has been savaged by scratchings and deductions. HOMERIC lines up well here on the heavy track. He managed to win his maiden on a wet track and has performed well since then. He is rock hard fit now into the prep which should be to his advantage in these conditions in the small field.
4. Mizella
10. Yorikiri
7. Unreal Expectation
2. Oakfield Mamselle
Betting Strategy
Another race that has been flipped now since scratchings. MIZELLA has mixed form of late, but in stronger races so the drop back to country level should likely suit. YORIKIRI goes well on heavy rated tracks so looks likely to be the runner who handles the going best. Originally had UNREAL EXPECTATION as a lay play given the horse needs to take a step up in level, but after the key scratchings in the race he looks likely to get the best run of the lot from a good barrier so hard to take him on now. OAKFIELD MAMSELLE to round out the selections, 3rd up and fitter now at the right point of his prep suits.
