EXPERT RACING TIPS: STRATHALBYN
Best Bets
Lachlan Mosley
BACK: 7. Fantastic Host (WIN) for 4 units
Awful race this and it looks Fantastic Hosts to lose! Was an $8 chance at Gawler and was a very very unlucky performance when hemmed along the rails and blocked at the wrong times. Stuck to the guns well for 1.1L 4th but clearly should have won. Has won at this track/distance in the past. Tiritiri is fitter for two runs back and ran an OK 4.5L 8th when lost a plate in running. Forgive that and Pannell on a good booking. Geetee Forty got the MDN out the way three back has only been fair when tackling longer distances. Drops back to the mile here and the blinkers go on here. Vee Rod has been OK since joining the Irwin yard. Looks the best of the rest in a diabolically bad race.
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STRATHALBYN PREVIEW AND TIPS | EXPERT TIPS | WEDNESDAY AUGUST 20TH 2025
RAIL: True TRACK: Soft 7
3. Ashreign
4. Beachbarbeckons
9. Kindly
8. Joseph’s Glory
Betting Strategy
Not bet to start the day. Strathalbyn racing on a soft track can be a trap so we tread with caution. Ashreign started big odds but ran a huge race for 0.5L 3rd at Morphettville last start. This looks an easier MDN here and Todd Pannell sticks the ride for the in-form Matthew Seyers camp. Beachbarbeckons is on debut for the powerful Jolly camp and Price Bloodstock team. Tuned up for this with a handy trial, draws well and blinkers on for the debut. Should prove hard to beat. Kindly was in the market both starts last prep but didn’t really live upto expectation with a couple of plain performances. Given time to mature and has jumped out well leading into this. Draws well and the tongue tie goes on. Expect sharp improvement. Joseph’s Glory had long odds specking last start but was ridden poorly and was given no hope. Forgive that. Like the engagement of Opperman here and gets a gear adjustment. Worth another chance but only one more!
11. Oh Lovely No
13. Unwind
12. Roll Start
4. Irlandis
Betting Strategy
No bet race. Not interested in this. Oh lovely No is knocking on the door with a couple of handy 2nd placings of late. Caught the eye late at Mildura. Draws well and extra trip suits. Unwind has been OK this prep without threatening. She worked through the line OK at Swan Hill for 5th over the 1600m so she might be looking for this staying trip now. Jason Holder a good booking. Roll Start is an 18-start MDN that’s form is hit or miss. Trained on the track so worth throwing in the multiples in this weak field. Irlandis has finished 2nd the past four starts. Is a long time MDN horse but runs good races from the back. Draws wide but look late.
12. Petit Eagle
8. Laws Wars
5. Calviso
7. Empress Of Soul
Betting Strategy
BACK: 12. Petit Eagle (WIN & PLACE) for 2 units
Petit Eagle ran the blackbooker of the century last start when slow out and held up badly in the straight but rocketed home for an eye-catching 3rd. She’s a very lightly raced 5yo Mare that has taken her time to get to the racetrack but she looks promising. Draws well here and should be winning with even luck. Laws Wars is getting close to win after a narrow 2nd behind the stablemate Kalmana. Is really getting through the line nicely in his runs so the extra 150m in trip looks to suit. Calviso is an interesting runner. Comes across from Symon Wilde team to the Stephen Theodore yard when the horse boasts a good S.P profile without winning. The Theodore stable always get these tried horses up straight away so watch for any posistive betting moves. Empress Of Soul was favourite fresh but did nothing on a bottomless track. Can be forgiven for that and respect the starting price. In the right yard for vast improvement and a better surface will suit. Can bounce back
4. Tanna
1. Purrfect Line
11. Lunarshot
5. Charm Catcher
Betting Strategy
BACK: 4. Tanna (WIN & PLACE) for 2 units
Not a bad little race this. Tanna won a debut with ease at Port Augusta then had zero luck at Balaklava when held up badly behind a slow one and only got warm late for 4th behind Halliwell. That horse has since won again in mid-week town level so the form stacks up well. Gets in nicely with the claim and looks to have some upside. Purrfect Line will appreciate the drop from decent metro racing to mid-week grade here. Never runs a poor race but does struggle to find the winning post first. Is a winner at this track and distance in the past and looks well placed with the 3kg claim. Lunarshot has had a couple of unlucky runs of late. Ridiculous ride last Wednesday where the hoop just hunted up to try and lead at all costs and had nothing to give in the straight. Think it’s going better than form suggests on paper. Charm Catcher was something beaten first up from a break when held up badly at Balaklava but rocketed home for 4th. Will strip fitter. Looks like a decent racehorse of the future.
6. Flying Step
11. Bellavardo
5. Bush Infererence
4. Fioreen
Betting Strategy
No bet race. Flying Step is the most consistent of the bunch with a couple of nice closing performances at Gawler over shorter trip. Gives the impression the horse will handle the step up to this longer trip. Bellavardo has been good since changing stables and really caught the eye 2nd up with the fastest L600m split over 1500m. Fitter for 2 runs back and goes alright at Strathalbyn. Bush Inference was good for 3rd at Balaklava two back then didn’t come on at Murray Bridge when did some things wrong at the start. Might be worth forgiving and the horse has a great record at Strath over this staying trip. Fioreen has been in the market of late but has only been whacking away. Might be suited getting up over a trip as the horse just grinds and is trained on the track.
6. Loca Bella
1. Eight on The Dot
2. Robert The Puss
3. Savatoff
Betting Strategy
No bet race. Loca Bella is looking to get back into the winners’ stalls after a couple of nice 2nd placings at Balaklava on heavy tracks. 1600m looks his wheelhouse and like the engagement of Jason Holder. Deserves to break through. Eight On The Dot drops back in grade and distance after winning at metro level on the weekend. His track/distance stats are excellent and if the horse handles the quick back up then there’s no reason why he can’t win again. Robert The Puss will have to prove himself away from Gawler but you cannot knock recent form. Likes to dig his toes in the ground so the soft surface of Strath suits. Savatoff is coming off a dominant win at odds at the Parks track last start. The horse loves racing over this trip, draws well and Jake Toeroek sticks the ride. Can win again.
7. Fantastic Host
3. Tiritiri
1. Geetee Forty
8. Vee Rod
Betting Strategy
BACK: 7. Fantastic Host (WIN) for 4 units
Awful race this and it looks Fantastic Hosts to lose! Was an $8 chance at Gawler and was a very very unlucky performance when hemmed along the rails and blocked at the wrong times. Stuck to the guns well for 1.1L 4th but clearly should have won. Has won at this track/distance in the past. Tiritiri is fitter for two runs back and ran an OK 4.5L 8th when lost a plate in running. Forgive that and Pannell on a good booking. Geetee Forty got the MDN out the way three back has only been fair when tackling longer distances. Drops back to the mile here and the blinkers go on here. Vee Rod has been OK since joining the Irwin yard. Looks the best of the rest in a diabolically bad race.
11. Fancy Shoulder
12. Suggestive Miss
8. Testa Dexta
5. Kushan Karnivale
Betting Strategy
BACK: 11. Fancy Shoulder (WIN & PLACE) for 1 unit
Fancy Shoulder can be forgiven for a horror run in transit at metro level last time out. She draws for a much softer run in transit here and looks a good each-way value play to finish the race meet. Suggestive Miss is an honest mare who rarely runs a bad one. She’s coming off a decent 2nd at Gawler when hard in the market. Draws wide but Ben Price rides this horse well. Testa Dexta is another horse racing in great heart and boasts 3 narrow 2nds from his past 4 starts. Like the jockey change here. Kushan Karnivale ran well for 3rd last time out. Is one of those horses that can just bob up and blow them away. Track and distance stats read well and like the engagement of Jason Holder
