If you want winners from a very selective daily service, how can you beat the PPD Club? We ask that you peruse some of our very recent 'best bet' selections. Judge us on what we do, not just what we say.
PRINCE OF PENZANCE 1st $5.00
In what’s shaping up as a 2-horse war, I fancy (13) Prince of Penzance 7/2 is the eachway value against the hotpot (12) Laidback Larry 10/9 in race 8, the Mornington Cup Prelude (Listed) 2000m at Caulfield on Saturday. The Pentire 4YO, trained by Darren Weir, went to the line strongly last start to finish 2nd/10 to Eraset over the Flemington 1720m trip on Jan 18 (btn 1.2 lengths). He was a long way back at the turn and picked up many lengths in the run home. His only start over 2000m saw him win at Flemington last May 4, finishing powerfully. He’s now had 3 runs off a spell and should be right at his peak - which he’ll need to be against Laidback Larry, a fine 4YO from the Gai Waterhouse team. The O’Reilly gelding has win 5 from 9, the latest over the Randwick 2000m in BM85 class on Jan 18. He has Damien Oliver aboard and his presence is worth a length at least.
BULL POINT 1st $3.20
Caulfield R6: (4) BULL POINT 5/2...Very smart;3rd/16 (to Zoustar) Rosehill 1400m Grp 1 Sep 14; primed; Gai/Oliver AAOK.
LAURIE'S LOVE 1st $5.70 (plus $133 trifecta/$42 exacta) with the 2 suggested danger runners)
After a luckless outing at Randwick Kensington last start, (8) Laurie's Love 8/1looks good enough to bounce back in race 7, the Bega Cup 1600m at theSapphire Coast on Sunday. The Shaft 4Yo was tardily away and never got a crack at them all the way when 9th/10 in a BM70 at Randwick-K on Jan 22. He was btn 4.4 lens but Jim Cassidy never really pushed him when the cause was laost. I'm taking the base formline via his good previous runs - three successive wins at Canberra over 1300m and 1400m (twice) in Dec and Jan. Today, he's drawn well and he gets in with 51kgs after the 3kg claim for his apprentice rider. The dangers should be (3) Al Ahmar 7/2 and (5) Quichang 9/2. Both have formlines that suggest they will be competitive.
PRAESENTIA 1ST $7.20
Good runs at his latest two outings, coupled with the booking of Craig Williams, suggest that (4) Praesentia 11/2 gets his chance to score in race 6, an RB78 hdcp 1600m at Moonee Valley on Friday night. Luke Oliver's 5YO ran 2nd/14 at Caul 1400m in RB78 class on Dec 26, btn a long neck, and followed that with a late-closing 3rd/5 at Sale 1423m on Jan 16m btn a half length. He's drawn well tonight and should get every chance to be right in the finish.
ABOUT SQUARE 1ST (danger runner 2nd) $4.40
Two good efforts at Flemington at his latest starts indicate that (11) About Square 4/1 is a cinch eachway job for race 7, the Sale Quality 1200m at Sale on Sunday. Mike Moroney's 4YO gelding ran 2nd/12 to Miss Promiscuity in RB78 at Flem 1200m on Jan 11 and that followed his 4th/12 there 1200m on Dec 21 behind Salute To Jude. He carried 60kgs in his latest run (Lt 54) and today slips in with the Limit 54kgs due to the rise in class. I think this gives him a slight edge over the well-fancied (4) Solsay 9/4 from the Mick Kent stable. The 6YO's last start MVall 1200m win in RB84 certainly makes a good case for him!
ST ISSEY 1st $2.30
Sale R5: (5) ST ISSEY 2/1...City form AOK; 3rd/12 MVall 2040m Jan 24; PHyland/Rodd AAOK.
PADRE PIO 1st $2.20
Sound form at track and trip equal a strong chance for (5) Padre Pio 2/1 in race 5, an Open hdcp 1000m at Grafton on Monday. He's had 4 starts at the track for 2 wins and 19 starts at the distance for 5 wins, 5 2nds and 2 3rds. The 5YO has run 2nd at his last 2 outings - at Port Macquarie 1000m on Dec 14 and Coffs Harbour 1215m on Jan 12. He was close-up in both. His most recent win was over the Grafton 1106m trip on Nov 6. Today he has a good barrier draw which should enable him to be parked 2nd or 3rd to the turn.
TARA HICKORY 1st $5.00
Grafton R8: (10) TARA HICKORY 9/2...Consistent; 3rd/10 Grafton 1200m BM55 Jan 26; 5 wins at Grafton; trained on track AAOK.