Welcome to Weekend winners, your one-stop tipping sheet for this weekend of racing.
STAR BET - SNOOPY (FLEMINGTON - Race 7 No. 8): Going to side with the expertise of Team Hawkes and make Snoopy the Star Bet of the weekend. Also accepted at Rosehill, it would have been the easier option to leave their last start winner in Sydney. He had drawn gate one and showed a clean pair of heels to win last time around the 1400m with the blinkers applied. The fact they've been willing to float him to Melbourne despite drawing more awkwardly suggests they thought this race was more winnable. We had him winning in Sydney so he should be definitely winning down south.
VALUE BET - SOUTHERN SPUR (FLEMINGTON Race 6 No. 7): Our Victorian video and ratings analyst was giving Southern Spur a decent push so with $26 still available as of Friday afternoon we decided to get onbard. Robbie Griffiths' Northern Meteor three-year-old has only been to the races once - scoring a win at Moe in maiden grade. That was over 1114m and whilst our man conceded there might not have been much behind him, was impressed at the manner at which Southern Spur attacked the line, suggesting that 1200m down the straight at Flemington could be right up his alley. Worth an each-way ticket.
FRIDAY NIGHT BET #1- YOGI (MOONEE VALLEY - Race 7 No. 9): If you want to be 'smarter than the average punter' then have something on Yogi to win at The Valley on Friday night. Darren Weir has this former Kiwi four-year-old flying this campaign, progressing from a first-up win at Benalla in maiden grade to a last start Sandown Hillside victory when raced wide under a big weight before charging away from rivals. The tight Moonee Valley circuit is the niggling concern but apart from that he's a good thing and we're getting better than $4 odds. We couldn't 'bear' it if we didn't have something on. A worthy gamble.
FRIDAY NIGHT BET #2 - ALFRED THE GREAT (CANTERBURY Race 6 No. 2): No we're not going Bong Bong. At least we don't think we are. True, Alfred The Great is coming off a victory in the Bong Bong Cup but that doesn't mean it's not a form race which commands respect. The runner-up Tradtri came straight to a Canterbury 1900m and led throughout to win by 3-1/4 lengths! And Alfred The Great beat him fair and square. In fact, Alfred The Great would have won by a bigger margin had it not been for a slow getaway. James Cummings' five-year-old gets the right conditions, the right distance and with Tim Clark aboard has the right jockey. At $14 floating around he's the right price too.
SYDNEY SATURDAY BET - HUNTER JACK (ROSEHILL Race 6 No. 8): So many reasons to back Hunter Jack so we'll start with the obvious - Tim Martin. When a trainer strikes a purple patch of form ride it along with them. From November 13, Martin has produced 12 runners at the races for five winners and seven placegetters. He's had three winners from his past four runners and Hunter Jack was called the winner at Rosehill at his most recent start but was beaten in a deceptive photo by despised longshot The Rumour File. The next big positive is the ways this race profiles. There is minimal pressure engaged which should give a distinct advantage to on-pace gallopers. Hunter Jack could get a picnic in front. Martin is claiming 3kg with Nick Heywood. The kid can ride, he won't have a tough task from the gate and it means Hunter Jack carries 2.5kg less than last start when beaten a whisker. And the odds - $8 looks big overs.
MELBOURNE SATURDAY BET - BLACK SHEEP (FLEMINGTON - Race 8 No. 3): We were inundated with love from our Kiwi audience after declaring Black Sheep a good thing at Moonee Valley last start so despite the crossover to Flemington we'll push our luck and plonk with him again. Darren Weir has managed to conjure three wins from Black Sheep's past five starts with his latest Valley trouncing was as good as he's ever produced. The Flemington factor is a concern, from one attempt here previously he flopped around the mile. But that was a fast-run affair and Black Sheep did plenty of chasing under a big weight - we'll forgive him that.
BRISBANE SATURDAY BET - ELEGANT COMPOSURE (EAGLE FARM - Race 8 No. 1): Smart Sydney mare Private Secretary only had one danger when sent to Eagle Farm last start and it was the winner Elegant Composure. Trained locally by Chris Anderson, Elegant Composure improved her record to seven wins from nine starts with her first-up Listed victory and should strip fitter again into this. Undefeated second-up and very well treated at the weight scale, we were surprised bookmakers opened her at such a tempting quote. It didn't last long, she's been $7.50 into $6 and we expect she'll start shorter. Get on now.
HONG KONG SUNDAY BET - WILLIE WAY (SHA TIN - Race 2 No. 12): Most punters will tune into Hong Kong on Sunday for International Raceday. Rebel Dane and Takedown will fly the Aussie flag in the Group I Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) and they both have genuine claims, but if you want to bet-up on one early in the card to give you a bit of a Sunday session punting kick, then let Aussie hoop Zac Purton do the job for you aboard Willie Way in race two. This Paul O'Sullivan-trained five-year-old is flying this preparation winning two from two and maps to enjoy the run of the race stepping up in grade but dropping massively in weight. The opposition appears limited whereas Willie Way has loads of upside. Purton has been aboard for both wins this campaign, overcoming barriers 13 and 10 in the process. On Sunday, he has gate two. C'mon Aussie.