Night racing continues at Moonee Valley this Friday. Our best comes in the shape of West Africa, who goes around in race three.
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Race One: 7 Second Bullet
Race Two: 1 Mother Grace
Race Three: 5 West Africa
Race Four: 4 Baluch
Race Five: 10 Lamingtons
Race Six: 4 Pins Of Pele
Race Seven: 12 Unique Storm
Race Eight: 2 Genghis
BEST BET: Race Three Number 5 West Africa
NEXT BEST: Race Four Number 4 Baluch
VALUE: Race Eight Number 2 Genghis
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Quaddie Tips (Races Five Through To Eight):
Leg One: 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Leg Two: 4, 5, 6, 10
Leg Three: 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Leg Four: 2, 6, 7, 10
$50 Investment= 5.58% of the dividend if successful.
In the news:
It took a set of blinkers for trainer Joe Cleary to be convinced of the galloping ability of Quietly Brilliant.
The Queanbeyan trainer knew the two-year-old had talent and it was confirmed when he narrowly won his first barrier trial at Canberra.
But Cleary didn’t realise the extent of Quietly Brilliant’s scope until he followed the advice of two riders and fitted him with blinkers for a track gallop at Queanbeyan prior to his first start.
“We were trying to keep a lid on things because after that gallop on the course proper at Queanbeyan with the blinkers on I thought,`hooley dooley, he can gallop’,” Cleary said.
“But then on race day anything can happen.”
When race day came, Quietly Brilliant sizzled around the Canberra track and thumped his rivals by seven lengths.
The performance earned him a trip to Sydney for Saturday’s $100,000 Golden Gift (1100m) at Rosehill and longer-term, a shot at next year’s Black Opal Stakes at Canberra.
Cleary’s trainer-father Frank has won Black Opals with Clan O’Sullivan and Catbird and Joe would love to etch the family’s name on the trophy for a third time.
It is also a race Quietly Brilliant’s part owner Jeff Izzard has been dreaming about winning – literally.
Izzard had a vision of Quietly Brilliant winning his first start by a big space and going on to Black Opal succes.
“And that’s what we’re aiming at after Christmas. He will go straight to the paddock after Saturday and come back for the Lightning Ridge on February 23 and the Black Opal,” Cleary said.
Cleary decided against booking a Sydney jockey this weekend and has stuck with Nick Souquet who rode Quietly Brilliant to his debut win.
“We’re going in the deep end with the boys from the bush but hopefully it can unfold,” Cleary said.
