| What | Townsville Races |
| Where | Cluden Park – Racecourse Rd, Cluden QLD 4811 |
| When | Friday, May 20, 2022 |
| First Race | 12:12pm AEST |
|
Visit Ladbrokes |
|
The spotlight is on North Queensland this Friday afternoon with the $105,000 Northern Jewel (1300m) set to be run and won at Townsville. HorseBetting’s Queensland racing analyst presents his best bets and quaddie numbers for the nine-race program, as well as a top pick for the feature race. It is currently a Soft 5 at Cluden Park, while the rail is out 2.5m from the 1000m to the winning post and then back to the true position for the remainder of the course. Racing is scheduled to get underway at 12:12pm AEST.
Northern Jewel Best Bet – Isis Carmella
This is a very good race on Friday, with some of North Queensland’s top three-year-olds set to do battle. The unbeaten Yes Dream is a query at 1300m, Palencia is a query in this grade with the big 61kg, while Fire King and Isis Carmella are both bulletproof. We are siding with the latter of that quartet and backing Isis Carmella, who returns to Kevin Miller’s stable following a three-run stint in South-East Queensland with the O’Dea & Hoysted yard. The filly by Bel Esprit has won six of 10 including once at this track early in her career. Her win at the Sunshine Coast two starts ago was very good before having no luck at Doomben. Her two trials in open company at Rockhampton have been very good, while barrier four is going to give her the best chance possible. She is the one to gun down.
Northern Jewel Best Bet
Race 8 – 
#2 Isis Carmella (4)
3yo Filly | T: Kevin Miller | J: Ric McMahon (61kg)
$3.90 with Ladbrokes
Best Bet at Townsville – You Make Me Smile
Speaking of ex-Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted runners, You Make Me Smile lines up in the final event of the program. The seven-year-old gelding has been plain this preparation, but his losses have been at the hands of Contemptuous, Boomtown Lass and Last Chance in competitive Saturday metropolitan races at Eagle Farm and Doomben. Last seen on April 23 in a Benchmark 90 at Doomben, the son of So You Think led and faded out to run last, but he had not been beaten far in his two prior starts. Towards the end of his previous preparation, this horse started $6 in the Listed Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba, with that starting price highlighting just how good he can be. Whether or not we will see his best again remains to be seen, but if the significant drop in grade is enough, he should be too good for his rivals on Friday – even with 63.5kg on his back.
Best Bet
Race 9 – 
#1 You Make Me Smile (6)
7yo Gelding | T: Georgie Holt | J: Aidan Holt (63.5kg)
$9 with Bet365
Best Value at Townsville – Boom Gate
Lining up in the fourth race of the day is Boom Gate, who was eye-catching late when first-up on April 28 at Mackay. The Andrew Cameron-trained six-year-old hit the line nicely to run fourth over 1200m in Class 6 company when carrying 57kg, going down by just over three lengths to the promising Villa Villekulla. Now out to 1400m, the son of Casino Prince should take plenty of beating in this Class 6, where he gets in with a similar weight of 57.5kg. Lacey Morrison will do the riding aboard the gelding which is no disadvantage as she rides the Townsville track very well at around 28%. This looks a suitable race for this horse.
Best Value
Race 4 – 
#4 Boom Gate (8)
6yo Gelding | T: Andrew Cameron | J: Lacey Morrison (57.5kg)
$13 with Neds
Friday quaddie picks for Townsville
Townsville quadrella selections
Friday, May 20, 2022
- 2-6
- 3-6-8
- 1-2-3-4
- 1-2-3-4-6
Investment: $120 for 100%
More horse racing tips
