| What | Geelong Races |
| Where | Geelong Racecourse – 99 Breakwater Rd, Breakwater VIC 3219 |
| When | Saturday, January 5, 2024 |
| First Race | 12:15pm AEDT |
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Feature racing in Victoria heads down the highway to Geelong Racecourse on Saturday afternoon, where a bumper 10-race program is scheduled. The $300,000 Coastal Classic and Listed Geelong Black Pearl Stakes (1200m) at Listed level headlines proceedings for the meeting set to be run on a Good 4 rated surface. The rail will stick in the true position, giving us perfect conditions for the card commencing at 12:15pm AEDT.
Coastal Classic Tip – Junipal
Junipal has been racing in fine form this campaign, and based off his run in the Listed Lord Stakes at Caulfield, he looks ready to win once again. He was beaten by the classy Zennzella on that day when finishing fourth, beaten less than a length, and despite chasing home Keats, who he meats again on Saturday, there isn’t much separating the two. This looks to be a deeper race, but if John Allen can land a midfield spot on this of of Reset, Junipal looks to be the best horse in the race, and at a nice price with horse racing bookmakers, we’re happy to side with him in the Coastal Classic.
Coastal Classic
Race 8 – 
#1 Junipal (12)
8yo Gelding | T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | J: John Allen (58kg)
+700 with Picklebet
Geelong Black Pearl Stakes Tip – Va Via
Va Via ran on well from the rear of the field first-up at Randwick on December 23, and with the run under her belt, we expect she will exert her class in the Listed Geelong Black Pearl Stakes. Despite being beaten 2.75 lengths on that day, the Astern mare produced a nice finish to suggest she was worth following wherever she went. She strung together three straight wins last campaign in fields no harder than this, and with the step up to 1200m, she looks poised to strike. Damian Lane will have Va Via in the second half of the field, but with a thunderous turn of foot, she’ll prove too good for her rivals.
Geelong Black Pearl Stakes
Race 9 – 
#2 Va Via (7)
4yo Mare | T: James Cummings | J: Damian Lane (57kg)
+240 with Bet365
Best Bet at Geelong – Rey Magnerio
Rey Magnerio from the Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock barn has not been seen since winning in impressive fashion at Flemington on November 11. A winner of four of his six starts, the four-year-old gelding is certainly a horse worth following throughout his career, and we expect he will be too good for his rivals on Saturday. From barrier six, Jye McNeil will be able to stalk what looks to be a genuine speed over the 1100m, and with a few non-winners amongst this lot, Rey Magnerio should be bringing up a third straight win on Saturday.
Best Bet
Race 6 – 
#9 Rey Magnerio (6)
4yo Gelding | T: Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | J: Jye McNeil (56.5kg)
+140 with Dabble
Next Best at Geelong – Speranzoso
We were with Speranzoso when he smacked his rivals at Cranbourne on December 22, and we expect he will go on with the job on Saturday. The five-year-old gelding put a space on his opponents when leading throughout and eventually eased down inside the final 100m in BM64 company. Stepping up to a BM70 on the weekend should prove to be no issue, considering he took subsequent Bagot Handicap winner Galentaneous to within two-lengths two starts back at Sandown. From barrier 13, Jordan Childs will have the son of Siyouni doing as he pleases out in front with an uncontested lead expected, where Speranzoso should prove too hard to run down.
Next Best
Race 4 – 
#11 Speranzoso (13)
5yo Gelding | T: Clayton Douglas | J: Jordan Childs (58kg)
+450 with Playup
Best Value at Geelong – Zou Sensation
The Leon & Troy Corstens-trained Zou Sensation was a handy Moonee Valley winner on December 23, and based on how he has returned this campaign, he looks like a nice each-way play on Saturday. The four-year-old gelding settled up on speed on that day and managed to kick clear inside the final 100m to win in impressive style. He steps up to 1400m for the first time in his career, and despite needing to lug 62kg, Blaike McDougall will have him settled on the heels of the leaders throughout from barrier one. With an economical run expected, Zou Sensation should be able to pounce and prove too good once again.
Best Value
Race 3 – 
#2 Zou Sensation (1)
4yo Gelding | T: Leon & Troy Corstens | J: Blaike McDougall (62kg)
+900 with Neds
Saturday quaddie tips for Geelong races
Geelong quadrella selections
Saturday, January 6, 2024
- 1-2-4-5-6-7-8-9
- 1-2-4-5-9
- 2-3
- 1-3-4
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