| What | Moonee Valley Races |
| Where | Moonee Valley Racecourse – 1 McPherson St, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039 |
| When | Saturday, August 20, 2022 |
| First Race | 12:55pm AEST |
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Visit Ladbrokes |
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Spring is in the air as racing heads to Moonee Valley on Saturday afternoon, where the Listed Carlyon Stakes over 1000m is the feature event on the nine-race program. Despite plenty of rain in Melbourne throughout the last week, the track is expected to be in the Soft 6 range, with the rail out 5m for the entire circuit. Many a rising star has used this meeting at The Valley in recent years as a launching pad for greater success throughout the spring, meaning there may be a few to follow out of Saturday’s card. The massive day of racing kicks off at 12:55pm AEST.
Carlyon Stakes Top Tip: Extremely Lucky
Last-start Lightning Stakes winner Extremely Lucky from the Will Clarken yard gets her opportunity to show her class when she steps out in the Listed Carlyon Stakes (1000m). The four-year-old gelding unleashed a devastating turn of foot when sprinting the better in albeit weaker company than what he faces on Saturday. However, his win was visually as impressive as anything you will see, and a similar effort has him right up to his neck in a race like this. The $3.20 on offer may be a little tight, but that just shows how highly rated he is. Jamie Kah reunites with the Extreme Choice gelding, and with the likes of Yulong Command, Esta La Roca and Generation all wanting to lead, the race looks perfectly set-up for Extremely Lucky to fly home down the centre of the track.
Carlyon Stakes
Race 8 – 
#4 Extremely Lucky (6)
4yo Gelding | T: Will Clarken | J: Jamie Kah (58kg)
$3.20 with Ladbrokes
McKenzie Stakes Top Tip: Crosswinds
Following a five-month spell, we are willing to side with the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Crosswinds when he returns to the Moonee Valley 1200m in the McKenzie Stakes. The three-year-old Written Tycoon colt has already picked up a Listed race at the track and trip, saluting in the St Albans Stakes back on March 25 when unleashing a sharp turn of foot and beating home the likes of Nanagui, Sir Bailey and Bello Beau. This is no harder, and despite giving race favourite Foujita San a tactical advantage, we anticipate Crosswinds will appreciate the genuinely run 1200m first-up and ultimately prove too hard to hold out.
McKenzie Stakes
Race 5 – 
#3 Crosswinds (7)
3yo Colt | T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | J: Mark Zahra (57.5kg)
$5.50 with Ladbrokes
Best Bet at Moonee Valley: Lackeen
Having smashed his rivals last time out at The Valley over 1600m, there looks to be no reason why the James Cummings-trained Lackeen cannot bring up consecutive victories at the track when he steps out over 1500m. The five-year-old gelding put 2.25 lengths on the smart Chief Altony last time out and if he runs up to that rating in a race like this, he looks to be a clear best bet of the day on Saturday. Craig Williams sticks on board which is a massive plus and despite most likely wanting to settle towards the rear of the field, Lackeen has the finishing burst to blow his rivals out of the water. The $3.30 on offer with some online betting sites looks a perfect price to load into.
Best Bet
Race 3 – 
#3 Lackeen (7)
5yo Gelding | T: James Cummings | J: Craig Williams (57.5kg)
$3.30 with Ladbrokes
Next Best at Moonee Valley: Proscenium Arch
Following a smart third-place finish behind the progressive Berkeley Square at Flemington on August 6 over 1410m, Proscenium Arch looks to be one of the better bets on the weekend. The run reeked of a filly wanting to get out over further, and despite this being just a 1500m event, the conditions on Saturday look to suit her perfectly. She gains the services of the returning Blake Shinn for this assignment, and the 21-time Group 1-winning jockey will aim to get her off the rail early enough to unleash her strong turn of foot. She meets Castillian – who beat her home at Flemington by a whisker – better at the weights, and barring any traffic concerns, Proscenium Arch looks the one they have to beat.
Next Best
Race 2 – 
#7 Proscenium Arch (2)
3yo Filly | T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | J: Blake Shinn (57.5kg)
$3.40 with Bet365
Best Value at Moonee Valley: Prix De Turn
There are not many horses who finish fourth, beaten by over four lengths, that scream ‘back me next time’, but that is exactly what Prix De Turn’s first-up effort at The Valley on July 30 suggested. The four-year-old from the Matthew Brown stable was only just getting warm inside the final 100m of a 1600m event, and with the step up to 2040m on Saturday, he is sure to appreciate the extra couple of furlongs. He drops 5kg from his last run and gains the services of the in-form Craig Williams for this. Having won the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes in the autumn at this track and trip, there looks to be no reason why he cannot bring up a second win from as many starts at the infamous 2040m at The Valley. The $14 with bookmakers is a ludicrous price for a Group 2 winner going around in a race like this.
Best Value
Race 7 – 
#10 Prix De Turn (12)
4yo Horse | T: Matthew Brown | J: Craig Williams (54kg)
$14 with Palmerbet
Saturday quaddie tips for The Valley
Moonee Valley quadrella selections
Saturday, August 20, 2022
- 1-2-3-6-7-12
- 1-2-3-10
- 4-5
- 1-6-10-11
Investment: $192 for 100%
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