| What | Moonee Valley Races |
| Where | Moonee Valley Racecourse – 1 McPherson St, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039 |
| When | Saturday, January 27, 2024 |
| First Race | 12:15pm AEDT |
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Visit Dabble |
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Black-type racing returns to Moonee Valley on Saturday afternoon as the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) headlines the bumper 10-race program. $350,000 is on the line in Saturday’s feature, with a field of 11 accepting looking to claim Stakes success with Group 1 races just around the corner. Perfect conditions are set to greet punters, with the track coming up a Good 4, and the rail in its true position.
Australia Stakes Top Tip: Recommendation
Despite being on the second line of betting with top horse racing bookmakers, it is hard to go past Recommendation in the Australia Stakes. The four-year-old from the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace barn finished second in Listed company at Canterbury on January 1, and based on his form so far this campaign looks to be well-placed here. The son of Shalaa has a win and a narrow runner-up result in both of his starts at The Valley, and with four wins and three minor placings to his name from eight starts at the 1200m, he is clearly suited to the conditions. From barrier 10, look for John Allen to have him settled in the first half of the field, hopefully with some cover. Recommendation has a strong turn of foot, and considering a few of his key rivals want to get out over further, he might just prove too slick for them in the Australia Stakes.
Australia Stakes
Race 9 – 
#3 Recommendation (10)
4yo Gelding | T: Patrick Payne | J: Billy Egan (61kg)
+360 with Bet365
Best Bet at Moonee Valley: Pereille
Our best bet of the day at Moonee Valley comes up in the final race of the day as Godolphin’s Pereille returns to Moonee Valley second-up from a spell. The four-year-old gelding returned with a smart first-up run over 1200m at Rosehill, and as he comes back the Victorian way, he is poised to return to the winner’s stall. He put in two strong performances at The Valley last campaign, producing the best run of the day from the back when finishing second on a track that favoured leaders, before coming out and making a mess of his rivals at the same track and trip he competes at on Saturday. Damian Lane will have Pereille settled towards the rear of the field and with plenty of early speed engaged, the race sets up perfectly for Pereille to blouse his rivals.
Best Bet
Race 10 – 
#6 Pereille (10)
4yo Gelding | T: James Cummings | J: Damian Lane (58kg)
+150 with Picklebet
Next Best at Moonee Valley: Tango Jewel
Tango Jewel has finished second at all three starts this campaign, but as she gets to Moonee Valley for the first time in her career, we think she will take some catching. The Winning Rupert mare is a natural leader, and from barrier four on Saturday, she will do no work to find the rail under Craig Williams. The mare has only been gunned down in the final 100m at each start of this campaign, but with race fitness on her side, we’re confident Tango Jewel can run her rivals off their feet and prove too hard to run down and bring up an overdue win.
Next Best
Race 5 – 
#10 Tango Jewel (4)
4yo Mare | T: Jamie Edwards | J: Craig Williams (55.5kg)
+600 with Dabble
Best Value at Moonee Valley: Quite The Lass
Quite The Lass was an impressive Wangaratta BM64 winner on January 11, and the five-year-old mare looks capable of causing an upset in BM70 company on Saturday. The Helmet mare gave her rivals a start and a beating last time out, and a repeat effort in a race like this has her fighting out the finish. With a genuinely run 1600m even expected, the race sets up perfectly for Quite The Lass to build through her gears in the final 500m. With a well-timed sprint under Celine Gaudray, Quite The Lass is going to prove tough too hold out at a double-figure price.
Best Value
Race 2 – 
#5 Quite The Lass (8)
5yo Mare | T: David Brideoake & Matt Jenkins | J: Celine Gaudray (a1.5) (58.5kg)
+1400 with Neds
Saturday quaddie tips for Moonee Valley races
Moonee Valley quadrella selections
Saturday, January 27, 2024
- 3-7-10
- 1-5-7
- 3-8
- 6-7-8
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