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Racing and Sports highlight our standout plays at Australian TAB meetings for March 01.
Australian thoroughbred Tab meetings are today held at Ballina, Moonee Valley, Goulburn, Sunshine Coast, Port Lincoln, Geraldton and Darwin.
BALLINA: RACE 3 @ 2:31 PM
VENTURER (7) handy Capitalist filly resuming from the Tony Gollan yard. Won well on debut two back before jumping sharply in grade when sixth over this trip at Eagle Farm in BM70 grade on September 18. Since fitted with two trials and looks primed for a first-up victory. The one to beat. JEWELS STATEMENT (5) progressive filly who got off the mark on debut before jumping in trip when a fighting second over 1106m at Grafton on February 17. Maps well again and looks like a genuine top-three contender. I STOLE IT (3) comes here off a 29-day let-up. Back sharply in class and trip after struggling when eighth over 1200m at Gosford in BM64 company on February 1. Look for her late. DISCRETIONS (8) improving with racing and closed off nicely when fourth over 1106m at Grafton on February 17. Can sneak into the minor money.
SELECTIONS: Venturer to win.
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MOONEE VALLEY: RACE 7 @ 9:15 PM
JUNGLE JIM (7) gets the nod. He won two in a row down the straight at Flemington, beating some good horses before a close-up effort in a strong BM84 at Caulfield with 60kg. Drops 5kg in the weights here and finds a very winnable listed event. SWEET RIDE (3) was good behind Oakleigh Plate winner Queman two back at Caulfield before an even effort at G2 level latest. Maps for a soft run here and has the class to take this out. PENTHOUSE (10) won at very short odds first up and has measured up well in some mare's group races since. Gets in with 54kg and will take catching. NUNTHORPE (9) resumes. She's a progressive type who strung a couple together last campaign. 1200m fresh looks good. INDIAN PACIFIC (4) is going okay and his best would probably win this.
SELECTIONS: Backing Jungle Jim & Sweet Ride.
GOULBURN: RACE 7 @ 4:40 PM
MANHATTAN'S (4) disappointed at Hawkesbury third-up well-supported and prepared to forgive. Was close up the two prior and comes back in grade. Gets the visors and the blinkers come off. Has an awkward gate but rates the one to beat. SIDENAY (1) brings two easy country wins where he led. Has the handy 3kg claim and the speed to make short work of the awkward barrier. He will take plenty of pegging back. JIMMY NAILS (2) resumes for Canberra's premier yard and will race over longer. It wouldn't surprise to see him more forward this time around and he should get a soft run from the paint. RHUMBADU (9) has been around the mark and keeps the 2kg claim. May be best of the rest.
SELECTIONS: Backing Manhattan's.
SUNSHINE COAST POLY: RACE 1 @ 6:00 PM
NEVER BIRD (7) has performed well in two starts at Ipswich since a spell, missing by just a nose fresh then closing for a 2.5L fourth last time. Freshened since but kept up to the mark with a trial. Well placed and ready to win. HAWKWOOD (5) did much better second up when he kept chasing to finish 2.7L away over 1600m at Sunshine Coast. Placed in a trial since so should be peaking and is drawn for a soft run. PUSH TURBO (2) made it two placings from his last three runs when 2 lengths from the winner in third at the end of 1500m at Kilcoy last time. Contender. FLAWLESS AMBITION (1) has placed in both attempts at this distance and draws well.
SELECTIONS: Never Bird finds the right race.
PORT LINCOLN: RACE 3 @ 2:05 PM
LION'S INSTINCT (1) made light work of his rivals here last start when shedding the maiden tag in a BM58. Not that much tougher this time and is drawn better. Kept fresh for this and can win again. DIAMENTE TAGLIATO (3) also got off the mark in fine fashion here last start when sent out public elect. Needs to go up a rung but is drawn to advantage and is sure to give supporters a bold sight. SLIM JIM (5) didn't give his rivals a sniff here last start when leading pillar-to-post. Drops back in trip but should be in this for a long way. FLAMBARD (6) is an Inference gelding stepping out on debut for Byron Cozamanis. Strips fitter for a handy trial win on the Parks track in readiness. Drawn low and can make a bright start. FIRST RANK (4) wasn't able to bring up the hat-trick at Kingscote when below her best. Can bounce back.
SELECTIONS: Lion's Instinct gets the nod.
GERALDTON: RACE 3 @ 3:00 PM
WHAT A PRINCE (1) has won two of his last three and it was comfortable his latest over 1413m in stronger. Has more weight in lesser grade but has placed 2/3 at the mile and can go on with it. HONORFIC (2) went close this trip and won the 58 comfortably after over 1925m heavily bet. Comes back 325m but will race forward and is capable of going back-to-back. KARLSTAD (5) had good support at Albany but was disappointing. The prior efforts at Pinjarra and Bunbury stack up for this and he hits the race at peak. UNI QUEEN (4) surprised winning in this grade by a space over 2100m and then dropped back to 1413m and faded late from the speed. Better at the mile and maps for a soft run. Has to be considered. COLOUR ME QUICK (6) pulled up with an issue here last time but was good prior over longer. She's in the mix on an 8-day return.
SELECTIONS: Going with What A Prince.
DARWIN: RACE 4 @ 4:55 PM
MR HAVE A CHAT (1) made a bright start to his local career when finishing runner-up here 3 weeks ago and drops back sharply in grade this time. He strips fitter and can go one better. HENESTROSA (2) did not fire last time out on this track 5 weeks ago after putting together a brace of wins before that. Jarrod Todd sticks with him and he is worth another chance. GLOBAL WONDER (3) has been freshened up since missing the placings here last time out where it was reported that he did not cope with the wet track. He is usually as honest as they come and can bounce back into the money immediately. MAKE AN EFFORT (5) has an issue after her last start in a better field and it is best to rule a line through that run. She was progressing nicely before that and can make amends. SWING WITH JUNIOR (4) is heading the right way and slides back a grade for this. She will be peaking after 3 runs back from a spell and is capable of taking this out.
SELECTIONS: Mr Have A Chat to win.
