October
FebruaryOpen your eyes
Too many media tipsters steer people towards one of the first three favourites (at most) in any given race.
Only the shrewd ex-jockey Simon Marshall was capable of selecting Booker in the Oakleigh Plate ($20 on tote). The good form analyst Deane Lester put her in as fourth tip.
Unfortunately, others keep pushing the most overrated horse in Australia, Nature Strip. He is a “flat-track bully” who has had his races well selected, but fails under the pressure of Group 1s. In the case of the Oakleigh Plate, most opposition were also set for their grand final, with many good horses weighted at 52kg or less.
If more analysts opened their eyes to longer priced horses (especially in big races) they would be more successful (and wouldn’t have to work on TV for a living).
Benalla (Vic)