Australian harness racing: Redcliffe preview

Australian harness wagering at BetAmerica returns Wednesday, July 8 at 11 p.m ET, which is Thursday afternoon, July 9 in Queensland.

Let's dive in and take a look at the nine races offered from Redcliffe Harness Racing Club.

Race 1

The afternoon begins with a longer route for pacing 3-year-olds and older. It’s near impossible to forecast any other entry but #6 Mykindoffeeling to be the favorite. The Dawson boys will send out the daughter of Mr Feelgood for the third time, and she has twice failed but came close at Albion. Shoot for exotics, but use her.

Also inexperienced and lacking the knocks a punter would give the consistent losers in this field is Lola Weidemann’s #1 Bertils Watch Me. A son of the speedy Hes Watching, a Meadowlands Pace winner, Bertils Watch Me will race for his second time, after a toss-out performance at Redcliffe.

Race 2

At Albion last time, we were sweet on #4 Miss Fernandez, and she was powerful to finish second and pay double digits. The Dawson boys have her back to Redcliffe at a few more meters — about as many as she would have needed to get the win at Albion.

She is up against #8 La Pistola, who will leave from the second row but is dangerous as they come on this course. He is an Art Major son from a Fake Left mare — an excellent expatriate bloodline.

Race 3

The recent effort at Redcliffe by #5 Ashlee Nitro was thwarted by traffic and a second-straight win from a local streaker. This time, her speedy start could sweep the turns ahead of everyone at a good price.

#4 Forbidden Feelings had some traveling problems at Marburg and returns to Redcliffe in a good spot to make an impression. He is worth a wager.

Race 4

Neil Coy’s #5 Kookaburraprincess returns to the site of her most recent win looking for her third victory in 20 starts. At Albion, she recuperated after a trip as nutty as her name. She was swift and dominant winning here.

There is a good argument for #6 Butcherfeelgood against this group. She could get strong cover and fly late, if she doesn’t get into a duel for a spot early.

Race 5

A 2-year-old pace is raw meat for some punters, especially those like us, who follow the bloodlines on the track.

It’s tough to ignore any freshman crop that offers progeny of Roll With Joe, and it certainly would be foolish to ignore #7 Heartbreak. With only four outings, Bill Crosby’s filly has been at the wire thrice when it counts — all at Redcliffe.

Crosby has much hope (pun intended for Baby Boom punters) in a first-time starter, #1 Rolling River, and it is no wonder, since the gelding is a son of Rock N Roll Heaven.

Race 6

We were all over #1 Zed Express last week, when the public dismissed him at Redcliffe, and he finished second. Mitch Dawson’s 6-year-old stays at Redcliffe to make amends, hopefully at a similar price but maybe worth it at less.

Best at this distance, #6 Guts has been a good earner for the McMullens, the money spread out from good races at Redcliffe, Albion, and most recently at Margurg, where she was aggressive but wound up losing steps in the death seat.

Race 7

Darren Weeks’ well-bred #3 Dapper Bessie continually races at a good clip on this circuit and is always hard to dismiss among the top three. She was well backed last time at Redcliffe, and on her way to pleasing her supporters, when she was outfinished by a ground-saving foe. She may take to the top early and not let that happen again.

Here’s another spot for Weidemann’s #1 Ghost Gum to command the pace around the little oval and streak home for the main prize. Her speed is short too often, but in the Redcliffe theater she has the best shot.

Race 8

#3 Rockntingira could not straighten out from a three-wide brush last time out, but the Rock N Roll Heaven gelding was in gear, even captured in the death seat. In the stride of his sire, he could whip them all here with a similar brush closer to the sprint lane.

Lightly raced #5 Newmerella Molly seems hell-bent for another win if she is kept under control. She beat a good one (which we backed) at Albion recently and that one came back to win.

Race 9

A favorite both times in recent wins at Redcliffe, #4 So Bobs Your Uncle is back at Redcliffe and may go off a bit pricier than he did for those, as he has to deal with #5 Burbach, also a Redcliffe rowdy for finishing well.