Australian racing picks for Gatton and Taree

As we get closer to a big Friday night of racing from Down Under, which will include Australia’s richest race, The Everest from Royal Randwick, BetAmerica horseplayers have a number of options to wager on Aussie racing tonight.

Gatton, Taree, and Bathurst are the three Australian Thoroughbred meetings available to bet Thursday. New Zealand track Wingatui is also part of the BetAmerica coverage.

Here are a couple picks for Gatton and Taree.

Gatton, Race 1: #8 Bid In A Hurry

Bid In A Hurry looks very tough to beat in this blink-and-you-miss-it maiden race over four furlongs.

The New Zealand-bred filly finished second at the Gold Coast last time out, and the level of competition at that track is generally much tougher than what you would expect to see at Gatton.

Bid In A Hurry is drawn well and will now be fitter for two runs back from a layoff. We’re not going to get rich if she wins, as she’ll most likely start around 2-1, but any price is a good price on a winner!

Taree, Race 4: #4 Ocean Go

Speaking of New Zealand horses, Ocean Go is an ex-Kiwi who has been racing well in Australia.

He has been racing against much better competition — at city tracks Randwick, Rosehill and Warwick Farm — than what he'll face tonight. This is quite a step down from those tracks.

His last-out effort on the Kensington track at Randwick was enough to suggest he is ready to break through for his second Australian win and his first this campaign.

Ocean Go will contest a distance he has had success over previously and will be rock-hard fit now, in his fifth run back from a break.

Good luck!