Australian racing picks for Gatton and Taree

It’s a nice early start for racing from Down Under tonight, with New Zealand's Gore kicking things off at 8:32 p.m. ET.

Shortly after, BetAmerica horseplayers have the opportunity to watch and wager on four Aussie thoroughbred meetings, including Gatton, Canberra, Bendigo, and Taree.

Here are a couple picks to get your night of Aussie racing action started.

Gatton, Race 1: #9 Just Like Ruler

I don’t usually like to pick 13-start maidens, but Just Like Ruler has found a weak race and looks well placed to finally break his duck.

The Gordon Hay-trained gelding has been racing against tougher competition and most recently only just missed at Sunshine Coast, where he was mowed down right on the line for second over six furlongs.

The small drop in distance tonight should play in his favor, and he also gets in very well at the weights, with a drop of 1 kilogram from his last start.

#4 Lady Melba looks the only danger, but I’d much prefer to be on Just Like Ruler at the 3-1 or 4-1 we should get tonight.

Taree, Race 1: #6 Total Recall

I loved the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie, and I also love the chances of this Paul Messara-trained son of Animal Kingdom.

His win at Scone two starts back was impressive. He settled just off the pace, hit the front in the stretch, and put the opposition away in a heartbeat. Since then, he went to city company and took on much better than he will face tonight.

Total Recall will enjoy the cut out of the ground tonight and is contesting the same distance he won over two starts back. He looks very hard to beat.

Good luck!