Australian racing picks for Gold Coast and Port Macquarie

The Thoroughbred racing action from Australia starts nice and early tonight, with the first race from the Gold Coast scheduled to run at 9:33 p.m. ET. As Remington Park in the U.S. finishes its card, the first races from Port Macquarie, Werribee, and Canberra will be getting underway.

Here are a couple of picks, as we try and build a bank ahead of a big night from Flemington and Rosehill tomorrow!

Gold Coast, Race 1: #1 Mishani Rebel

This 3-year-old gelding is on the quick backup, as he raced just seven days ago at the Gold Coast. On that occasion, he absolutely stormed home but couldn’t quite catch the winner.

That latest effort was over 6 furlongs, and the step up to 7 furlongs tonight will be in his favor. Mishani Rebel will also be ridden by claiming apprentice jockey Nathan Fazackerley, which will lighten the load by three kilograms (around six pounds).

The morning-line odds of 15-2 look like a terrific value!

Port Macquarie, Race 3: #5 O’Driscoll

There’s plenty of boxes being ticked when it comes to this Tas Morton-trained 6-year-old.

He'll get a good track for the first time this campaign, this is his third run back from a break, and he’s won twice before third up.

O’Driscoll is also a track and distance specialist. He has won five of his 10 starts at Port Macquarie and five of nine attempts over this distance. But his record over the distance at this track is what’s truly amazing. In six attempts, he’s won five!

The gelding will also benefit from carrying a lot less weight than he did last time at Gosford.

He looks like a good thing at 7-1 on the morning line.

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