Eleven races will be run and won at Albion Park on Saturday night, the first getting underway at 6.13pm Sydney time.

This is my preview.

Race 1
BC Mac C has a tricky draw to overcome but he’s racing so well at the moment. That horse landed the 1/1 here last Saturday when big odds and he ran a super race in defeat when a close-up third to LL Cool J. That horse draws tricky here, but I like the way he’s going and is the one to beat. But it’s a race with several winning chances so I am happy to sit on the fence.

Suggested bet: No bet.

Race 2
Courageous Saint is very well in here ratings wise and is the clearly the one to beat. That horse landed a lovely spot from a tricky barrier on Tuesday and once he lobbed the 1/1, it was race over and he was much too good for his rivals. That horse has gate three here, so it will be interesting to see what they do regarding tactics, but he’s clearly the one to beat.

Suggested bet: Courageous Saint to win.

Race 3
I am happy to back Goddess Jujon each way. That horse did too much work from a wide gate here last Saturday so I am happy to forget that run. It was an impressive win the start prior when getting the dream sit just off the speed and from the pole. That is a run she’ll get here and hopefully at around double figures or thereabouts, she’s a great each-way bet.

Suggested bet: Goddess Jujon each way.

Race 4
Majestic Simon is a bit hit and miss from the stand but he’s the best horse in the race. He was pretty good in defeat here last Saturday behind Our Overanova. Has the ten-metre handicap, but this looks to be the weakest of the three trotting heats and provided he steps away clean, he’s the one to beat. Do I want to bet into the race? No.

Suggested bet: No bet.

Race 5
I am happy to have a 1×3 play here with Miss Ruby Sunshine, who resumes for Chantal Turpin. This girl hasn’t raced since the South East Derby back in July when the horse came fourth to Governor Jujon, a race that Blacksadance ran third in. That horse is a stablemate and draws the pole, so I suspect it will lead and hopefully Miss Ruby Sunshine can hold leaders back and get every chance.

Suggested bet: 1×3 Miss Ruby Sunshine.

Race 6
Goalkicker has good gate speed and from the pole, she can hold a forward spot and run a bold race. This is much stronger than what she has faced in recent times, but she does have the draw to use, whether she holds up and leads or opts for cover. Whatever the case, I could back her 1×3 at double figures.

Suggested bet: 1×3 Goalkicker.

Race 7
If he holds his form, Smokey Quartz is better than this lot. His recent efforts at Menangle and Newcastle are far superior to anything engaged here and the Morris camp rarely get it wrong when they come to Brisbane. This horse is drawn wide, but has gate speed and if he does find the front, then it’s race over. This horse is the best on the program.

Suggested bet: Smokey Quartz to win.

Race 8
Tact Bess drops a fair bit in grade for this race, but her recent form has been pretty patchy. So while on overall ratings and class she’s the likely winner, I’d rather just watch her do it than back her in. Her recent form suggests it’s hard to back her with confidence despite dropping to a very winnable race.

Suggested bet: No bet.

Race 9
This is the fast class event of the evening and Colt Thirty One should win. That horse is the best pacer in Queensland and despite drawing outside the front row, he has a fair bit on this lot and should be too good as he potentially prepares for a crack at the Interdominion.

Suggested bet: No bet.

Race 10
I have to be with BD Khaosan. That horse is a former Victorian that made his Queensland debut here last Saturday in the first round of heats for this series. This horse sat parked with no cover but despite that hard run, he was still too good for them in a gutsy win. This horse only has to hold that form to win again, not even factoring in the upside he’s got left.

Suggested bet: BD Khaosan to win.

Race 11
I was all over Our Overanova when he won here last Saturday and I am happy to be with him again. That horse has the 30-metre handicap, but he overcame the handicap to win last time when he worked to find the front and from that point on, it was race over. There is good depth to this heat, but he’s the class of the field.

Suggested bet: Our Overanova to win.

Also on Saturday night at Tabcorp Park in Melton is the Breeders Crown, with ten races. Eight of them are at Group 1 level. The first gets underway at 6.04pm Sydney time. Below is a preview for the meeting.

Race 1
This race is a race in two between Hurricane Harley and Lochinvar Art. I could have a crack at backing one to win, but I’ll have something small on Huli Nien to place. His recent efforts have come in weaker races and he has had every chance, so it would be a major upset if he won, but he maps to land the spot behind leader Hurricane Harley and $6-plus for him to place is a price that I can entertain.

Suggested bet: Huli Nien to place.

Race 2
Cracker Jet probably lacks the class of some of these but he does have two big ticks in his corner and that is gate one and Chris Alford driving in a big race. He has been plagued by tricky gates in recent times, but from the pole, he has enough gate speed to hold leaders back or at worst three back pegs. Placing a bet of 1×3 at $15+ will do me.

Suggested bet: 1×3 Cracker Jet.

Race 3
If Aldebaran Tess does everything right, she wins. This horse’s heart will be in the mouth throughout because prior to last start, her manners let her down badly. But last time out at Maryborough, she produced sustained speed from the front and ran a track record. If she brings that here, she’s clearly the one to beat.

Suggested bet: Aldebaran Tess to win.

Race 4
The Golino/MacKinnon camp should always be respected in these big trotting races and I’m happy to have an each-way ticket on Parisian Artiste, who seems to be getting better with each run. He’s still a maiden after four starts but his last couple of efforts have been really encouraging and he gets a good trailing draw.

Suggested bet: Parisian Artiste each way.

Race 5
I could easily charge into $1.70 for Major Moth to win, but I’d rather charge into $1.60 for Bar Boom Banta to run top three. He sat outside the leader last Saturday and couldn’t quite finish it off. He draws inside the second row, directly behind Major Moth. Leaders back or three pegs, he’ll run top three.

Suggested bet: Bar Room Banta to place.

Race 6
I am more than happy to charge into $1.80 with Sweet Louise. She is the good thing on the program. That horse was a stunning all-the-way winner last Saturday and if she holds up and leads from the inside again, it’s race over and that $1.80 will be more like $1.20. Alford will be aggressive in holding up and off her win last week, she’s better than these.

Suggested bet: Sweet Louise.

Race 7
Mach Dan has been so good to me in recent weeks and I have to be with him again. Things fell into place for him last Saturday, but he still had to take advantage of it and that he did, drawing clear late to win impressively. Hopefully this horse isn’t far away and if he gets the right drag up into the race, he can certainly win again.

Suggested bet: Mach Dan.

Race 8
A great bet here looks to be Dangerous Hand to place at $2.60. It should be an Emma Stewart domination with Tough Tilly and Ladies In Red fighting it out. The battle is for third and Dangerous Hand can hold the back of likely leader Tough Tilly and get every chance to run top three, which she will.

Suggested bet: Dangerous Hand to place.

Race 9
This is a good race for the trotting juvenile fillies. On top is Mexicana. This horse did everything she could to throw the race away at Maryborough but class got her home and she was able to balance up and fend off Aldebaran Ursula, who likely gets an identical run to last time, leaders back. That pair look the two. I am leaning towards Mexicana but not a betting race.

Suggested bet: No bet.

Race 10
Miss McGonagall is one of the form mares in Australia at the moment and I see no reason to jump off her. She has won her past two, leading throughout each time, including last Saturday when comfortably holding Our Princess Tiffany. I’m really surprised Miss McGonagall isn’t favourite. This horse should lead and win again.

Suggested bet: Miss McGonagall to win.

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Plus, eight races have been set down for Tabcorp Park in Menangle on Saturday night. Here is a preview of the meeting.

Race 1
Shannonstheman hasn’t really measured up at metro level on a consistent basis when he has come to Menangle, but he finds a perfect race to change that. That horse was far from disgraced two weeks ago when working outside the leader here and tiring late. He holds up from the pole and is the one to beat.

Suggested bet: Shannonstheman to win.

Race 2
This is a lottery with a number of chances. If I had to pick one, it would probably be Vandata but in a wide open race, I am happy to let this one go through to the keeper.

Suggested bet: No bet.

Race 3
This is a tricky race. I can have a 1×3 bet here on the pole marker My Chachingchaching. Admittedly he hasn’t set the world on fire in three runs back from a spell, but he has had bad barriers to contend with. This horse has the inside draw to use this time around and any hint of his best would see him go close to beating this lot. This horse is likely to get near $20. I am happy to back this horse.

Suggested bet: 1×3 My Chachingchaching.

Race 4
The tactics will be interesting when it comes to Bomb Suit but he’s clearly the best horse in the race. This horse bounced back to his best when winning here last week after easing for cover from gate six. This horse draws gate eight here and there is speed drawn inside. I am banking on class getting him home.

Suggested bet: Bomb Suit to win.

Race 5
King Of Swing has the widest draw, so that does make things hard for him, but he has a fair bit on these in terms of class and did clock a slick 1.49.6 mile rate when winning here two weeks ago. He can burn to the front if the jockey pushes the button and all things being equal, he should win. Do I want to take $1.50 or thereabouts? No I don’t.

Suggested bet: No bet.

Race 6
This is a good test for Arnold stepping up to this level but provided he’s double figures, he’s one of the better each-way gambles of the night across Australia. The question with him last Saturday from the stand was would he step clean and once he did, it was race over. He’s much better from the mobile where he has gate speed and can hold a forward spot and only run well.

Suggested bet: Each-way Arnold.

Race 7
This race is similar to Race 2. There are plenty of chances and nothing stands out, so I am letting it go through to the keeper. For the sake of a tip, on top would be Chapter One, who finds the weakest race he has contested in some time and has the pole.

Suggested bet: No bet.

Race 8
Craig Cross wins this race. It is just a matter of which one. The class of the race is clearly Rockita. That horse was far from disgraced at Group 1 level last time out in the Queen Of The Pacific at Melton behind Speak No Evil. This horse has a great record at Menangle and has the gate speed to lead these and prove too good.

Suggested bet: Rockita to win.