Best Bets For Wednesday February 19
19 Feb 2025
Read More
Best Bets For Thursday February 13, 2025
- Enver Jusufovic can continue his winning ways in the Future Stars
- Second-up suits for Oakbank favourite
- Race fitness key for Wyong selection
Pakenham racecourse (Getty Images)
Thursday racing includes six meetings around Australia and features a night meeting in Victoria from Pakenham. Our best bets come up at Pakenham, Wyong and Oakbank.
SPORTSBET FUTURE STARTS HEAT 10 (Race 4)
Pakenham Best Bet - Race 4 No. 7 Astral Flame
The Enver Jusufovic stable is red hot, striking at a 25% strike rate over his last 100 runners, with a positive Profit on Turnover of 47% during that period. He saddled up Astral Flame a fortnight ago at Sandown and she was very well supported in early betting then also in late betting.
She stepped slowly and overraced but still reeled off clearly the fastest last 200m and 400m of the meeting in a slowly run race. She gets away from the tight turning Lakeside circuit to Pakenham and should have plenty of time to show her turn of foot down the middle of the track.
The Winkers going on also make a good addition and I expect her to be too good for her rivals and quickly progress up to Saturday grade racing.
LEVELMASTER CG&E MAIDEN HANDICAP (Race 5)
Wyong Best Bet - Race 5 No. 2 California Command
Siding with the Peter Snowden-trained California Command, who just found 1000m too sharp on debut, he closed off well in the fifth-fastest last 100m sectional of the meeting and should find the extra distance here to his liking
The form from his debut run is stacking up, with the second horse starting an odds-on favourite and winning impressively in a super maiden at Nowra during the week.
I am taking on the Bjorn Baker-trained favourite Shirvington and that is a scary proposition, as there is no trainer in the county going better than him and the horse does resume off a long spell gelded with some sharp trials but I was happy to have the race fit horse in California Command on-side.
SUGAR FINANCIAL SERVICES MAIDEN PLATE (Race 2)
Oakbank Best Bet - Race 2 No. 5 Up The Den
Trainer Micheal Hickmott and rider Todd Pannell have a lethal strike rate when they combine, (23.8%) and that is the case here with the three-year-old son of Pride Of Dubai, Up The Den.
Up The Den trialled up nicely prior to his debut and subsequently started an odds-on favourite and although beaten, he was far from disappointing. He got into a tricky position in run but once clear flew home in the second-fastest last 200m of the meeting and produced the best overall rating in this race.
The form has stacked up through the race, with the winner being well supported and winning a BM64 last Saturday.
Verdict
The three best bets from around the country on Thursday, February 13, 2025. The in-form Enver Jusufovic yard can strike again in a heat of the future stars series at Pakenham, while Peter Snowden has a leading chance at Wyong.
Astral Flame
Pakenham R4
@140.00 - 4 Units
Download the dabble app
with referral code BETSAU
Download the dabble app, enter referral code BETSAU to enjoy Dabble, the betting app with a difference! Bet as normal with & also be part of Australia's betting community where you can follow punters and sports stars, copy their bets, have banter with your mates & watch Sky Racing channels. 18+. T&Cs apply. What are you prepared to lose today? Set a deposit limit.
California Command
Wyong R5
@160.00 - 2 Units
Bet at PlayUp
Your Best Bet - Proudly Australian
18+ only. Gamble Responsibly. Ts and Cs apply.
Up The Den
Oakbank R2
@125.00 - 3 Units
Love Tradies. Fast Withdrawals.
Join with Referral Code BETSAUS
The Tradie.bet code is BETSAUS. Fast Withdrawals. 18+ only. T&Cs apply. Chances are you’re about to lose.
