Betting tips / Brad Thompson / 11 February 2012 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Blessed with a devastating turn of foot, Brad Thompson believes West Australian visitor Ranger can win at Caulfield on Saturday.

Ranger will have his opening test on Victorian soil when he steps out in the Carlyon Cup, looking to follow in the footsteps of fellow West Australian star of the turf, Northerly.

Fred Kersley prepared the great Northerly to a pair of Cox Plate victories (among other group one wins).

Ranger, a gelding by Testa Rossa, isn't even in the same stratosphere as Northerly, but there are very few who believe he can't use his turn of foot to be highly competitive in Melbourne.

Trained by Grant Williams, Ranger has built up a record of six wins of his 19 starts, including a Group Two Triumph (1400m) at Ascot late last year. He has also won over 2100m and has form around talented group one winner Playing God.

Such is the confidence from connections that Ranger can run solidly first-up, Williams has engaged big-race rider Craig Williams for the mount in Saturday's $125,000 event, in which he drew the outside barrier in the 15-horse field.

Ranger's general racing pattern, and the awful barrier, is likely to see Ranger at the rear of the field and saved for one late burst in the straight.

His next assignment will be over 1800m in the St George Stakes late in February, before a tilt at group one glory in the Australian Cup.

Ranger showed he can produce a strong run fresh after trialling well on Monday at Ascot, narrowly going down to Playing God.

He has been well-backed into $4.6 on Betfair, and looks capable of accounting for a relatively moderate bunch of opposition.