Betting tips / Jake Norton / 02 September 2011 / Leave a comment Bet Now

Once as a young lad, Jake Norton came across VFL star-cum-gonzo football commentator Rex Hunt at the races...

Upon asking him for a tip, he replied, "Don't bet. And get a vasectomy."

Being about 13 years of age at the time (therefore, of course, attending the races for no other reason than just to hear the thunder of hooves), I'll admit I was a little perplexed by big Rexy's advice.

Whatever the case, the vas deferens reference aside, the former part of Rex's advice never really rang true with me until the Geelong Racing Club - a great innovator of Victorian racing, without question - built a synthetic all-weather track some years ago.

You see, the 'ThoroughTrack', as it was then known, was quickly regarded as a difficult course for punters. The track, it was alleged, made bunkum of any notion of form. As soon as hoof hit ThoroughTrack, it simply went out the window.

In great news for the Geelong Racing Club and punters alike, however, the track has since undergone redevelopment. Trainers are now far more prepared to run their horses on it, and it makes for a much more prosperous punting proposition.

One thing in particular to note when considering races on the Geelong Synthetic is that certain jockeys seem to ride the track particularly cleverly.

So maybe take a few of the below figures into account when doing the form today.

Oh, and David Hayes has trained almost twice as many winners on the surface than any other trainer.

Most wins: Wins-S/R
Dean Yendall 38-11
Craig Newitt 38- 15
Brad Rawiller 36-15
Jamie Mott 28-16
Mark Zahra 26-23

Best strike rate: S/R-Wins
Mark Zahra 23- 26
Damien Oliver 22-14
Michael Rodd 20- 21
Dwayne Dunn 20-16
Steve Arnold 20-14

Recommended bets

BACK R6 #4 Glancing
Last two runs at this track have been good, including a stroll in the park last start with 59kg. Up in class on that today but drops weight. Some of the connections are good, well-educated De La Salle alumni, so I'll be barracking extra hard for the Brasher boys.

BACK R3 #4 Seguro
Has been racing consistently in good company in town this winter. Encounters a steep drop in class today and loses nothing with another De La boy, Danny Nikolic, on his back.

LAY R8 #4 Schabacle
Indications are that this is going to start a short-priced favourite, but a shortie with a 9% strike rate in a 1900m 0-58?

No thanks. It's an ordinary field that Schabacle might simply be too good for, but you'd be taking a bigger risk backing him than laying at those prices. No notable DLS connection either.