Betting tips / Gary Crispe / 13 February 2012 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Gary Crispe of Timeform feels promising galloper Smarty Mac can kick off his autumn campaign with a win in today's Prosec Handicap (race 6) at Warrnambool.

The locally trained Smarty Mac, prepared by Jarrod McLean, has raced only three times, but showed good promise in his first campaign and looks nicely placed in this RB72 handicap over 1200m.

On debut, the son of Akhadan struck heavy ground over 1200m at Terang, and after settling off the speed he worked home nicely to finish a three-quarter-length-third behind Flying Caballo.

It was no surprise to see him go on with it next start, racing here over 1200m. Settling mid-field in the big field, he turned poised to pounce, and did just that in the straight, running on to claim a comfortable length win over Cosmic Demon. Last start before a spell was in an RB62 over 1200m at Hamilton. Starting an odds on favourite and carrying 59kg, he settled at the tail and turned last but was too good for his rivals, coming with a well-timed run to score by a neck over Striking Copper.

McLean sent Smarty Mac for a spell and he resumes here in tougher grade but looks likely to be further improved form his first campaign when doing a few things wrong but still proving too classy. The gelding has drawn well in barrier two for Jack Hill, and races at home where he is unbeaten from the one run. He looks set to enjoy a good run off the pace and with his good turn of foot looks hard to hold out.

Another horse resuming from a spell is Regal Ida, which should be hitting the line hard.

The Vincent Malady-trained gelding found 1000m too sharp fresh-up last campaign and bombed the start, so forget he went around. And yet up to 1300m second-up, he improved sharply with a fast-finishing third on the Geelong Thoroughtrack. He then drew wide there and didn't come on after a tough run before stepping up to a mile and lifting strongly with a 1.3-length third behind Quiet Control.

Last start before a spell, over a mile at Ballarat he had a big weight and wide gate, and after settling mid-field and deep he battled home to finish fifth. While he doesn't boast the best fresh-up record some of those have been over distances well short of his best. The 1200m suits fresh and this grade is ideal, where he will sit back and run home hard on the big track. He looks a solid each-way chance of running into the finish.

Italian Machine is yet another resuming and his best form is over further, but like Regal Ida will be getting home strongly.

The Mathew William-trained gelding, prepared on the course, was a 1700m winner here in this class four back before tackling tougher grade at his next three starts. He is a 1200m winner, does have a decent record at the trip and although likely to be well short of his best today should be winding up strongly late on his home course.

Stablemate Toronto Star is coming into the race off an ordinary run but it was in town and he will find this much easier at home. He has a strong record on the course, he has a fitness edge on some of his rivals and from barrier one should enjoy a good run.


GARY'S TOP PICKS FOR RACE 6@WARRNAMBOOL
(1) Regal Ida
(2) Regal Ida
(3) Italian Machine