Horse racing / Brad Thompson / 06 March 2010 / Leave a comment Bet Now

According to Brad Thompson, despite Headway being the only 3yo filly in the Newmarket Handicap, this doesn't mean she is any less of a chance.

With such a large field of quality sprinters, and claims made for pretty much every single runner, I know that I want to be on the value.

And that is exactly what Headway is right now - and probably still will be on raceday.

The only three-year-old filly in the race ticks all of the boxes, and whether she is up to beating this crack field will be known on Saturday afternoon.

This is a galloper that will lap up the 1200m. Her record portrays her liking to the six furlongs - five attempts, in the money at them all, including three wins.

A glance back at her win in the Group 1 Coolmore could not have been impressive. Sure, she only won by a whisker, but the fashion in which she gobbled up her rivals right on the line, lapping up every inch of the 1200m, was devastating.

She is a serious sprinter and gets to carry 3.5kg less than her G1 win and 2kg less than her Oakleigh Plate run.

And let's not forget her run in the Oakleigh Plate, which was super in my opinion. She loomed as the winner on the turn, but was left paddling on the inside part of the track which was 'off' at Caulfield on that day.

The $20 odds seems to be terrific shopping, but I think she may find some late support on raceday. I'd take whatever you can get around $20 now.

Headway carries just 50kg and won't know himself with G1-winning jockey Clare Lindop aboard.

Eagle Falls had little luck in the Oakleigh Plate. While conceding he shouldn't have gotten any protest if lodged, he was clearly affected. His straight runs are excellent and Hayes would have set him for this after his Salinger win carrying 2kg more.

One of the roughies worth considering is Tickets - he was only 2.5L away coming from last in the Oakleigh Plate, and would have reeled off some of the best closing sectional of the day.

He was flying on the line, and was also the obvious unlucky runner in Headway's Coolmore, held up along the inside rail, and, had he had clear room, would have won.

He might have the last crack and Benbow and Moody have had G1 triumph together before.

Other good bets for Saturday look to be Trim in race 5 at Flemington.

Linton could be something right out of the box in the Australian Guineas, and I'm not willing to go with Denman considering he failed at his only go at the mile journey. Sure, he had a tough run but he is still a query at the distance - I don't suspect he will get the front easily on Saturday either.

Messenger and Mr Baritone have claims at Warwick Farm in race five and seven, respectively.

And Balzoni in race 5 at Morphettville should just be a class above his rivals.