Weekly preview / Kristen Manning / 08 October 2009 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

The Toorak is always an interesting affair and is usually the case with handicaps, it's a strong betting race, writes Kristen Manning.

For me, you can't go past Raffaello and I'll be having something on him with bags of confidence.

Raffaello deserves to be favourite here, his run in the Sir Rupert Clarke was outstanding.

Shuffled back at a vital stage and running into plenty of trouble, he did a great job to finish as close as he did and he has hoof firmly on the till. The 1600m is ideal third up.

Forgive Racing To Win his uncharacteristic failure last start and he has to be a big chance as the class runner of the field. A multiple Gr.1 winner, he is a three times winner at the mile and an outside gate suits - giving the long strider plenty of galloping room.

Stradbroke Handicap winner Black Piranha come through the same race - the George Main - as Racing To Win and he has been shaping well. He rarely runs a bad race and handles any track condition.

A different Sydney form line is that of the Epsom Handicap, its winner Rock Kingdom backing up here. He'll strike firmer going this time but there is nothing wrong with his good track form. Barrier 15 is tricky however.

Raheeb looked to have plenty in hand racing away with an easy victory at Flemington last Saturday and his trainer Mick Price did with this last year with Alamosa. Raheeb ran too, finishing on nicely for fifth off a poor Epsom run. Going much better this year.

Quite a few each-way chances at odds here and this is the sort of race in which it is prudent to have a few savers. New Zealander King Mufhasa has plenty of class whilst Gold Salute is flying. Magical Pearl was cheeky in the Feehan last time and Chasm strips hard fit for recent racing.

Barrier 1 is of some concern as he doesn't want to get into traffic again, but he has the services of the talented Corey Brown and with luck in running is the one to beat.

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The Betfair tip of the weekend is Raffaello in the Toorak. To go to the market, click here.