We’re deep into winter racing now — that means smaller fields, tricky form lines, and plenty of value if you know where to look. The quality might be down, but the rewards are there for the sharp Showdown punter. Here are three roughies I like to spice up your Saturday ticket:
Leg 2 – Doomben R5 – #3 Sir Carter
He’s flying under the radar with back-to-back dominant wins at Ipswich and Gatton, running new personal bests in both. Drawn ideally in barrier two and gets in light with a 3kg claim for Rob Thorburn, he maps to get every chance and can step up again in a very even contest. Sneaky knockout chance.
Leg 4 – Randwick R7 – #4 Shall Be
Lightly raced and super consistent, with four wins and two seconds from just eight starts. Resumes here off a strong trial and has solid fresh form. While this is his toughest test yet, it’s a wide-open betting race and he’s good enough to figure if he’s ready to go.
Leg 11 – Caulfield R8 – #8 Sixteen Reasons
South Aussie mare who has always promised a bit, and showed she’s come back well with a sharp first-up win at this track and trip. This is a tougher race, but she gets a nice setup again and has the talent to be in the finish at big odds. A genuine blowout hope in the feature.
Final Word
No Group 1s, no problem — there’s still cash and Showdown points to be won. These three bring form, upside and overs, and all look set to run well at double-figure prices. Lock them in and let’s land one this winter!