Cranbourne Racing Tips for October 9 – South Aussie a solid each-way bet in the Apache Cat Classic

Here are our best bets from the meeting, which comes on the eve of a massive day of racing in Melbourne with the running of three Group 1 races at Caulfield on Saturday.

Kotahitanga can go close in the opener at Cranbourne. The three-year-old draws out in barrier 13 but showed good early speed on debut to sit outside the leader, Ranarsson. Those two went at a solid clip and Kotahitanga was well beaten by what was an above average performance by the winner but never shirked the issue to hold the others at bay, going three lengths slower than standard benchmark, which is the best last start figure of any runner. He will strip fitter at his second start and as long as he doesn't have to burn to much fuel early on, he should be hard to get past at the business end.

Ghana’s Akan should be hard to beat in Race 4. The Ciaron Maher filly remains a Maiden after eight starts but has finished runner-up in four of those, including one at Listed level two starts back in the Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m). She has since had one run with that coming at Group 3 level in the Scarborough Stakes but drew wide and was back on a day that suited the leaders before running 8th. The daughter of Street Boss usually likes to settle on the speed and can do that this time arond from barrier 3, while the Cranbourne circuit should suit. 

Klabel can go close in Race 7. The South Aussie has been up against some of the big guns in recent times with a respectable 6th in the Moir Stakes (1000m) when trapped wide no cover before racing a tad too keen early on at Sandown at his most recent start when 5th behind Warnie in the Chautaqua Stakes (1300m). This looks a more suitable task for the Richard and Chantelle Jolly-trained galloper and he comes in with a month between runs, while he can land in the perfect stalking position just behind the speed from barrier 4.