Punt like a Pro, without the know!
Queensland · Thursday 30 April 2026
Our top pick won 2 of 7 races at Townsville. Every pick, our analysis and the full results are below.
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Oscar Booie gets the perfect barrier 1 draw which is crucial at Townsville where inside barriers dominate. The step up to 1400m is a query, but his proven track record at Townsville and ideal positioning make him the logical choice.
Shadyvale Al brings solid recent form with a 2nd placing at this track and has actual experience at today's 1400m distance here. While still a maiden, his track familiarity and current form make him a strong each-way chance.
Madam Nazar represents the improving type with only 3 career starts and a recent 3rd placing. The trainer/jockey combination of Chelsea Jokic adds confidence, and her recent form suggests she's finding her feet. However, the wide barrier 7 is a concern at this track, and she lacks soft track experience.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | Madam Nazar | 7 | Chelsea Jokic | Chelsea Jokic | 59.5kg | $3.70 |
| 2nd | 5 | Streamelot | 3 | Lacey Morrison | D K Amos | 57kg | $5.00 |
| 3rd | 3 | Royal Edition | 4 | Aidan Holt | Nathan Coves | 59kg | $7.50 |
| 4th | 1 | Oscar Booie | 1 | Courtney Bellamy | Michael Geaney | 58kg | $2.70 |
| 5th | 7 | Instigate | 6 | Ivo Fry | Ms L McCormack | 55.5kg | $31.00 |
| 6th | 6 | King Canute | 2 | Adam Sewell | R A Schluenz | 56.5kg | $9.00 |
| 7th | 4 | Shadyvale Al | 5 | Jason Babarovich | Melissa Bieri | 58.5kg | $10.00 |
| Scr | 8 | Fighting Edge | 8 | Chelsea Jokic | 55kg |
Amber Affair stands out with consistent placings at Townsville including a recent second. The class drop and weight reduction enhance her chances significantly.
His track record shows consistent placings at Townsville, and being second up from a spell suits his pattern. The barrier draw and class drop create genuine winning chances.
The significant class drop and light weight provide advantages, though the wide barrier and lack of wins are concerns.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 3 | Magic Sunny Day | 6 | Sean Cormack | Terry McGovern | 59kg | $21.00 |
| 2nd | 7 | Kajetan | 4 | Chelsea Jokic | Gavin Kinlyside | 57kg | $17.00 |
| 3rd | 6 | Amber Affair | 9 | Fiona Sandkuhl | Rhein Sewell | 55.5kg | $3.60 |
| 4th | 4 | Toranaga | 3 | Courtney Bellamy | Graham R Hughes | 57kg | $13.00 |
| 5th | 1 | Exceedingly Brazen | 1 | Ivo Fry | J P Caught | 60kg | $1.75 |
| 6th | 2 | Small Town Hussler | 5 | Lacey Morrison | Michael Geaney | 59.5kg | $12.00 |
| 7th | 8 | We Us 'n' Co | 7 | Adam Sewell | L E Smerdon | 55.5kg | $21.00 |
| 8th | 9 | Valadore | 8 | Jason Taylor | Ms L McCormack | 54kg | $41.00 |
| 9th | 5 | Lively Spirit | 2 | Tahlia Fenlon | T Button | 58kg | $21.00 |
Last start winner stepping up in class but brings strong soft track credentials and weight relief. The inside barrier suits Townsville's positional bias, and trainer confidence evident with multiple runners. Recent win provides momentum despite class rise.
Last start winner with improving form trend but faces significant class rise and poor soft track record. The barrier position and stable confidence provide positives, but track condition suitability remains a major concern.
Three-year-old filly with proven soft track ability and strong Townsville record. The wide barrier is concerning given track bias, but class and track condition suitability provide appeal despite recent form decline.
Consistent performer with excellent soft track credentials and strong local form.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 4 | Fools Play | 4 | Lacey Morrison | S J Royes | 58.5kg | $2.80 |
| 2nd | 1 | That's It | 6 | Tasha Chambers | S J Royes | 60kg | $3.10 |
| 3rd | 3 | Looming One | 1 | Chelsea Jokic | Rhein Sewell | 59.5kg | $7.50 |
| 4th | 2 | War Council | 5 | Aidan Holt | S J Royes | 60kg | $4.60 |
| 5th | 7 | Wicked Games | 7 | Courtney Bellamy | Wanderson D'Avila | 55.5kg | $21.00 |
| 6th | 6 | Savvy Thinker | 3 | Nathan Thomas | G W Dickson | 57.5kg | $31.00 |
| 7th | 5 | To Love Somebody | 2 | Adam Sewell | Ms M Young | 58.5kg | $14.00 |
| 8th | 8 | Princess Shanghai | 8 | Ivo Fry | Wanderson D'Avila | 57kg | $26.00 |
| Scr | 9 | She's A Sweet Star | 9 | Sean Cormack | Terry McGovern | 57kg |
His recent second here shows he's in good form, and his proven ability on soft tracks makes him ideally suited to today's conditions.
His track record is outstanding, though the soft track conditions are a concern given his poor record on rain-affected surfaces. The class rise and wide barrier are negatives, but his current form and weight advantage keep him competitive.
Lean Eagle brings strong first up credentials and an exceptional place record to this contest. His soft track form is solid and the barrier draw is favorable. However, the long spell and poor distance record are concerns, along with the significant class rise. His consistency suggests he'll be competitive for the placings.
Hellish offers value as a first up specialist with proven ability at this track. His previous win here and strong first up record make him dangerous despite the long spell.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 7 | Lean Eagle | 4 | Sean Cormack | S Massingham | 54kg | $4.40 |
| 2nd | 3 | Roweiner's Dance | 2 | Fiona Sandkuhl | William Kenning | 61.5kg | $3.80 |
| 3rd | 6 | Russian Mint | 7 | Courtney Bellamy | T Button | 53.5kg | $2.30 |
| 4th | 5 | Turbeau | 3 | Jason Taylor | S Massingham | 58kg | $31.00 |
| 5th | 8 | Bloomin' Ripper | 6 | Rachel Shred | Sharlee Hoffman | 54kg | $26.00 |
| 6th | 1 | Speed Legend | 8 | Aidan Holt | S Massingham | 67kg | $26.00 |
| 7th | 2 | Missile Thunder | 1 | Lauren Guernier | F J Wieland | 60.5kg | $21.00 |
| 8th | 4 | Hellish | 5 | Tahlia Fenlon | T Button | 58.5kg | $7.00 |
Her perfect 2:1-0-1 record here and on-pace racing style perfectly suit Townsville's leader-friendly bias. Despite the class rise, her superior form and track specialization make her the standout selection.
Second-up runners often improve, and the class drop from Class 1 provides a good opportunity. His forward racing style and good barrier position suit Townsville's on-pace bias perfectly.
She's Speedy brings winning form from her last start victory and the gear changes suggest connections expect improvement. The light weight and potential for improvement make her a solid each-way chance.
His proven ability on soft tracks and the booking of in-form jockey Adam Sewell are positives.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 11 | She's Speedy | 3 | Aidan Holt | S Massingham | 57.5kg | $5.50 |
| 2nd | 9 | Bella Ace | 11 | Jason Taylor | Cheynee Morrison | 58kg | $31.00 |
| 3rd | 6 | She's A Beauty | 4 | Sean Cormack | S J Royes | 59.5kg | $2.80 |
| 4th | 4 | Mclovin | 8 | Lacey Morrison | Sharlee Hoffman | 59.5kg | $5.00 |
| 5th | 1 | Ramius | 5 | Fiona Sandkuhl | Patrick McGuire | 60kg | $13.00 |
| 5th | 10 | Foneeleven | 6 | Ivo Fry | J P Caught | 58kg | $4.40 |
| 7th | 8 | Nordic Invader | 1 | Nathan Thomas | S Massingham | 58.5kg | $21.00 |
| 8th | 7 | Remember Roy | 10 | Tasha Chambers | Belynda Kliese | 59kg | $15.00 |
| 9th | 5 | Sensationabull | 2 | Chelsea Jokic | Joshua Manzelmann | 59.5kg | $71.00 |
| 10th | 3 | Hot Pursuit | 7 | Chris Whiteley | Matthew McGuire | 59.5kg | $21.00 |
| Scr | 2 | Coppabella Road | 9 | Adam Sewell | S J Royes | 60.5kg |
His perfect record at Townsville (1 from 1) combined with winning his last start at this exact track and distance provides compelling evidence. The Cormack/Massingham combination is highly effective, and barrier 3 allows him to settle on-pace as preferred at this positionally-demanding track.
Northernontap presents strong credentials with his excellent Townsville record and recent form. The soft track conditions suit his profile, and Tasha Chambers is riding with confidence. However, the wide barrier draw is a significant concern at this positionally-demanding track.
Tahlia Fenlon's excellent recent form (35% strike rate) adds confidence.
Kobayastar represents excellent value dropping significantly in class from Open company. Her strong Townsville record and proven soft track ability make her competitive at this level. The Chris Whiteley booking is significant given their perfect combination record, and barrier 6 allows tactical options. The recent placing in stronger company suggests she's ready to take advantage of this easier assignment.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 7 | Line 'em Up Loui | 3 | Sean Cormack | S Massingham | 56.5kg | $2.10 |
| 2nd | 3 | Chartwell | 4 | Fiona Sandkuhl | Rhein Sewell | 58kg | $12.00 |
| 3rd | 2 | Nolan | 9 | Courtney Bellamy | S J Royes | 59kg | $9.00 |
| 4th | 6 | Kobayastar | 6 | Chris Whiteley | Matthew McGuire | 57.5kg | $6.50 |
| 5th | 4 | Northernontap | 2 | Tasha Chambers | Belynda Kliese | 60kg | $7.50 |
| 6th | 8 | Tymon | 7 | Chelsea Jokic | Matthew McGuire | 56kg | $31.00 |
| 7th | 9 | Rum Rumble | 1 | Tahlia Fenlon | T Button | 55.5kg | $4.80 |
| 8th | 10 | Line Of Kings | 8 | Nathan Thomas | Russell Henderson | 54kg | $151.00 |
| 9th | 1 | Vadamos Queen | 5 | Aidan Holt | Rhein Sewell | 62.5kg | $41.00 |
| Scr | 5 | First Man | 10 | Ms J Hassett | 58.5kg |
Mission House offers excellent value as a second-up runner from the inside barrier.
Keep On Running is the standout selection based on his exceptional Townsville record and proven ability at this distance. His track specialization (5 wins from 23 starts) combined with strong distance form (3 wins from 12 attempts) makes him ideally suited. The inside barrier is crucial at Townsville, and his recent placing at BM65 level suggests he's competitive at this grade.
While his winning record is poor, his ability to run competitive races and the good barrier draw make him a value proposition for exotic players.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Barrier | Jockey | Trainer | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 4 | Colours Of Autumn | 9 | Fiona Sandkuhl | O Chillemi | 57.5kg | $3.80 |
| 2nd | 9 | Kirikan | 4 | Jason Taylor | S Massingham | 56.5kg | $5.50 |
| 3rd | 5 | John Joseph | 8 | Lacey Morrison | Georgie Holt | 59kg | $10.00 |
| 4th | 1 | Hyde Park | 6 | Courtney Bellamy | T Button | 59.5kg | $4.60 |
| 5th | 8 | Ready Tiger | 10 | Nathan Thomas | A M Comerford | 58.5kg | $9.50 |
| 6th | 7 | Mission House | 1 | Chris Whiteley | Matthew McGuire | 58.5kg | $14.00 |
| 7th | 3 | Sand 'n' Power | 3 | Ivo Fry | Gareth Smith | 60kg | $3.50 |
| Scr | 2 | Prince Akeem | 7 | Aidan Holt | Graham R Hughes | 60.5kg | |
| Scr | 6 | Keep On Running | 2 | Sean Cormack | Terry McGovern | 59kg | |
| Scr | 10 | First Man | 5 | Adam Sewell | Ms J Hassett | 56kg | |
| Scr | 11 | Kobayastar | 8 | Matthew McGuire | 55kg |
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