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Today’s Horse Racing Tips - 18th May 2025
Racing and Sports highlight our standout plays at Australian TAB meetings for May 18.
Australian thoroughbred TAB meetings are today held at Sapphire Coast, Parkes, Sale, Sunshine Coast, Strathalbyn, Kalgoorlie, Devonport and Casterton.
SAPPHIRE COAST: RACE 2 @ 1:06 PM
THE UNIQUE STAR (2) made a big impression on debut and backed it up when up in grade at second start when runner-up. Resuming and drawn well and should take beating. SOUTHERN DEEL (8) went for a break after a win over this track and distance in February. Has the inside gate and must respect. WAUCHOPE (6) led throughout for an upset win here at second start. On the improve and should be around the mark again. JACOB JOE (4) and KING CHARLES (3) are going well and have claims.
SELECTIONS: The Unique Star to win.
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PARKES: RACE 5 @ 2:45 PM
COUGARS (10) showed pace but tired in the dying stages when resuming over this distance at Wagga last start. Goes up in grade but has a decent second-up record and from a much better gate can play a major role. SHIPSHAPE (5) finished eighth but was only 2.2 lengths from the winner in a BM82 over this trip at Dubbo last time out. Will find this a lot easier so keep him in mind. SANTASIA (13) added to her large collection of minor placings when she led but found one better over this distance at Wagga recently. Nicely drawn and drops sharply in the weights so should give a great sight. TURNED DOWN (6) resumes from a short break today and was tested in stronger company in both runs last campaign. Stable have hit the reset button and he's well placed in this event.
SELECTIONS: Backing Cougars and Shipshape.
SALE: RACE 2 @ 12:50 PM
ZOUTANIUM (11) looks to be a juvenile of some talent after he finished a game fourth at Warrnambool on debut. He would have come on a lot with that experience under his belt, and with the blinkers on this time, he will be among the hardest to beat. KENNERITE (4) has been a touch disappointing since shifting to a Victorian stable from Sydney, and will race in the blinkers for the first time. He has a good draw and is worth one more chance at odds. LOS ALAMOSS (9) should have finished a lot closer fresh up after getting a bad check at a vital stage. She is likely to get back again and should be motoring home. A wet track would help, and she can't be ruled out of a top 3 finish. INFINITE JEST (3) fought on gamely after contesting the pace here 2 weeks ago and only weakened late after hanging out under pressure in the home straight. He cops a tough gate, but is worth including in all multiples.
SELECTIONS: Los Alamoss each way.
SUNSHINE COAST POLY: RACE 3 @ 1:34 PM
JIDAYUBORI (7) is unlucky to still be a maiden placing at his past couple of efforts and this is not an overly strong affair. Strips fitter second-up from the break and should give backers a great sight up on speed. The well-related EQUINE ART (6) (half to G2 winner and 2xG1 placed Glenfiddich) has been thereabouts in all three runs since joining the new stable and will be better for that first-up hit-out. Solid top-three candidate. BIT OF GRUNT (1) resumes here but is drawn to get all the favours from the inside alley and a strong showing while fresh would not surprise. CHIARO DI LUNA (5) has placed over this track and trip and gets some weight relief with the 2kg claim. In the mix. HE IS THE KISS (3) rounds out the selections from the favourable draw.
SELECTIONS: Jidayubori to break the maiden status.
STRATHALBYN: RACE 3 @ 1:08 PM
DREAM BABY (9) has returned in good order and is knocking on the door. Expect him to be hitting his straps now out to a mile. Leading player. GOODNITE MOON (10) debuts for a top juvenile yard and brings serious pedigree being out of NZ G1 winner Shez Sinsational. Trialled well and should be respected on debut with a strong push in early markets likely. RHINESTONE RORY (3) resumes over the mile, which appears a good kick-off for her. Draws to stalk the pace and can keep finding if close enough. LES VOSGES (4) should find this easier. Likely to get back and run on. Worth including. UKI RAIN (5) next.
SELECTIONS: Slight lean to Dream Baby.
KALGOORLIE: RACE 3 @ 1:55 PM
KARNUP QUEEN (8) rose to 1400m at Ascot last start when taking on Open 3YO company and finished well back there. Her runs prior were great and rate highly for a race like this. The form around her has worked out well and she's found the right race to knock over her maiden win. AWEEMAWAY (1) has been close his past couple, beaten 1.6L two back before a 0.4L defeat most recently. He's placed 4/4 at this track and trip and while he's had a few goes now, he's racing in good order. Can put his best foot forward yet again. ADMIRATION BAY (5) led and folded first-up over this course and distance 23 days ago. Fitter for that run and she draws well this time around. Form has worked out well from her last start and she's right in the mix. CLASSIC CODE (6) was scratched earlier this month after going off in the barriers and now lines up here. She's good enough to feature. GEM'S MAN (2) just missed fresh and can be in the finish once again.
SELECTIONS: Karnup Queen looks the one to beat.
DEVONPORT SYNTHETIC: RACE 5 @ 2:22 PM
SPRING BEAN (4) could be in for his best campaign yet after posting back-to-back wins on this track, the most recent of those being 2 weeks ago in a similar field. He rises a further 2kg in weight, but is in a good space, and the hat-trick beckons. NICCO THE GREEK (1) fought on gamely when finishing third fresh up at Hobart 3 weeks ago. He has won 2 of his 3 starts on this poly track, and even from a wide gate, he can run another big race. Stick with him. ARUMA (3) is a very versatile mare who has been holding her form well this year. She likes the track, and David Pires will stick with her. Each way. MUSCLE UP (5) has been battling to find some form for some time, but has won a trial on this track since his last start at Launceston just over 5 weeks ago. He has a good draw, and a form reversal is on the cards. CHICANE (8) just battled over a middle distance in his last couple of starts and is normally very competitive over this shorter trip. Stick with him on an each-way basis.
SELECTIONS: Spring Bean to win.
CASTERTON: RACE 6 @ 3:10 PM
DARK HARMONY (1) on top. He's knocking on the door with two minor placings in a row, beaten a head in the Warracknabeal Cup two back before trying hard in a good BM70 at Warrnambool, beaten 1.4 lengths by the handy Persian Spirit. Comes back a notch here and maps ideally. DUBAI DANCER (5) resumed with a good win at Warrnambool over this trip, leading throughout. Also comes back a notch in grade and will be hard to catch. LOOSE ON GIN (3) struggled on the heavy going at Warrnambool but can be fitter and improve. ALLOUVRE (15) was solid from a long way back fresh and will be fitter for that effort. Laid a nice platform there for her to build on today.
SELECTIONS: Dark Harmony to win.
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