NEXT UP

The Valley card provides the perfect entree to another Tiger premiership on Saturday and we can enjoy it with full pockets courtesy of the Gerald Ryan-trained Villami who is fancied to win race five, the Group 3 Scarborough Stakes.  

It's a deep edition of the fillies contest but two stand out on recent ratings, Villami and C&D winner Exhilarates. There may not be a great deal between them on those performances but the barriers and potential race scenario look advantages for Villami and we think she should be favourite. 

As much as $4.00 is being bet which seems generous for one coming off a rating as high as hers despite the fact that many will point to the conditions that day at Randwick playing to her strengths. Perhaps they did, but stretching Libertini in that sort of time doesn't come easy and it doesn't come without real talent. 

For an each way play we are going to keep chasing Captain Cook. We've thrown him up as a bet in his latest couple and had to settle for placings. Does he lack a killer punch? Perhaps - his UK form hints at that being the case as well, but all three of his wins came over this trip and the slight step up can give him his chance to convert good form to winning form. 

We're making prices around $7.50 a 'buy'. 

THE MELBOURNE MAIL 

Bet Of The Night: Race 5 #5 Villami @ $4.00

Each Way Play: Race 6 #5 Captain Cook @ $7.50