Daily tips for September 27

Racing (Moonee Valley) for September 27

Tonight’s highlights

R4 G3 $150,000 Gallagher Bassett/TBV Champagne Stakes, Set weights, 1200m)

R6 G2 $220,000 City Jeep Stutt Stakes (Set weights, 1600m)

R7 G3 $200,000 Alternate Railway JRA Cup (Quality, 2040m)

R8 G1 $450,000 Programmed Moir Stakes (WFA, 1200m)

Hardly any rain over the past 24 hours has helped proved the condition of the Moonee Valley track. Only 1.5ml of that has been in the past 24 hours, so the prospect of a slow track now seems remote. At 3.30pm today the track was rated a dead (5). The rail for tonight’s Moir Stakes program is in the three-metre position. There are few winners of Australian stakes races that Peter Snowden has not had a hand in, either in his own right as trainer or as foreman to John Hawkes under the Woodlands banner, with tonight’s Moir Stakes over 1200m at Moonee Valley one of them.

• The task confronting Snowden’s #2 Epaulette is not an easy one as he lines-up against nine rivals with some handy form books. Epaulette is a fairly handy sprinter, winning the G1 Doomben 10000 (1350m) last preparation and of course beating all bar champion mare Black Caviar in the G1 T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in April. Only lightly raced, Epaulette has plenty of quality racing ahead and tonight’s assignment affords the entire a great opportunity to make a claim for Australia's sprinting crown vacated by the great mare. Drawn well in four, race rider Kerrin McEvoy, who has won four races from 11 rides atop the sprinter, should be able to get Epaulette into open space on the turn and unleash late.

• The same can be said for freak fresh-up performer #3 Bel Sprinter (pictured) tonight, which remains unbeaten in all five fresh-up runs, the most recent in the G1 Galaxy at Rosehill in March where he literally blew the field apart with a breathtaking last-to-first effort after missing the start by at least two lengths. On that occasion, Epaulette’s rider Kerrin McEvoy was atop the gelding, so he will know exactly what opposition he has in Bel Sprinter. Bel Sprinter is his own worst enemy in many ways. Always a galloper with enormous potential, he continues to find trouble in his races, something that has possibly cost him another group one win in the 2012 Oakleigh Plate. However, youthful trainer Jason Warren has slowly worked him out and this could be his best preparation.

• #1 Buffering, the Group 1 bridesmaid, will carry the hopes of all Queenslanders tonight in his quest to shed that tag while at the same time trying to emulate Black Caviar by scoring back-to-back wins in the feature. The now six-year-old has raced at group one level 16 times, finishing second five times, third four times and fourth four times - a commendable record in itself – but the elusive win has proven a real hoodoo for him. In fact, last start he had to settle for second to Linton in the G1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm. Just when he seemed to have the race in his keeping, the winner gained a miracle run along the fence. Buffering also resumes from a spell tonight and his record in that state is very impressive, never missing a place in seven attempts in that state, winning on six occasions.

• Classy mare #9 Snitzerland is another resuming from a spell and is another yet to miss a place in that state from four attempts, winning three times. So, in the “first-up stakes”, several impressive records go on the line tonight in the Moir. Snitzerland was most impressive, winning fresh-up last campaign in the G2 Challenge Stakes at Warwick Farm but over 1000m. She was then beaten comfortably by Bel Sprinter in the Galaxy before missing a place in the G1 Sportingbet Sangster Classic over 1200m in Adelaide.

While Snitzerland rates well enough to be competitive, the 1200m against this tough line-up will certainly test her and she’s probably only a multiples’ hope.

Suggested bet: Moonee Valley R8 #1 Buffering (E/W 1x3) 2nd ($1.60)

Moonee Valley R1 #12 Lion Of Belfort (E/W) 1st ($4.40/$1.90)

Moonee Valley R3 #7 Sertorius (E/W 1x4) 2nd ($1.50)

Moonee Valley R4 #1 Miracles Of Life (E/W 1x4) 2nd ($1.40)

Moonee Valley R5 #1 Vatican (E/W) 1st ($9.00/$2.20)

Moonee Valley R6 #6 Late Charge (E/W) LOSE (U/P)

Moonee Valley R7 #5 Gris Caro (E/W) 2nd ($2.30)

Harness racing tip: Melton R8 #5 Tendor Don (win) 1st ($1.40)
Greyhound racing tip: Wentworth Park R1 #2 Zipping April (win) 1st ($1.70)

Racing for September 27

Horse racing: Moonee Valley (Vic), Geelong (Vic), Scone (NSW), Ipswich (Qld), Canberra (ACT). Harness racing: Gold Coast (Qld), Newcastle (NSW), Gloucester Park (WA), Wagga (NSW), Melton (Vic), Globe Derby (SA). Greyhound racing: Bendigo (Vic), Wentworth Park (NSW), Ipswich (Qld), Geelong (Vic), Mt Gambier (SA), Mandurah (WA), The Gardens (NSW), Casino (NSW).

All eyes will be on Moonee Valley tonight for the running of the G1 Moir Stakes – scheduled for Friday night due to tomorrow’s AFL Grand Final. My tips for the meeting will available later today in a separate post. Punters should be aware that today's meeting at Geelong will now be held on the synthetic rather than the turf track due to the heavy rain that fell across Victoria on Thursday morning. Racing Victoria (RV) and the Geelong Racing Club chose a conservative approach to minimise potential damage to the newly renovated turf track, which is scheduled to host the 2013 Sportingbet Geelong Cup on October 23. The result of this harebrained decision? A staggering 58 scratchings, including 11 from the opening race alone, which will now feature just five runners. Finding horses with exposed form on the synthetic track isn’t hard, and makes the choice of #7 Ossenhagen as my best of the day a no-brainer. Even at a good thing’s price, it should salute in race 6, the Music Workshop BM70 Handicap over 1100m.

Suggested bet: Geelong R6 #7 Ossenhagen (WIN) LOSE (U/P)

Other tips

Geelong R3 #5 Wild Sands (E/W 1x4) 2nd ($1.70)

Geelong R4 #12 Biancrazy (E/W 1x3) 1st ($5.90/$2.00)

Scone R2 #5 Flamingo Lake (E/W 1x4) 3rd ($1.40)

Scone R4 #6 Pasadoble (win) 1st ($1.70)

Scone R7 #7 Sukraji (E/W) LOSE (U/P)

Ipswich R2 #11 Isla Poppy (win) LOSE (3rd)

Canberra R1 #4 Got The Goss (win) 1st ($1.80)

Canberra R7 #5 Grand Allowance (win) 1st ($2.00)

NRL (week 3 finals) for September 27

Preliminary Final: South Sydney Rabbitohs v Manly Sea Eagles, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Friday, September 27, 7.45pm

Twelve months after they fell short against Canterbury in their first preliminary final since 1968, South Sydney have the chance to make amends when they take on a bruised and battered Manly side at ANZ Stadium. Having gained valuable finals experience with last year’s run, the Rabbitohs will see this as their big opportunity to reach the grand final and hopefully shoot for their first premiership in 42 years. A confidence-building win over Melbourne in week one of the Finals followed by the week off should have them refreshed and they head into Friday night’s clash warm favourites to progress to the big one. With no major injury worries, they will be confident their big men can get the job done while the likes of Greg Inglis, Issac Luke (pictured), John Sutton and Adam Reynolds will certainly test Manly’s defensive mettle. Yet even though Manly have limped through the past few weeks with a number of players carrying injuries, they boast one significant advantage over the Rabbitohs – they’ve been there and done it all before.

Premiers in 2008 and again in 2011, the Sea Eagles know just what it takes to win the big games and still boast the core of the side that beat the Warriors to lift the trophy two years ago. They will also be well aware that an era is coming to a close and will be keen to send departing stars Brent Kite, George Rose and, potentially, David Williams out on a high. Again though, question marks remain over their fitness and ability to contain the big South Sydney forward pack. Captain Jamie Lyon and back-rowers Anthony Watmough and Jamie Buhrer have all been cleared to play despite suffering injuries last week, while star fullback Brett Stewart continues to race the clock to be fit after missing the past three games with a hamstring injury. While his replacement Peta Hiku has done a superb job in his absence, the Sea Eagles have missed Stewart’s incisiveness. South Sydney have been one of the best sides in the NRL all year and with their huge pack and the strike provided by Inglis and Luke they will take plenty of stopping. (Preview with thanks to Ben Blaschke, NRL.com)

Suggested bet: South Sydney -6.5 (one unit @ $1.91) LOSE (20-30)

MLB for September 27

AL: Tampa Bay Rays (89-69, 38-39) @ New York Yankees (82-76, 46-34 home), Yankee Stadium, New York, NY, Friday, September 27, 9.05am

This is Mariano Rivera’s last appearance at Yankee Stadium. Needless to say, the playoff-chasing Tampa Bay Rays will be hoping to see the retiring closer in a non-save situation. The Rays seek a seventh straight win and their first three-game sweep in the Bronx in the Yankees’ home finale. New York (82-76) was eliminated for the second time in the last 19 seasons yesterday during an 8-3 defeat. The Yankees will finish with their lowest win total in a 162-game season since the 1992 team went 76-86. It means this marks the last opportunity for Rivera (pictured) to pitch at home. Baseball's all-time saves leader captured five World Series titles during his Yankees tenure, with Rivera posting the lowest ERA of any pitcher with at least 40 post-season innings with a 0.70 mark over 141.0.

Rivera owns 64 saves in 66 chances against Tampa Bay, going 27-for-27 in the Bronx. The Rays (89-69) have too much at stake to want to face Rivera in a save situation. Tampa Bay holds a one-game lead over Cleveland for the AL’s top wild-card and has a magic number of three to reach the playoffs. The Yankees are losers of three straight and eight of 11 and haven't even enjoyed a lead in this series. NY also hasn't been able to slow down Evan Longoria, who is 5 for 9 in this series after homering twice and driving in four runs yesterday. Longoria is the second player since 1966 to go deep nine times against the Yankees, joining Toronto's Jose Cruz jr from 2001. He has 12 homers and 32 RBIs at new Yankee Stadium to go along with a .301 average and 25 home runs overall versus New York.

Longoria is 4 for 10 with a homer this year against Ivan Nova (9-5, 3.13 ERA), who makes his final 2013 start for New York. Nova struck out seven in a six-hitter Saturday for his second shutout of the year in a 6-0 victory over San Francisco. The right-hander is 0-2 with a 2.66 ERA in three starts against Tampa Bay this season, getting three total runs of support. He'll be opposed by Alex Cobb (10-3, 2.90), who is 3-1 with a 2.34 ERA in six career starts against New York including 2-0 with a 1.61 ERA in three this year. The right-hander has captured consecutive starts by surrendering three runs over 16 1/3 innings. This also marks the final home game for Alex Rodriguez before his off-season appeal of a 211-game Biogenesis suspension. He is in a 3-for-39 slump and 0 for 5 versus Cobb.

Suggested bet: Game total -7.5 (2.5 units @ $1.83) WIN, Tampa Bay WIN (1.5 units @ $2.10) WIN (4-0)

Other tips

AL: Blue Jays @ Orioles -8 $1.80 WIN (2-3)

AL: Angels WIN $2.56 LOSE @ Rangers** +9 $2.05 WIN (5-6)

AL: Royals @ White Sox WIN $2.11 LOSE -8 $1.95 WIN (2-3)

AL: Indians** WIN $1.63 @ Twins WIN (6-5)

NL: Diamondbacks WIN $2.02 @ Padres LOSE (2-3)

NL: Phillies @ Braves* WIN $1.59 WIN (1-7)

NL: Brewers @ Mets WIN $1.68 LOSE (4-2)

NL: Dodgers* WIN $2.19 LOSE @ Giants -7 $2.15 WIN (2-3)

* = playoff spot, ** = wild card contender

NCAAF (week 5) for September 27

Virginia Tech Hokies (3-1, 1-0 away) @ Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (3-0, 2-0 ACC), Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, GA, Friday, September 27, 9.30am

Georgia Tech seeks to continue its strong start in the ACC while visiting Virginia Tech strives to continue its recent success against the Yellow Jackets when the squads meet here. Georgia Tech has won its first two ACC games for just the third time in 15 years and can place a firm grasp on the Coastal Division lead with a win over the Hokies, their biggest division threat. Virginia Tech has won three straight and five of the last six meetings. Senior quarterback Logan Thomas (pictured) is off to a poor start, completing 48.5 per cent of his passes and being intercepted six times while throwing four touchdown passes. Thomas has rushed for 22 career touchdowns while redshirt freshman Trey Edmunds (who rushed for 132 yards against Alabama in his first collegiate game) has a team-best 352 rushing yards. Senior defensive end J.R. Collins has a team-best 4.5 sacks, senior middle linebacker Jack Tyler has a team-high 33 tackles while freshman cornerback Brandon Facyson (three) and junior safety Detrick Bonner (two) have combined for five of the Hokies’ nine interceptions for a defense that ranks fifth nationally (233.3 yards per game).

The Yellow Jackets defeated North Carolina 28-20 last week and have won six consecutive ACC games, one shy of the school mark (2009-10). VT has won three consecutive games since losing to Alabama in its opener, but had to go into triple-overtime before outlasting Marshall 29-21 last week. The Hokies beat Georgia Tech last season 20-17 in overtime. The Yellow Jackets are racking up 345.3 yards per game on the ground (fourth nationally) and have rushed for at least 324 in each game. Senior David Sims (211 yards) has yet to be tackled for a loss on 38 rushes, sophomore QB Vad Lee (seven passing touchdowns) has 180 rushing yards and three touchdowns, and senior Robert Godhigh (174 yards) is averaging 12.4 yards per rush and also has five receptions for 83 yards. Defensively, the Yellow Jackets are allowing 11.3 points (12th nationally) but are unsure whether junior outside linebacker Quayshawn Nealy (hamstring) or sophomore safety Chris Milton (wrist) will be available due to injuries suffered in the North Carolina game.

Suggested bet: Virginia Tech +7.5 (2.5 units @ $1.91) WIN, game total +43.5 (1.5 units @ $1.91) LOSE (17-10)

Other tips

Iowa State @ Tulsa +55 WIN (38-21)

NFL (week 4) for September 27

San Francisco 49ers (1-2, 0-1 away) @ St Louis Rams (1-2, 1-0 home), Edward Jones Dome, St Louis, MO, Friday, September 27, 10.30am

Less than eight months removed from a Super Bowl appearance, the San Francisco 49ers are immersed in controversy on and off the field heading into this match-up in the St Louis. San Francisco has dropped two straight, including a stunning 27-7 defeat at home to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. No team played the 49ers tougher last season than the AFC West rival Rams, who battled to a 24-24 tie in San Francisco and beat them in overtime in St Louis. These division rivals know each other's offences very well. In the past seven visits San Francisco has visited St Louis, the total points line has gone under five times.


St Louis posted a gritty comeback victory over Arizona in its season opener but has fallen behind by at least 21 points in back-to-back road losses to Atlanta and Dallas. Quarterback Sam Bradford (pictured) threw for a season-low 240 yards and was sacked six times against the Cowboys while receiving little help from a ground game in which starting running back Daryl Richardson played only one snap due to a foot injury. Rookie wideout Tavon Austin, the team’s first-round draft pick, has six receptions in each of the first three games but is averaging only 6.6 yards per catch.

The 49ers’ issues go beyond back-to-back inept performances – the team is under siege for allowing sack specialist Aldon Smith to play in Sunday’s game only two days after he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. Smith, who has a history of off-field issues, will enter a rehab facility to receive treatment and will miss this game. St Louis are seeking a bounce-back effort after they were demolished by the Dallas Cowboys 31-7. Losing in Seattle in Week 2 wasn’t a surprise for San Francisco, but being bulldozed by the Colts on both sides of the ball sent shock waves through the league.

Colin Kaepernick turned in a breathtaking performance by throwing for 412 yards in the season opener but has tossed four interceptions and been limited to a combined 277 yards while leading the 49ers to only 10 points in the past two weeks. The absence of tight end Vernon Davis (hamstring) hurt versus the Colts, while the normally stout defense saw All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis exit Sunday’s game with a groin injury. The 49ers secondary boasts rookie revelation S Eric Reid and four-time All Pro CB Nnamdi Asomugha, which will make scoring for St Louis extremely difficult.

Suggested bet: Game total -42 (1.5 units @ $1.91) LOSE, St Louis +3.5 (1.5 units @ $1.73) LOSE (35-11)

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