Top bets from Paul Joice for Wednesday

Paul Joice - Tuesday October 24

Midweek racing in Sydney is at Warwick Farm and I’ve found a few at odds which should fill the pockets heading into Cox Plate weekend.

Advertisement
Gambling Macau-style at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

HIGHER GROUND (Warwick Farm Race 1 No 5)
Having a small throw at the stumps on this So You Think first starter from the Chris Waller stable. Showing enough at the trials to suggest he’s got some ability and the 1300m trip looks the right distance to kick-off his career. Looked to have the edge over stablemate Enfield Opp when they met in a Rosehill trial on October 3 yet Enfield Opp is hard in the market here after catching the eye on debut. Race favourite Cuba has had six starts and remains a maiden – he looks a risk at the short odds. In a small field I think the market has Higher Ground too high. I’m having a little go.
BET: WIN
ODDS $12 @ Luxbet

SMOOTH WHISKEY (Warwick Farm Race 5 No 11)
It may have taken 15 starts for this Chris Waller-trained son of Snitzel to break his maiden but he did it in style with a cruisy 3-1/4 length romp at Wyong. He’s a horse which has always threatened to win a few races and now that he’s broken through can go on with it. Looks genuine pace and pressure engaged in the mile here which will suit as he can pull a bit when the tempo goes off. Has been competitive up to 1850m so the trip is no problem and from a soft gate with Brenton Avdulla aboard, I am expecting Smooth Whiskey to launch his bid turning for home and he will prove mighty hard to hold out. Good each-way bet.
BET: EACH-WAY
ODDS $9 @ Bet365

LORD MACAU (Warwick Farm Race 6 No 8)
This Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained four-year-old has solid first-up stats (3:1-1-1) and very good form at Warwick Farm (3:2-0-1). He’s been under-estimated throughout his career and once again offers value. With three lead-up trials under his belt he’ll be fit enough to race on pace around the 1400m and was strong through the line at his latest hit-out at Randwick on October 17. First-up last prep went down fighting when beaten a head at Canterbury and I expect he’ll be right in the thick of things again here.
BET: EACH-WAY
ODDS $9.50 @ Bet365

Advertisment
More Reading...
2026 Inglis Premier Now Online
The catalogue for the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale – the source of the past three The Everest winners that were offered at public auction – is now available online.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
There were just two heats for juveniles at Warwick Farm on Monday morning and both were won by Bjorn Baker trained youngsters with one of them the highest priced Australian sold yearling by first season sire Sword of State.
Campionessa Sister Adds to Mapperley Family of Success
Simms Davison is more than happy to play the long game with his broodmare gem Bella Carolina and her family.
Sires With Winners - Sunday December 7
Here is the full list of 63 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Winning Hat-Trick for Kiwi Purchase Grid Girl
New Zealand-bred mare Grid Girl made her first visit to Sydney on Sunday and maintained her rich vein of form, extending her winning sequence to three in the A$160,000 TAB Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill.
Glamour Savabeel Mare Orchestral Retired to Stud
The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained mare suffered an atrial fibrillation when running 10th in last month’s Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m), and the decision was made to bring the curtain down on her racing career.
$2.2million Zoustar Filly Goes Two from Two
The highest priced yearling by champion sire Zoustar sold in 2024 when fetching $2.2million at Inglis Easter, Plaintiff was stepping out at Rosehill on Sunday for her second race start and kept her record perfect.
2026 Inglis Premier – Sire and Vendor Break Up
The 2026 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale is now online and there is a distinctly Yulong flavour to the sale with Victoria’s biggest farm also the biggest vendor and they stand three of the top five most represented sires.
Plenty of Quality in Condensed Book 2 of Karaka 2026
A graduate trifecta in the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) provided a timely reminder of the quality that can be found in Book 2 of NZB’s National Yearling Sale, and more of the same can be expected at Karaka 2026.
US Debut 2YO Winner for Aussie Speedster Houtzen
Magic Millions talk is everywhere as we head towards January and the winner of the MM 2YO Classic in 2017 was I Am Invincible filly Houtzen, who produced a debut winning juvenile in the US over the weekend.