Australian racing tips – Monday 22 July 2024 – Wagga

Race 5

SORRY SUNSHINE showed solid improvement to win his last start over 1600M by a half-length, this despite being forced to come the widest of them all into the home straight. He delivered a powerful finish from second last to win going away that day. The gelding returns from a 21-week break, without having had the benefit of a barrier trial, so his fitness will have to be taken on trust, but he gets a handy draw four and is taken to be the value bet on the day’s card.

KERMA ART followed up his penultimate run victory over 1400M with a fifth-place finish next time out over the same journey, 3.3L back from the winner, but he made good late progress in that event and the form of that race has stood up well with three runners out of that contest subsequently winning. He has pulled a wide draw nine, but he should be right up there when they hit the line.

CHIPSTAR on the other hand has cracked pole position and sat just behind the speed and then chased hard to finish fourth last time out over 1200M, 3.8L back from the winner. On that effort, he should be included in all bets.

Race 6

PRINCE PAPA won his maiden race in his penultimate start over 1300M and then finished a disappointing eighth next time out over 1400M, just under seven and a half lengths adrift of the winner, but his jockey reported that he did not act in the heavy going that day, so that effort is best ignored. He has his first run after a 21-week spell without having a barrier trial, but he will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways here, jumping from gate five.

VAAROOM won over 1400M three runs back, finished eleventh in his penultimate start over the same 1400M and was immediately rested for 30 weeks. He then finished seventh in his latest outing over 1200M, 8.2L behind the winner, but he hung out the entire race, so a line can be drawn through that effort. The gelding would have come on further with that run under his belt and jumps from draw five and will have 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.

MISS GIVINGS is a 5-year-old mare taking on the boys, but she has finished closer to the winner in each of her last three starts, the latest when second over 1425M, just a head behind the winner, but she had to weave her way down the home straight in that event, only to fail to snare the winner in the shadow of the post. She will have to negotiate a wide draw eleven, but on the plus side, she will have 4kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice.

Race 7

Two 3-year-old fillies and a 5-year-old mare could fight out the finish to this race and complete the trifecta, but the day’s best bet, HOLD is taken to lead the pack home. She is seldom far off the action, finishing second last time out over 1000M, just a half-length back from the winner. She chased hard from well back on that occasion and the form of that race has been franked. Whilst drawn wide in gate nine, she will have 3kgs taken off her back for the services of her claiming apprentice.

SOO KISS ME has consistent formlines to her name and was returning from a 23-week break and came the widest of them all into the home stretch and hung out all the way down to the wire when ending up in third spot last time out over 1000M, just over a length off the victor. She is drawn one outside the top pick and could emerge as her biggest danger.

SHEILA put her disappointing penultimate start over 1100M behind her when finishing third next time out over 1000M, 3.3L back from the winner, but the form of that race has been franked. The mare showed plenty of toe that day and from a kinder draw four and with her having 3kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice, she should be involved in the finish.

Race 8

LA SANTE finished second twice prior to ending up in sixth place last time out over 1600M, 3.2L behind the winner, but he overraced throughout that day. The gelding has pulled gate five and should appreciate the drop in trip.

GOGOL raced just behind the frontrunner and then stayed on well to finish a solid improved fourth place last time out over 1000M, 1.7L behind the victor and is sure to put his pole position and the 3kgs removed from his back thanks to his claiming apprentice to good use.

TORETTO had consistent form prior to finishing a disappointing ninth last time out over 1500M, 5.2L adrift of the winner, but he was slow away that day and then did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight, so he had his excuses. He gets the cheek pieces removed for the day’s run and if this move has the desired effect, he should be a big runner here, notwithstanding a wide draw nine.