Australian racing tips – Friday 2 August 2024 – Coffs Harbour

Race 5

This looks to be a tricky race to start the day’s Jackpot with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is suggested. AIMPOINT followed up his penultimate run victory over 1600M with a twelfth-place finish next time out over 1900M, 8.3L back from the winner, but he overraced in the early stages that day and had to be steadied off the heels of another runner at the 1700M mark and then eased at the 200M pole, so that effort is best ignored. From his handy draw two, he will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways here.

AGIRLSBESTFRIEND is a 5-year-old mare taking on the boys, but she made good late progress to finish fifth last time out over 1800M, 5.2L behind the winner and that was at a stronger centre. She faces a wide draw twelve, but she is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and then start to pick off the front runners over the latter part of the race. The mare gets a set of blinkers fitted for the first time and if these have the desired effect, she should be a big runner here.

JACK DUGGAN won over 1800M three runs back, finished fifth in his penultimate start over 1400M and then fifth again in his latest outing over 1500M, 1.3L behind the winner, but he jumped awkwardly in that event and had to be held up till the 150m mark, before his jockey dropped his crop at the 100M mark. The gelding has his peak run after returning from a 19-week break and from his kinder draw five, he could complete the trifecta.

Race 6

SWIFT CHARM had solid form prior to finishing a tad disappointing tenth last time out over 1000M, just over four lengths back from the winner, but he was trapped three wide towards the rear of the field in that event, but still managed to stay on well over the closing stages. The gelding was having his first run after an 18-week rest and would have come on further with that run under his belt. He jumps from gate seven and looks to be the one to side within this line-up.

FIELD OF MYRTLE is a 4-year-old filly taking on males and raced just behind the speed when ending up in second place last time out over 1100M, beaten just a short-head. That was her first run for her new trainer and whilst drawn wide in gate fifteen, she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.

CANNON missed out on his quartet when finishing twelfth in his latest outing over 1120M, 19.7L adrift of the victor, but he was reported to have not acted in the heavy going that day, so a line should be drawn through that effort. He finished second in a subsequent barrier trial and although drawn wide in gate eleven, he should not be easily discarded.

Race 7

A 7-year-old and a 6-year-old mare could fight out the finish to this race and complete the exacta, but the day’s value bet, EN FRANCAIS is taken to lead the field home. She was having her first run for her new trainer when jumping awkwardly, bumping another runner and then had to be held up at the top of the home straight, before finishing well from some way back to end up in sixth spot last time out over 1400M, 4.2L off the winner. She jumps from a useful draw three and could chalk up her sixth career victory.

HA HA HA also won her penultimate start, but in her case over 1600M and then finished fifth next time out over the same journey, eight lengths behind the winner, but she did not act in the heavy going that day, so that effort should be discarded. The mare has pulled a useful draw two and should be right up there when they hit the line.

CHARTERHOUSE was bumped at the start and crowded in the closing stages when finishing third last time out over 1500M, 0.7L behind the winner, so can be considered an unlucky loser. That was also at a stronger centre and although drawn wide in gate nine, he should be included in all bets.

Race 8

The day’s best bet, ZOUPERB is a 5-year-old mare taking on boys, but she has won four of her last five starts and three on the bounce, the latest when striking the front at the entrance to the home straight and then holding off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. The form of that race has been franked and jumping from gate six, she could prove hard to topple.

OAKFIELD DUKE won his penultimate start over 1200M, then finished up in seventh spot in his next outing over the same sprint trip, just under five lengths behind the winner, but he was crowded at the 600M mark, before staying on well over the latter stages. The gelding is drawn one inside the top choice and could emerge as his biggest threat.

FENDER has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three starts, the latest when tenth over 1200M, but just over three lengths back from the victor. He will have to deal with a wide gate ten, but on the plus side, he will get 1.5kgs taken off his back for the services of his claiming apprentice.