Australian racing tips – Thursday 8 August 2024 – Newcastle

Race 5

This looks to be a tricky race to start off the day’s Jackpot with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is suggested. MONDO had to be steadied off the heels of another runner at the 300M mark when finishing fourth last time out over 1300M, 2.8L behind the winner. He has his peak run for his new trainer after returning from a 26-week break and gets a set of blinkers re-fitted. If this move has the desired effect, he should be a big runner here, notwithstanding a wide draw ten.

SILENT RUSSIAN followed up his penultimate run victory over 1700M with a tad disappointing fifth-place finish next time out when stepping up to 2100M, nine lengths back from the winner, but he was crowded at the 600M mark and was reported to have lost an off-fore shoe, as well as not acting in the heavy going, so he had his excuses. The gelding returns from an 18-week rest, but has had two barrier trials, finishing third in the first and winning the latest. He is drawn the widest of them all in gate thirteen and gets the services of non-claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd to aid his cause.

HARD PICK on the other hand has cracked pole position and jumped awkwardly, bumping another runner, but made good late progress to end up in second place last time out over 1400M, beaten 1.8L. He should not be easily overlooked.

Race 6

There are six unraced runners in the field, so as is always the case in these types of races, a keen eye should be kept on the betting markets to get some indication as to whether any of the connections believe that they can win first-time out. Any betting support for a runner or runners should be respected. Of the raced runners, BAUHINIA may well prove to be the best. She is a 3-year-old filly taking on the boys, but she finished second on debut over 1200M, one and a half lengths behind the winner. It should however be noted that she jumped awkwardly that day, raced green and hung out approaching the home turn, so that effort was, on balance, encouraging. She would have learnt from that experience and with the natural improvement that can be expected, she could be the one that they all have to beat, jumping from a handy draw three.

COPACABANA had solid form prior to ending up in fourteenth place in his latest outing over 1600M, 9.8L adrift of the victor and was immediately rested for 42 weeks, during which time he was gelded. He returns here after having had two barrier trials, finishing second in the first and third in the latest. The gelding will have to negotiate a wide gate ten, but he should be right up there when they hit the line.

SPANISH FOX has finished second in his last four runs, the latest over 1300M, just a head back from the winner. He was returning from a 17-week rest on that occasion and the form of that race has been franked. The gelding struck the front at the 150M mark that day, but hung out over the closing stages, costing himself the race. Whilst facing a wide gate sixteen, he will have ex-SA jockey Keagan Latham in the irons, so he will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle, to hopefully go one better here.

Race 7

WINGS OF DESIRE jumped awkwardly, but finished best of all to win going away by 1.3L first time out over 1100M. She would have come on further with that run under her belt and is sure to put her pole position to good use and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.

GOLD DUST is seldom far off the action and although recorded as finishing fifth last time out over 1100M, she was just 1.3L back from the winner, this after jumping awkwardly and coming three wide into the home straight. She will have to deal with a wide draw nine, but she will be having her peak run after returning from a 35-week spell and gets apprentice Zac Lloyd in the saddle.

TENDER STREAK suffered from mild heat stress when trying to go from jump to wire before ending up in sixth place last time out over 1300M, just over three and a half lengths adrift of the victor. She will have to overcome a wide gate thirteen, but is likely to attempt similar frontrunning tactics today and could prove hard to reel in over the closing stages.

Race 8

The day’s value bet, CARPACCIO has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three starts, the latest when third over 1200M, just a length behind the winner, when returning from a 23-week break. He chased hard all the way down to the wire that day and from gate six, he will be looking to chalk up his second career win here.

FORTINGALL raced just behind the leader and then accelerated smartly to win over 1000M on debut, albeit by just a short-head. The colt would have learnt from that outing and from his useful draw three, he could emerge as the biggest threat to the top pick.

UNWRITTEN has consistent formlines to his name and followed up his penultimate run victory over 1200M with a second-place finish next time out over 1300M, 1.8L back from the winner, but he jumped awkwardly bumping another runner and came the widest of them all into the home straight, so that victory was full of merit. The gelding has pulled gate five and could supply apprentice Zac Lloyd with a red-letter day.