Australian racing tips – Thursday 15 August 2024 – Newcastle

Race 5

ZOURIPPER has only had the three runs, claiming victory last time out over 1200M by just under a half-length, despite being slow away and bumping another runner at the 200M mark. The form of that race has stood up well with three runners out of that contest subsequently winning. He now has his peak run after returning from a 19-week break and from his handy draw three, the double is very much on the cards.

CAPITAL HEART overraced in the early stages and had to be eased off the heels of another runner at the 800M mark, came three wide into the home straight and then checked at the 100M pole, so he had his excuses. The gelding has finished third in a subsequent barrier trial and whilst drawn wide in gate nine, on the plus side he will have 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice. He also gets cheekpieces fitted for the first time and if these have the desired effect, he should be a big runner here.

TRAPEZE PLEASURE won over 1100M three runs back, finished seventh in his penultimate start over 1000M and then second in his latest outing over 1200M, just a head behind the winner, this after jumping awkwardly bumping another runner and not getting the clearest of passages in the home straight, only seeing daylight at the 150M mark. He is drawn one outside the latter and should be included in all bets.

Race 6

The day’s best bet, MADAM INSTRIFE is a 4-year-old filly taking on the boys, but she was held up at the top of the home straight, before finishing strongly to end up in third place when making her debut over 1200M, just over a half-length back from the winner and the form of that race has been franked. 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 gate seven.

SPANISH FOX has finished second in his last three runs and was returning from a 17-week rest when ending up just a head off the victor last time out over 1300M. He sat second the whole way, striking the front at the 150M mark, only to be snared in the shadow of the post, but he did hang out in the home straight, costing himself the victory. The gelding gets a set of blinkers re-fitted and these should assist in keeping his mind on the task at hand. From his useful draw four, he should be right up there when they hit the line.

LADY ICHIKAWA is a 5-year-old mare who has finished third in her last two outings since returning from a 38-week spell, the latest over 1200M, 1.2L behind the winner, but she was slow away in that event, losing four lengths, so can be considered an unlucky loser. She has pulled gate six and should be involved in the finish.

Race 7

This looks to be a tricky race with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is suggested. However, CROP DUSTER has consistent formlines to his name and came the widest of them all into the home straight, before making good late progress to finish third last time out over 1200M, 0.7L off the winner and the form of that race has been franked. The gelding faces a wide draw nine, but he should be doing his best work late.

THE NEW SINATRA had his consistency rewarded with a 1.8L victory last time out over 1200M, despite jumping awkwardly bumping another and coming three wide into the home stretch and was immediately moved stables and rested for 17 weeks. He returns here after having had two barrier trials, finishing third in the latest and gets the services of non-claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd to aid his cause.

JOISELLE is a 4-year-old filly taking on males, but she completed her hat trick before finishing a disappointing eighth last time out over 1100M, just under ten lengths adrift of the victor, but her jockey reported that she took no interest in running that day. The filly will have to negotiate a wide draw twelve, but she will be having her peak run after returning from an 18-week break and will have 3kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice. She will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways here.

Race 8

SHURI is a 5-year-old mare taking on boys, but she showed marked improvement to finish second in her last two starts, the latest over 1600M, when beaten a short-head, notwithstanding overracing throughout and coming three wide into the home straight. She chased hard that day and from her cosy draw three, she will be looking to chalk up her third career victory and is made the value bet on the day’s card.

RUSH ATTACK was having his first run for his new trainer when winning by one and a half lengths last time out over 1400M and would have come on further with that run under his belt. He on the other hand faces a wide draw fourteen, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy and he will have a 3kg claiming apprentice in the irons.

DREAMDEEL put his disappointing penultimate start over 2200M behind him when finishing second next time out when dropping down to 1600M, beaten just a short-head. He tried to go from jump to wire that day and from his draw six and with 3kgs taken off his back courtesy of his claiming apprentice, he is likely to attempt similar frontrunning tactics today.