Australian racing tips – Friday 16 August 2024 – Taree

Race 5

NO TACKLE has consistent formlines to his name and followed up his penultimate run victory over 1400M with a second-place finish next time out over the same journey, one and a half lengths back from the winner. He struck the front at the top of the home straight that day and was only grabbed late and the form of that race has been franked. From his handy draw three, he is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.

DURUSEHVAR is a 5-year-old mare taking on the boys, but she won over 1400M three runs back, finished second in her penultimate start over 1500M and then sixth in her latest outing over 1600M, 3.3L behind the winner, but she raced three wide throughout in that event and had to be checked at the 1000M mark when pulling hard, so she had her excuses. From gate seven, she could prove to be the biggest danger to the top pick.

KILLZY had solid form prior to finishing a disappointing ninth last time out over 2100M, 7.2L adrift of the victor, but he was hampered at the start and took no interest in the race, so that effort should be ignored. The gelding will have to negotiate a wide draw ten, but will have 1,5kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice and gets a set of blinkers re-fitted. If this move has the desired effect, he should be a big runner here.

Race 6

AQUAFIRE followed up his penultimate run victory over 1000M with a third-place finish next time out over 1100M, just over four lengths back from the winner. He raced just behind the leaders on that occasion and battled all the way down to the wire, despite shifting inwards from the 100M mark. He jumps from gate six and should appreciate the drop in distance.

BEAR’S A STAR showed plenty of toe when finishing fourth in his latest outing over 1000M, just under three lengths back from the winner and the form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning. He was returning from a 33-week break that day and gets one gate outside the top pick, as well as 1,5kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice.

DEEPHAR is a 5-year-old mare taking on males, but she has finished closer to the winner in each of her last three starts and came the widest of them all into the home straight when ending up in third spot last time out over 1000M, just over two lengths behind the winner. She faces a wide draw nine, but on the plus side, she will have 4kgs taken off her back for the services of her claiming apprentice.

Race 7

BAGLIONI has cracked pole position and put his disappointing penultimate start over 1600M behind him when finishing second next time out over 1200M, just a length back from the winner, when returning from a 52-week spell. He had to weave his way through traffic that day, so that effort was commendable and the fact that his connections have brought him back into racing after such a lengthy absence would seem to suggest that they believe that he still has something more to offer them.

BALTIC COAST jumped awkwardly and overraced in the early stages when finishing thirteenth last time out over 1700M, 10.2L adrift of the winner, but that was at a stronger centre. The gelding returns here after a 12-week rest, but has had two barrier trials, finishing third in the latest. He is drawn one outside the top choice and will get a 1,5kgs claiming apprentice in the irons.

AUZSTAR raced up with the speed when finishing sixth in his latest outing over 1400M, just over four lengths back from the winner and faces a wide draw eleven. He is however another who will have 1,5kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice and he is likely to attempt similar frontrunning tactics today.

Race 8

The day’s value bet, MISCHIEVOUS MOLLY is a 5-year-old mare taking on boys. She was returning from a 38-week break and was hampered at the start, but recovered quickly to race just behind the leaders and then kicked clear of the field at the entrance to the home stretch, only to be reeled in late. The form of that race has been franked and jumping from gate seven, she may prove hard to topple.

TALMA I LOVE HER has finished second in his last two starts and did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight when ending up two lengths behind the winner last time out over 1400M. He has pulled a useful gate four and will be hoping to go one better today.

ROYAL TEENS is another 5-year mare in the race. She jumped awkwardly and was hampered at the 200M pole when finishing up in seventh place in her latest outing over 1400M, three and a half lengths behind the winner, but it should be noted that her jockey put up 0.5kgs overweight that day. The mare is drawn one inside the latter and could complete the trifecta.