Australian racing tips – Monday 19 August 2024 – Scone

Race 4

INVINCIBLE WHIP was returning from a 17-week rest when finishing fifth last time out over 1200M, two and a half lengths behind the winner, but he jumped awkwardly that day, bumping another runner and came three wide into the home straight, before staying on well over the closing stages. He gets a handy draw three and will have a set of blinkers fitted for the first time. If these have the desired effect, he should be a big runner here and it taken to be the value bet on the day’s card.

HOT BANDIT was returning from a longer 20-week break and is seldom far off the action, finishing fourth last time out over 1200M, just over two lengths back from the winner, but he overraced in the early and middle stages in that event, before chasing hard right down to the line. The gelding is drawn one inside the top pick and should be right up there when they hit the wire.

MAGIC FLYER followed up his penultimate run victory over 1000M with a third-place finish next time out over 1200M, just over three and a half lengths back from the winner, but he had to weave his way through traffic in the home straight, so that effort was encouraging. The gelding was returning from a 27-week break that day and the form of that race was franked.

Race 5

DIRTY MERCHANT has cracked pole position and showed plenty of toe and solid improvement to finish fifth in his latest outing over 1280M, one and a half lengths back from the victor. If he repeats that effort, he looks to be the one that they all must beat.

BROK CAFE is a 4-year-old filly taking on the boys, but she had her consistency rewarded with a one-and-a-half length victory last time out over 1200M. She was returning from a 23-week spell that day, but delivered a powerful finish to win going away. The filly jumps from gate seven and should keep the top choice honest.

WIGGLES jumped awkwardly, but stayed on well when ending up in eighth spot last time out over 1200M, 3.7L adrift of the winner, but that was at a stronger center. He is drawn the widest of them all in gate ten, but he will be having his peak run after returning from a 22-week absence and he should be doing his best work late to complete the trifecta.

Race 6

A 5-year-old mare and two 4-year-old fillies could fight out the finish to this race and secure the trifecta, but the day’s best bet, SMOKIN’ CRAZY is taken to lead the pack home. She has consistent formlines to his name, finishing second last time out over 1600M, 2.3L behind the winner, but she was forced to race wide without cover for the entire journey. She returns from a 31-week spell, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials. The mare has pulled gate six and will have 2kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice and could prove hard to topple.

MEDIA FRENZY has posted two solid last runs, the latest when second over 1500M, one and a half lengths back from the winner. She is drawn one inside the top choice and will be having her peak run after returning from a 22-week break and could emerge as the biggest danger to the former.

SEBILLA raced just behind the leaders and had to be held up approaching the home turn, but finished strongly to win her maiden race last time out over 1600M, by 0.8L. She does take on stronger here and will have to deal with a wide gate ten, but she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy to get involved in the finish.

Race 7

There are four 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, YABBY PUMP may well prove to be the best. The colt jumped awkwardly and overraced in the early and middle stages, but was only run out of it late when finishing fourth on debut over 1200M, 0.8L back from the winner. He jumps from draw six and would have learnt from that experience. With the natural improvement that can be expected, he could win at the second time of asking.

HELL OF A LAD finished third first time out over 1200M and then tried to go from jump to wire when ending up in second spot next time out over 1300M, one and a half lengths behind the winner. He faces a wide draw twelve, but he is likely to attempt similar frontrunning tactics today.

KOMODO DRAGON had to be held up on the home turn when finishing third on debut over 1300M, just a half-length off the victor and the form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning. The gelding would have come on further with that run under his belt and despite a wide draw eleven, he should be included in all bets.