Australian racing tips – Thursday 23 December 2021 – Gosford

Best Bet: SECRETIVELY (Race 6)
Value Bet: SCHOONA THE BETTER (Race 7)

Jackpot (race 4 – 7)

Cost: R96.00 

Race 4

There are three 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 WOLF QUEEN may prove to be the best. She is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she attracted plenty of betting support when finished second on debut over 1100M, just a half-length behind the winner. She hit the front at the top of the home straight that day and was only run out of it very late. 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, despite having to contend with a wide draw twelve.

KINGSLEY made the expected improvement when finishing seventh in his second outing over 1100M, just under three lengths back from the winner. He jumped awkwardly that day, by recovered quickly to take up the running and then stayed on well over the latter stages. He gets a kinder gate seven and should be right up there when they hit the line.

MR BINGO raced up with the pace before ending up in third place last time out over five furlongs, just under two lengths off the victor. He would have come on with that run under his belt and although drawn wide in gate eleven, on the plus side, he will get 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice to aid his cause. 

Race 5

As with the previous race, there are three unraced runners in the field, so the same comment with respect to any of them attracting betting support applies. Two runners from the powerful Chris Waller’s stable could fight out the finish to this race and complete the exacta, but the slight preference goes to OVERLORD, who despite overracing in the early stages and being cramped in the middle stages, he stayed on well to finish sixth last time out over 1300M, 2.7L adrift of the winner. He was reported to be lame after that race and was immediately rested for 52 weeks. The gelding returns here after having had three barrier trials, winning the penultimate 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. He faces a wide draw twelve, but he could prove to be up to the task at hand.

BARRICHELLO is drawn one inside his stable companion and has consistent formlines to his name, having finished second in three of his last four runs, the latest when a head back over six furlongs. He was returning from a 17-week rest that day and jumped awkwardly before finishing off his race strongly. On that effort, he should be doing his best work late.

FALSETTO put his disappointing penultimate run firmly behind him when finishing third last time out over 1100M, just over three lengths off the winner when returning from a 23-week break. He tried to go from jump to wire in that contest and did drift outwards over the closing stages, but from gate six, he is likely to employ the same tactics here and should be included in all bets.

Race 6

With the late scratching of one of his main rivals, the door may have opened for today’s best bet, SECRETIVELY to chalk up his third career victory. He is a speedy sort who put four and a half lengths between himself and the opposition when winning his last start over five furlongs, notwithstanding hanging in on the home turn and early in the home straight. He gets a handy draw five and could prove hard to topple today.

DA NANG STAR had his consistency rewarded with a 0.8L victory last time out over 1300M and the form of that race has stood up well with four runners out of that race subsequently winning. He jumped awkwardly that day, but then recovered well to show plenty of toe, which makes the win that much more encouraging. The 4yr old gelding returns from a 19-week break, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials, finishing third in both. He has pulled gate three and will have 2kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice.

MORALIST did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight when ending up in fourth spot last time out over 1100M, three and a half lengths behind the winner. He has cracked pole position and has the services of ex-SA jockey Keagan Latham, so will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle.

Race 7

SCHOONA THE BETTER has cracked pole position and goes for his hat-trick after victories over seven furlongs and the latest over today’s journey by 0.8L. He jumped awkwardly but recovered quickly to take the lead and then battled all the way down to the wire to secure his fifth career win. He is sure to put his pole position to good use and is taken to be the value bet on the day’s card.

CROSSCUBE has posted two solid last outings, the latest when third over 1300M, 0.8L back from the winner. He is a known front runner and from a wideish gate nine, he is likely to use that early gate speed to shoot across without consuming too much energy.

FIORDLAND was bumped at the start and never really got into the race when ending up in tenth place last time out over 1300M, 4.3L adrift of the winner, but the form of that race seems strong as three runners out of that contest have subsequently come out and won. From his cosy draw two, he should not be lightly overlooked here.