Australian racing tips – Friday 24 December 2021 – Wagga

Best Bet: LONDON GAL (Race 5)
Value Bet: UNIQUE PRINCE (Race 8)

Jackpot (race 5 – 8)

Cost: R72.00 

Race 5

LONDON GAL is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she goes for her hat-trick after victories over 1100M and the latest, a short-head win over five furlongs. She raced just behind the leaders that day and then struck the front at the 300M mark and then showed plenty of determination to hold off the chasing pack in the dash down to the wire to record her third career win. She has cracked pole position and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.

BIG DAY OUT has consistent formlines to his name and did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight when ending up in second place last time out over five furlongs, just over a half-length back from the winner. He attracted plenty of betting support that day and whilst drawn wideish in gate nine, he will be hoping to make amends here.

QEYAADY made good late progress to finish sixth last time out over five furlongs, just over three and a half lengths behind the winner, but that was at a stronger centre and the gelding should keep the top two picks honest.

Race 6

There are eleven 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. It should also be noted that the form of those runners who have raced is very thin, so some caution is advised. Of these, GEMINIDS may prove to be the best. She is a 3yr old filly taking on males, but she has only had the four runs to date, finishing fifth last time out over 1100M, 3.8L behind the winner, but the form of that race has stood up well with five runners out of that contest subsequently winning. She gets gate six and should be right up there when they hit the line.

PLATARA has only had the three runs and had fair form before being a tad disappointing last time out when finishing eleventh over five furlongs, 16.4L adrift of the victor, this after being slow away. He was returning from a lengthy 33-week absence that day and has won a subsequent barrier trial to improve his chances of success here.

BLUSHING MARY is another 3yr old filly in the race and makes her debut after putting up two encouraging barrier trials, winning the first and finishing second in the latest. She will have to negotiate draw sixteen which won’t make her task easy, but she could well be up to the task at hand.

Race 7

TEJORI is a 6yr old mare taking on males and followed up her penultimate run victory over 1100M with a third-place finish next time out when stepping up to six furlongs, just over one length behind the winner. She raced up with the leaders that day and only saw daylight at the 200M pole, but finished off her race well and the form of that race has been franked. She gets gate seven and should give the boys a good run for their money.

KUROCAINE also won his penultimate start over 1100m and then finished fifth next time out over six furlongs, just under two and a half lengths adrift of the victor, but he had to be steadied off the heels of other runners that day, but nevertheless made good late progress. He will have to overcome a wide gate ten, but he should be doing his best work late.

WESTLINK came four wide into the home stretch when finishing tenth last time out over six furlongs, 5.7L off the winner and was immediately rested for 23 weeks. He returns here after having had two barrier trials, winning the first and finishing third in the latest. From gate eight, he should be included in all bets.

Race 8

With the late scratching of one of his main rivals, the door may have opened for today’s value bet, UNIQUE PRINCE to chalk up his third career victory. He has won two of his last three runs, the latest over six furlongs by one length. He jumps from draw seven and should turn in another honest performance today.

Two 4yr old fillies could chase him home, with the slight preference going to MISS OSTEND who did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight last time out, having been denied a run at the 300M mark and then being caught behind the traffic all the way down to the post, so that effort is best ignored. She is drawn the widest of them all in gate seventeen, but on the plus side, she will get 1.5kgs taken off her back, thanks to her claiming apprentice to aid her cause.

CRYSTAL WATERS on the other hand has a handy draw two. She missed out on her hat-trick when finishing ninth last time out over six furlongs, 6.3L behind the winner, after trying to go from jump to wire. She will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways today and should not be lightly dismissed.