Australian racing tips – Friday 31 December 2021 – Gosford

Best Bet: FLYING WITNESS (Race 6)
Value Bet: EVENING BRIDE (Race 8)

Jackpot (race 5 – 8)

Cost: R54.00

Race 5

SANDASTAN has consistent formlines to his credit and had to be held up early in the straight and never really got a clear run all the way down to the wire, so he did well to finish third last time out over 1500M, one and a half lengths behind the winner. He jumps from gate five and with better luck in running today, he should be right up there when they hit the line.

CAMPEAO is drawn one inside the top choice and has not been far off the action in his four runs to date. He overraced in the early stages when ending up in fourth place last time out over 1500M, just under two and a half lengths back from the winner. He was returning from a 51-week absence that day 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.

ABSURD is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she has only had the two runs to date and overraced in the early and middle stages when finishing third in her latest outing over 1500M, 2.8L adrift of the victor. She faces a wideish draw nine, but on the plus side, she will have 1.5kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice.

Race 6

Two 3yr old fillies could fight out the finish to this race and secure the exacta, but the day’s best bet, FLYING WITNESS is taken to lead the field home. She attracted plenty of betting support when finishing second last time out over 1500M, 3.3L behind the winner, but she did come four wide into the home straight and then hung in right the way down the wire. She will have to negotiate draw nine but has her peak run since returning from a 34-week break and could prove difficult to topple.

BA AI GEI NI showed marked improvement when making good late progress to finish second last time out over this mile journey, 0.8L behind the winner. She jumps from one gate inside the top pick and gets the services of Chad Schofield, the son of ex-SA jockey Glyn Schofield and who has recently returned to Australia after riding in Hong Kong for seven years.

GREAVES had solid form before being a tad disappointing last time out, finishing eighth over six furlongs, four and a half lengths behind the winner when returning from a 23-week rest. He gets a handy draw two and will have 1.5kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice. In addition, he gets a set of blinkers fitted for the first time and if these have the desired effect, he should be a big runner here.

Race 7

WALKIN’TALKIN’ has consistent formlines to his name, but overraced and had to be steadied off the heels of other runners at the 800M mark and then became unbalanced at the 200M pole before ending up in fourth spot last time out over six furlongs, 2.2L behind the winner. He gets gate five and has his peak run after returning from a 22-week break and could provide Chad Schofield with a quick double.

MANDALONG ROMAN is drawn one outside the former and has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three runs, the latest when fifth over 1100M, one and a half lengths adrift of the victor, this despite jumping awkwardly and coming four wide into the home stretch. He will have 1.5kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice and should keep the top selection honest.

JOEY’S CHANCE battled all the way down to the wire when finishing third in his latest outing over six furlongs, just under a half-length back from the winner and the form of that race has been franked. He will have to overcome gate nine out of eleven, but he should be doing his best work late.

Race 8

EVENING BRIDE was some way back and forced to come the widest into the home straight before unwinding a powerful finish to win his last start over five furlongs by one and a half lengths. She was returning from a lengthy 47-week absence that day and whilst drawn wideish in gate eight, she is taken to be the value bet on the day’s card.

WRITTEN DOUBT has pulled gate six and also came wide into the home straight last time out, but went on to win by 1.8L on debut over five furlongs. She would have learnt from that experience and with the natural improvement that can be expected, she could emerge as the biggest danger to the top pick.

STARBORETA had her consistency rewarded with her maiden victory by one length last time out over 1100M. She was returning from a 22-week rest that day and overraced in the early stages, causing her to be eased off the heels of other runners. From a cosy draw two, she should be included in all bets.