Australian racing tips – Thursday 17 March 2022 – Newcastle

Best Bet: COMRADE ROSA (Race 6)

Value Bet: MAIN STAGE (Race 9)

Jackpot (race 6 – 9).

Cost: R54.00  

Race 6

Two 3yr old fillies could fight out the finish to this race and secure the exacta, but the day’s best bet, COMRADE ROSA is taken to lead the field home. She has consistent formlines to her name, winning over this sprint distance when making her debut three runs back and then finishing fourth last time out over 1300M, 1.3L behind the winner and the form of that race has stood up well with six runners out of that contest subsequently winning. She returns from a 15 week rest, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials, winning the latest. She will have to negotiate gate eleven, but she could nevertheless prove hard to topple.

DIVINA has only had the two runs to date, finishing third on debut over 1100M, but then showed the expected improvement to win over six furlongs at the second time of asking, albeit by just a short-head. She returns from a 42 week absence, but has had turned in three encouraging barrier trial to showcase her well-being. From her kinder draw two, she could emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice.

KIPSBAY is the stable companion of the latter and had his consistency rewarded with his maiden victory last time out over six furlongs by 2.3L, despite overracing in the middle stages and the form of that race has been franked. He gets a wideish gate eight, but looks to be a solid back up for the powerful Chris Waller yard.

Race 7

As with the previous race, female runners in the form of a 4yr and a 3yr old filly, plus a 5yr old mare could dominate the finish to this contest and complete the trifecta.

NEVER TALK has cracked pole position and has finished third in her last two starts, the latest over six furlongs, 2.7L behind the winner. She came four wide into the home straight that day, but then stayed on well over the closing stages and on that effort, she should appreciate the extra ground on offer today, having her peak run after returning from a 14 week break.

MAYROSE has her peak run after returning from a longer 16 week absence, but goes for her hat-trick after wins over six furlongs and the latest when finishing powerfully over 1100M to claim victory by 0.8L. She on the other hand is drawn wide in gate twelve, but is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and then start to pick off the front runners in the dash down to the line. DAPHNE JEAN has finished fourth in her last two outings, the latest when coming the widest of them all into the home straight, before ending up three and a half lengths back from the winner over seven furlongs. She faces a wide draw ten, but should still be included in all bets.

Race 8

ENDORSEMENT won his first start over six furlongs by 0.8L and could be just about anything. He needed to be shifted out wide to obtain a clear run that day, but finished off his race strongly and three runners out of that contest have subsequently won to boost his chances of success in this line-up. From gate six, he could be the one that they all have to beat.

CROSS THE RUBICON is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she has her hat-trick run after posting wins over six furlongs and the latest when stepping up to today’s trip by 2.3L. She was slow away that day and found herself towards the back of the field before kicking clear of the field at the 175M mark and was geared down in the run through to the winning post. She faces a wide draw ten, but she should give the males a good run for their money.

ZARU is seldom far off the action and turned last into the home stretch before finishing strongly to end up in third spot is his latest outing over seven furlongs, 0.7L adrift of the victor. From his hand draw three, he should not be lightly dismissed here.

Race 9

The day’s value bet, MAIN STAGE has consistent formlines to his credit and went from jump to wire to win his last start over nine furlongs by nearly three lengths. The gelding jumps from a wideish draw eight, but is likely to adopt similar tactics today and could prove difficult to reel in over the latter stages.

OCEAN SHORES won his penultimate outing over 1550m and then finished third next time out when stepping up to 1900M, 0.7L back from the winner, but he jumped awkwardly and was crowded shortly after the start in that race, so should have finished closer to the winner as a result.

BETHENCOURT raced up with the pace when winning his last start over 1550M by 1.3L. He will have to overcome a wide gate thirteen out of fourteen, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy. He will also be having his peak run after returning from a 25 week break.