Winning Form share all of their tips and picks for Thursday's racing coming your way from Wyong on 14 April 2022.
Best Bet: NEVER CRY (Race 6)
Value Bet: HIGHBALLER (Race 8)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
5 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
4 | 5 | 5 | 8 |
2 | 6 | 1 | |
1 | |||
8 |
Cost: R90.00
Race 5
OXFORD VISION has had just the three runs to date, finishing second in two of them and third in the other, with the latest being one of those seconds over 1300M, just a short-head behind the winner. He hit the front at the 200M mark that day and was only nabbed in the shadow of the post. He has a wideish draw eight, but he will be hoping to go one better today.
HOLLYWOOD NORTH had to be held up on the home turn before making good late progress to end up in third place last time out over six furlongs, just over three and a half lengths back from the winner. He is drawn the widest of them all in gate eleven, but he is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and then start to pick off the frontrunners over the closing stages.
ANTONIO GIOVANNI is the stable companion to the latter and has on the other hand, cracked pole position. He takes a big drop in distance after finishing thirteenth last time out over ten furlongs, 18.8L adrift of the victor, but that was in a Group 2 event and the form of that race has stood up well with four runners out of that contest subsequently winning. He tried to go from jump to wire that day and should enjoy the drop in journey here. The colt returns from a 24-week break, but has put in two encouraging barrier trials and makes a solid back-up for the powerful Chris Waller yard.
Race 6
The day’s best bet, NEVER CRY had his consistency rewarded with a one-length victory last time out over 1300M, despite being bumped and crowded at the start. He recovered well to strike the front at the 220M mark and then held off the chasing pack in the dash down to the wire. He has pulled gate five and will have 1.5kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice and could prove difficult to topple.
BRILLAR had finished third on the two occasions prior to winning his maiden race last time out over 1100M by a head when returning from a 15-week rest. He did shift out at the 100M pole that day and had to survive an objection lodged by the second-placed horse before being declared the winner. He takes on stronger here, but he has drawn pole position and may well emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice.
NORMAN jumped awkwardly and overraced in the early and middle stages, before turning three-wide into the home stretch, but still went on to win by a neck on debut over 1300M. In addition, he was also reported to be lame in his near-fore. He would have learnt from that experience and with the natural improvement that can be expected, he should be involved in the finish, notwithstanding being drawn the widest out in gate thirteen.
Race 7
This looks to be a tricky race with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is suggested. COAL CRUSHER did however put 4.3L between himself and the opposition when winning his last outing over 1300M. He went from gun to tape that day and the form of that race looks strong with four runners out of that contest subsequently winning. He has his first run since an 18-week rest but has had two barrier trials, finishing third in the latest. The gelding gets a handy draw three and retains the services of ex-SA jockey Glyn Schofield, so will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle.
SUPRINA is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she completed her hat-trick with three victories over today’s sprint trip of five furlongs, the latest by two lengths. She showed plenty of toe in that race and from gate six, the quartet is certainly on the cards.
AKASAKI has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three runs, the latest when third over five furlongs, just under a length adrift of the victor. He came four-wide into the home straight that day, but stayed on well over the latter stages. He will have to negotiate gate eleven, but on the plus side, he will have 1.5kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice to aid his cause.
Race 8
HIGHBALLER was taken to the front and was only collared late when ending up in second spot last time out over a mile, 0.8L off the winner. From his cozy gate four, he is likely to adopt similar tactics here and is taken to be the value bet on the day’s card.
SALSA MAN sat just off the pace and came four-wide into the home straight before kicking clear at the 150M peg to win his latest outing over a mile by half a length. The form of that race has been franked to boost his claim for top spot and from one gate outside the top pick, he should keep the former honest.
MADE BY KHAN has won two of his last three runs, the latest over eleven furlongs by a head when using frontrunning tactics. He did shift out slightly from the 50M mark and had to survive the resultant objection lodged by the second-placed finisher before being declared the victor. He returns from a 14-week absence but has finished fourth in his only barrier trial to prove his fitness. The gelding faces a wide draw ten, but will have 1.5kgs taken off his back for the services of his claiming apprentice.
