Australian racing tips – Wednesday 12 October 2022 – Warwick Farm

Best Bet: CAMINO REAL (Race 7)

Value Bet: FEEL THE KNIGHT (Race 9)

Jackpot (race 6 – 9).

Cost: R54.00  

Race 6.

COCO ROX is seldom far off the action and was slow away, finding herself at the back of the field last time out and was then held up on the home turn, before unleashing a powerful finish to end up in fourth place over today’s sprint trip, just 0.8L behind the winner and the form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning. She returns from a 16 rest, but has had the two barrier trials, finishing second in the latest to showcase her well-being. She has a handy draw three and will get 3kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd.

SHOHEI put her disappointing penultimate run over six furlongs firmly behind her when winning her maiden race by one length last time out over the same distance. That was only her third run to date and she was returning from a 22 week break. The victory was made that much more encouraging by the fact that she jumped awkwardly and overraced in the middle stages. She gets a wideish gate eight, but she should be right up there when they hit the line.

ACAPPELLA SUN has finished closer to the winner in each of her last three runs, the latest when second over five furlongs, just a short-head behind the victor, but she was slow away in that contest and had to be held up straightening, so she could be considered an unlucky loser. From draw five, she should be included in all bets.

Race 7.

CAMINO REAL was returning from a 17 week rest when winning her last start over 1300M by just over two lengths, this despite jumping awkwardly and being held up on the home turn and then not getting the clearest of passages in the home straight, only seeing daylight at the 350M mark, but once clear, she won going away. She gets a useful gate five and is made the best bet on the day’s card.

DON’TFORGETMONICA has posted two solid last runs, the latest when making good late progress to end up in third place over 1300M, just one length back from the winner. She faces a wide draw ten, but on the plus side, she will get 1.5kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice.

Although HOOVER LUCY is recorded as finishing seventh in her latest outing over 1100M, she was just four lengths adrift of the victor, when returning from a lengthy 43 week absence. She is another who finished well after having to be switched at the 250M mark to obtain a clear run down to the wire. She is drawn one inside the latter and with better luck in the running today, she should be involved in the finish.

Race 8.

SHARP ‘N’ SMART had his consistency rewarded with a short-head victory last time out over seven furlongs. He was returning from a 13 week rest that day and the form of that race has been franked. The gelding raced just behind the leader and then once he hit the front shortly after heads turned for home, he held off the chasing pack in the dash down to the line. He has his first run for his new trainer and if fully settled into his new surroundings, he should give a good account of himself here, jumping from his cozy draw two.

WILLIAMSBURG is a four time winner from just the nine starts, the latest over a mile by 0.8L. He delivered a strong finish from the back of the field that day and whilst draw wide in gate eighteen, given his style of racing, he is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and then start to pick off the front runners over the latter part of the race.

PROMITTO only found a gap at the 350M pole, but then stayed on well to finish tenth last time out over seven furlongs, five lengths behind the winner. He has cracked pole position and should not be lightly dismissed in this line-up.

Race 9.

The day’s value bet, FEEL THE KNIGHT has consistent formlines to his name, finishing second in his latest start over five furlongs, just a neck back from the winner. He raced three wide that day, but battled all the way down to the finishing post. The gelding has a useful gate two and will have his peak run after returning from a 93 week absence. 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 and their faith could be rewarding today.

MARS MISSION has his first run since a 27 week break, during which time he was gelded, but he has won both of his barrier trials. He raced three wide without cover but still stayed on well when finishing sixth last time out over seven furlongs, just over two and a half lengths off the winner. He will have to negotiate a wide draw sixteen, but does get the services of 3kg claiming apprentice Zac Lloyd to aid his cause.

SHADOW DEVIL has finished second in his last two outings over six furlongs at this track, the latest when just under a half length behind the winner, but he was bumped shortly after the start in that contest and then came five wide into the home stretch. He attracted plenty of betting support that day and whilst he too is drawn wide, one outside the latter, he will be hoping to make amends today.