Australian racing tips – Thursday 29 December 2022 – Coffs Harbour

Best Bet: MR TABASCO (Race 5)
Value Bet: KENNYSING (Race 8)

Jackpot (race 5 – 8)

Cost: R150.00

Race 5

MR TABASCO has consistent formlines to his name and finished a half-length fourth over this c&d last time out, despite being slow away and the form of that race has been franked. He was returning from a 20-week break that day and from his handy draw three, he is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.

HAURAKI GULF put his disappointing penultimate run behind him when finishing third last time out over five furlongs, just over a half-length behind the winner, when returning from a slightly shorter 19-week rest. He has pulled gate six and will have 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice to aid his cause.

TIMELY BEL is a 6yr old mare taking on the boys, but she showed plenty of toe when ending up in fourth place in her latest outing over 1100M, 2.2L off the winner. She has cracked pole position and has her first run for her new trainer. If fully settled into her new surroundings and with having 1.5kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice, she should give a good account of herself here.

Race 6

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. The tentative first pick goes to SWIFT CHARM who battled all the way down to the wire when winning by a half-length on debut over five furlongs. He would have learnt from that experience and with the natural improvement that can be expected, he could be the one that they all have to beat. His useful draw four will do him no harm.

IOBJECT also won first time out over the same sprint trip and the same half-length margin. The gelding was bumped at the start and had to be held up at the top of the home straight, so that effort was commendable. He will have to negotiate a wide draw nine, but he would have benefited with the run under his belt and should be right up there when they hit the line.

MOTHER JOY is a 3yr old filly taking on males, but she has finished closer to the winner in each of her last three runs, the latest when second over six furlongs, 1.3L adrift of the victor. She tried to go from jump to wire that day, but hung out down the home straight. From her wide draw twelve and with her having her peak run after returning from a 25-week absence, she is likely to attempt similar tactics today.

Race 7

This is another open affair. AGIRLSBESTFRIEND is a 3yr old filly taking on boys, but she has had two solid last runs, the latest when staying on well to end up second over six furlongs, just a length back from the victor. She returns from a 21-week spell but has had the benefit of three barrier trials, finishing third in the latest. She jumps from a wide draw twelve, but she should be doing her best work late.

MAXWELL TERRACE has finished second in his last two outings, the latest over seven furlongs, beaten just a head, notwithstanding being bumped at the start and being hampered over the last 50M. The resultant objection lodged by his connections against the winner was however overruled and the original result stood. The gelding has not fared too much better with his wider gate fourteen, but with better luck in running, he will be hoping to go one better today.

LAKE MAC LILY is a 4yr old filly who was slow away when ending up in fifth place last time out over 1300M, three and a half lengths behind the winner. He on the other hand has a cosy gate two and should be involved in the finish.

Race 8

With the late scratching of two of his main rivals, the door may have opened for today’s value bet, KENNYSING to chalk up his second career victory. He is seldom far off the action, finishing second last time out over 1300M, one length back from the winner when returning from a 19-week break. He came four wide approaching the home turn on that occasion, but delivered a powerful finish from some way back and is sure to put his pole position to good use.

UGLY NICOS came three wide into the home stretch when finishing seventh last time out over six furlongs. He was returning from a 76-week spell that day and faced a wideish draw eight, but 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.

KOONDEEMAN sat just behind the leaders and then stayed on well when finishing second in his latest start over 1100M, 0.8L behind the winner and the form of that race has been franked. He will have to overcome a wide gate fifteen, but he is a speedy sort who should be able to work his way across without using up too much gas.