Australian Racing: Tuesday 18 May 2021 – Newcastle

Race 4

Three 3yr old fillies could fight out the finish to this race and complete the trifecta, but GLOBAL QUEEN is taken to lead the pack home. She jumped awkwardly before being taken to the front and was only collared in the shadow of the post to finish just a short-head behind the winner in her last start over six furlongs when returning from a 27-week break. She won over 1300M three runs back, so today’s 1250M trip will be to her liking. She has cracked pole position and will be looking to chalk up her second career win here.

QUEEN BELLISSIMO has only had the two outings to date, winning by 3.3L on debut over 1100M and then finishing third next time out over six furlongs, just under a length and a half back from the winner. She overraced in the early and middle stages that day, so that effort was even more encouraging. She jumps from gate six and should be right up there when they hit the line.

CROSS STEP has also only had the two runs and showed the expected improvement to win by a length over five furlongs at the second time of asking, despite coming four wide into the home straight. She gets a handy draw two and could prove good enough to secure a quick double.

Race 5

Today’s best bet, ASTERO has posted two wins and two second-place finishes in his five runs to date, winning two of his last three outings, the latest a half-length victory over 1300M when returning from a 25-week absence. He jumped awkwardly that day, but then finished strongly to mow down the opposition over the closing stages. From draw three, she could prove difficult to topple today.

RECONDITE goes for his hat-trick after wins over seven furlongs and then the latest a short-head winner over 1500M. He returns from a lengthy 45-week absence, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials, finishing second in the latest and the form of that last race has stood up well with six runners from that contest subsequently winning. He has pulled gate five and will have 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice to aid his cause. He could well emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice.

SAVVY LEGEND is drawn one outside the latter and had finished second in his last two runs prior to having his consistency rewarded with a head victory last time out over 1500M. The form of that race has been franked and whilst he returns here after having been away from the racetrack for 28 weeks, he has had two barrier trials to prove his fitness.

Race 6

CAROLINA FIRE is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she has made steady improvement in her last three outings, getting closer to the winner on each occasion, the latest when second over 1500M, 0.8L adrift of the victor. She overraced in the early and middle stages of that contest, but if she has continued down that same path of improvement, she should give the males a good run for their money. She will have to negotiate a wideish gate eight.

WICKLOW has his first start in Australia, but brings solid UK form to the table and has finished fourth in both of his barrier trials. He has joined the powerful Chris Waller yard and faces a wide draw eleven, but any betting support for him should be respected.

LUCKY TO WIN stayed on well when finishing second in his last outing over six furlongs, two lengths behind the winner. He has a far kinder gate four and should be included in all bets.

Race 7

The day’s value bet, MAGIC ON ICE had won his last two runs over this trip before missing out on his hat-trick last time out over the same distance, ending up nearly three lengths off the victor. He is a speedy sort who tried to go from jump to wire that day and the form of that race has been franked. He faces a wide draw ten, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.

HENSCHEL followed up his penultimate run victory over six furlongs with a third spot finish next time out over the same distance, just over five and a half lengths adrift of the winner. He attracted plenty of betting support that day and will have 3kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice. From is cozy gate two, he will be looking to make amends today.

RESILIENT STAR was hampered at the 200M pole when missing out on his trio of wins last time out over 1100m, finishing 6.4L behind the winner, but that effort is best ignored. He has his peak run here after returning from a 16-week rest and whilst he will have to overcome the widest draw of them all in gate fourteen, he is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and start picking off the frontrunners over the latter stages of the contest.