Best Bet: HONOUR ME (Race 6)
Value Bet: COUNT OF CARFORD (Race 8)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8)
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1st
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2nd
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3rd
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4th
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3
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3
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9
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4
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5
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5
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5
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9
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7
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1
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7
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2
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10
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Cost: R90.00
Race 5
PHARRELL showed good improvement when finishing second last time out over this c&d. He hit the front and looked the likely winner before being run out of it very late. He has a handy four draw and looks to be the one to side with here. MAGAZINE is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she has cracked pole position. She stayed on well when third in her last outing over ten furlongs, that after winning her penultimate start over the same trip. She could represent the biggest danger to the top choice. STAR OF THE TURF made good late progress when ending up in fourth place over the eleven furlongs last time out and should be right up there when they hit the line.
Race 6
HONOUR ME missed out on his hat-trick last time out when unplaced over this distance, but that was on the grass and in soft going. He returns to the synthetic surface today where he had won his two prior outings over the mile. He has a wideish draw of gate eight, but is taken to be the best bet on today’s card. BONAPARTE showed marked improvement when finishing third in his latest run over seven furlongs, despite hanging in the closing stages. He is drawn one outside the top pick and should be involved in the finish here. CRAFTY EFFORT was a bit disappointing last time out over a mile, but that was on the grass and did win his penultimate outing over seven furlongs on this surface. He has his peak run today and jumps from gate two.
Race 7
This looks to be a tricky contest with plenty of runners in with a good chance of picking up top honors. TEDDY MERCURY has finished second in his last three runs, the latest when 0.4L behind the victor over the c&d. He starts from gate six and is the marginal top selection to go one better today. Although ALGAFFAAL is recorded as having finished seventh in his last outing over six furlongs, he was just 3.3l behind the winner. He is drawn one outside the latter and is likely to be doing his best work late. EN AVAL is a 5yr old mare taking on males, but she finished strongly to win her last start over seven furlongs and on that effort, she should relish the extra ground on offer here. She faces a wide draw of fourteen, but given her style of running, she should be picking off the leaders in the latter stages of the race. ENCANTO was perhaps a tad disappointing in his last start over this distance and is drawn at gate twelve, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy. On his previous form, he should be included in all bets.
Race 8
With the late scratching of one of his main rivals, the way may have been cleared for COUNT OF CARFORD to pick up his third career victory. He has his second run after a 35 week break, but he was making good late progress when finishing third last time out over five furlongs at this venue. He has a handy three draw and looks to be the value bet in the race. FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH is a 4yr old filly taking on boys, but she is lightly raced, having only had the three runs to date. She has her second run after a 20 week rest, but followed up her penultimate win over five furlongs with an eighth-place finish over five furlongs on her return to racing. She jumps from gate seven and should be right up there in the mix. RUTH’S BOY finished well when second last time out over five furlongs, only a half length back. He has gate four and should give another honest performance here.
Scone
Best Bet: (Race 7)
Value Bet: (Race 5)
Jackpot (race 4 – 7)
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1st
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2nd
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3rd
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4th
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5
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6
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9
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12
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8
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1
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10
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1
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3
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2
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2
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1
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6
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Cost: R90.00
Race 4
The first leg of the Jackpot looks to be a tricky affair and some caution is suggested. BLACK RUN is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys and returns from a 14 week rest. She has not had the benefit of a barrier trial, so her fitness will have to be taken on trust. She did however finish third on debut over this five furlong trip, 1.1L behind the winner, despite overracing and hanging in the closing stages. Unfortunately, she is drawn the widest of them all, but she should use her early gate speed to move across without using up too much energy. OKUDAH makes his debut after three barrier trials, the latest two being encouraging. He is drawn in gate seven and any betting support for him should be respected. RUBIC HONOUR has his first run since a 33 week break during which time he was gelded. He has not had a barrier trial and has his first run for his new trainer. If fully settled into his new surroundings, he should be considered in this line-up, jumping from gate four. CRYSTAL FALLS is another 4yr old filly who also has her first run for her new trainer. She returns from a 49 weeks rest, but she has had two barrier trials to prove her well-being. From a draw one inside the latter, she could be a factor here.
Race 5
CHEVRON PRINCE is seldom far off the action and was only run out of it very late when finishing second over five furlongs last time out, 1.5L behind the victor. The form of that race has been franked and from a handy gate four, he looks to be the value bet on today’s program. GOLD CODES has shown good improvement in his last two outings, finishing second last time out over five furlongs, just a half length behind the winner. His rider put up 1kg overweight that day, so he should have finished closer as a result. He has a wide draw of ten to negotiate, but should still be involved in the finish here. REMLAPS GEM followed up his penultimate run win with a fourth place finish over 1100M next time out. He was reported to have been coughing that day and the effort should probably be overlooked. Despite being drawn the widest, he should be included in all bets.
Race 6
SCORCHED LAND has consistent formlines to his name and has cracked pole position. He was hampered at the start before finishing strongly to win his last outing over 1300M by just under a length. He should be right up there in the dash down to the line. DREAM SONG is a 4yr old filly taking on males. She stayed on well despite taking a bump as they entered the straight to be 1.6L back from the winner. She has gate five and with better luck in the running today, she could threaten the top choice. LIGHT OF ULURU is another 4yr old filly who although finishing seventh last time out over seven furlongs, was just 1.6L behind the winner. She looked dangerous that day before being passed very late. From her handy draw four, she should be included in all bets.
Race 7
Two mares could fight out the finish to this race and complete the exacta, but ROSE OF SAVANNAH is taken to be the clear top pick. She had her consistency rewarded with a head win last time out over six furlongs in soft going, despite having to be switched at the 150M mark. She recovered well to win going away from the opposition and could prove hard to topple today. MARTINIQUE is seldom far off the winner and stayed on well when fourth in her latest outing over 1100M. She is drawn one inside the former and will have 4kgs removed from her back thanks to her claiming apprentice. HEREDERO has his second run after a 19 week rest and may just have needed his comeback outing when second over 1100M, 2.2L behind the winner. He is drawn wide in gate eleven, but nevertheless should still be respected.
Moruya
Best Bet: TERRA REIGN (Race 6)
Value Bet: VALLAURIS (Race 5)
Jackpot (race 4 – 7)
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1st
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2nd
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3rd
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4th
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7
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1
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4
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8
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9
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3
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1
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4
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2
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6
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2
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Cost: R54.00
Race 4
CHOCCY GAF stayed on gamely when finishing fourth last time out over seven furlongs, 1.2L behind the winner. He jumps from gate six here and should be right up there when they hit the line. MAGICO HOMBRE won his maiden race by a head in his penultimate outing over six furlongs and then went on to finish fifth in his next start over seven furlongs in heavy going, three lengths back. He has a handy draw of two and could be the biggest danger to the top choice. SIR EAGLE won his maiden race in his penultimate outing over this c&d when returning from a 19 week absence and then finished seventh next time out over the same trip. He has his peak run here and should be involved in the finish.
Race 5
VALLAURIS finished third in his penultimate outing over ten furlongs and then took a big drop in distance when ending up eighth last time out over seven furlongs when returning from a 17 week rest. He was just 2.2L behind the winner that day and should appreciate the extra ground on offer here. His cause will be aided by having 2kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice and despite his wide draw of ten, he is made the value bet on today’s card. DORTMUND has shown gradual improvement in his last two outings, the latest when fifth over seven furlongs, 1.4L behind the victor. He stayed on that day and if he has continued down that same path, he could threaten the top pick. DELUDE finished fourth over a mile in his last outing and is another who will have 2kgs taken off his back for the services of his claiming apprentice. He has to overcome the nine draw, but should be included in all bets.
Race 6
TERRA REIGN is a 4yr old mare taking on the boys, but she has consistent formlines to her credit. She had to be held up for a run before finishing third in her last start over 1300M, 1.3L behind the winner. She did win over six furlongs three runs back, so the drop in trip should not be an issue. From her draw five, she is made the best bet on the day. VIRGILIO has his peak run today after finishing seventh last time out over six furlongs. He has a 3kg claiming apprentice in the irons and should be respected in this line-up, jumping from gate three. PEYTON PLACE is drawn one inside the latter. He disappointed last time out over six furlongs, but he overraced that day and the effort is best ignored. On his penultimate run when second over 1300M, a head back from the winner, he should be considered here.
Race 7
A 6yr old mare and a 4yr old filly could fight out the finish of this race and complete the exacta. RAVEN’S RABBIT followed up her penultimate run victory over five furlongs with a second place finish over the same distance, only a length behind the winner. She attracted plenty of betting support that day and will be looking to make amends here. She has a wide draw of thirteen to beat, but nevertheless could be the one to side with today. BOOM AND ZOOM returns from a 16 week rest and has not had the benefit of a barrier trial, so her fitness will have to be taken on trust. She won her penultimate outing over six furlongs and was second in her last starts over seven furlongs before taking her break. If not too much in need of the run, she should threaten the top selection. AMERICAN GENIUS finished unplaced in his last outing over 1300M, 4.1L back, but the form of that raced has been franked and he should not be lightly dismissed in this line-up.
