Australian Racing: 1 January – 3 January 2021

The Winning Form Team preview the New Year’s racing taking place at centres across Australia on Friday 1 January, Saturday 2 January and Sunday 3 January 2021.

Friday 1 January 2021 – Canterbury.

Best Bet: TRIPLE ACE (Race 5)

Value Bet: FOXBOROUGH (Race 8)

Jackpot: Races 5-8

Cost: R54.00.

Race 5

TRIPLE ACE completed his hat-trick when winning a short-head last time out over five furlongs, this despite jumping awkwardly and not getting the clearest of runs in the home straight. He jumps from a handy gate four and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card. FRONT MONEY is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys. She is a speedy sort who followed up her penultimate run victory over six furlongs with a fourth place finish next time out over 1100M, just under two lengths behind the winner. She has an even better draw two and could be the biggest danger to the top choice. UNSTOPPABELLE is a 3yr old filly who returns from a 15 week rest, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials. Although finishing tenth in her last outing over 1100M, 4.3L back from the winner, that was in a Group race. She should be involved in the finish here. 

Race 6

With the late scratchings of two of his main rivals, the way may have been cleared for ELEVEN ELEVEN to chalk up his sixth career victory. He finished well to win a feature race last time out over six furlongs by just under a length. He has his peak run here and although drawn the widest of them all, he retains the services of ex-SA jockey Keagan Latham, so he will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle. CHAT is drawn one inside the top pick and has consistent formlines to his name. He was hampered just after the start before ending up in third place last time out over 1300M and seems likely to turn in another honest performance today. DISCHARGED returns from a 12 week absence, but has had the two barrier trials, winning the latest. He missed out on his hat-trick when finishing third in his last outing over a mile, just under a length off the winner. He is drawn one inside the latter and should be included in all bets.  

Race 7

SUPER CONTENDER made good late progress when finishing third last time out over 1100M, just over three lengths behind the winner. He gets gate six and should be right up there in the dash down to the wire. ALL FROM SCRAP is seldom far off the action and although recorded as finishing sixth in his last outing over six furlongs, he was only two and a half lengths back from the victor. The form of that race has been franked and he jumps from one gate outside the top selection. CATAPULT’S last three runs have all been over six furlongs, finishing fourth last time out, 3.3L behind the winner. He battled all the way down to the wire that day and from draw four and having 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice, he should not be lightly overlooked in this line-up. 

Race 8

A 4yr old filly and a 5yr old mare could fight out the finish to this race and complete the exacta, but today’s value bet, FOXBOROUGH gets the nod for top spot. She went from jump to wire to win her last start over a mile by a head. She faces a wide draw fifteen, but given her style of running this may not be as big an issue. MAUI GIRL stayed on well when ending up third in her last outing over seven furlongs, just over a length behind the winner. She has her peak run after returning from a 19 week break and should be right up there in the mix. INVASION DAY missed out on his hat-trick when overracing last time out before finishing fourth over a mile, 1.2L back from the winner. He will have to negotiate a wide draw eleven, but he should keep the top two selections honest.  

Saturday 2 January 2021 – Kensington.

Best Bet: SALINA DREAMING (Race 9)

Value Bet: DE GRAWIN (Race 7)

Jackpot (race 6 – 9).

Cost: R54.00

Race 6

SMART IMAGE has won three of his first four starts to date. He was disappointing when attempting his hat-trick in his penultimate outing over 1300M and was immediately rested for 16 weeks. He bounced back to winning ways on his return, winning by almost a half length over 1250M. He will have to negotiate draw seven, but he looks to be the one to side with here. TERRACE HOUSE overraced in the early stages before ending up in fourth place last time out over seven furlongs, 3.2L behind the winner. He jumps from gate five and could emerge as the biggest threat to the top choice. AIM returns from a 16 week rest, but did win both of his barrier trials to showcase his well-being. He was hampered at the 250M mark when finishing seventh last time out over 1500M, just over four lengths back from the victor. He has a wideish draw nine, but nevertheless he should be included in all bets. 

Race 7

Two 4yr old fillies could fight out the finish to this race, but the day’s value bet, DE GRAWIN is taken to end up in the winner’s box. She has her first run since a 22 week break, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials, winning the latest. Her record of three wins, one second place and one third place finish speaks for itself, completing her trio of wins last time out over five furlongs by a short-head. From gate two, she will be looking to add to that win total. OUR BELLAGIO MISS has cracked pole position and also won her last start over five furlongs by a short-head. She hit the front at the 300M mark that day and then just managed to hold off the opposition in the dash down to the finishing post. MOSSMAN GORGE won his last start over this c&d by a length and a half, despite hang in over the closing stages. He faces draw seven, but could pick up the pieces should the fillies fluff their lines.

Race 8

SNOWFIRE completed his hat-trick before finishing fourth in his last start over seven furlongs, just over a length adrift of the winner. He jumped awkwardly and then came three wide into the straight that day and that effort is probably best ignored. He faces draw eight, but he should be right up there in the firing line. BETCHA FLYING is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she has consistent formlines to her credit. She tried to go from jump to wire last time out over a mile before ending up in second place, one and a half lengths back from the winner. She jumps from gate ten, but she is sure to appreciate the drop in trip. CISCO BAY followed up his penultimate run victory over a mile with a third place finish in his latest start over the same distance, three lengths behind the winner. The gelding was making good late progress in that contest and should not be lightly dismissed in this field. 

Race 9

SALINA DREAMING can boast a record of seven runs yielding four victories, one second and two third place finishes to date. She will be hoping to complete her hat-trick here after winning her last outing over 1100M by a head when returning from a 24 week break. She has a handy draw three and is made the best bet on the day’s program. TINY is lightly raced having only had the three outings so far, but she did finish fourth on debut before winning two on the trot, the latest over this c&d by a head. She has gate six and did finish second in a subsequent barrier trial. LILLEMOR is a speedy sort who managed to keep all the challengers at bay to post a head win last time out over this c&d when returning from a 17 week break. She is drawn one inside the latter and should be involved in the finish.

Sunday 3 January 2021 – Ballina.

Best Bet: : IVY’S DREAM (Race 5)

Value Bet: TIKKITALA (Race 7)

Jackpot (race 4 – 7).

Cost: R72.00

Race 4

We have a number of unraced runners in this race and as is always the case in such events, a close eye must be kept on the betting markets to get some indication as to how the connections feel about their chances of winning first time out. Of the raced runners, EATEN A WIRE may prove to be the pick. He finished second last time out over this c&d, just under a length behind the winner, this despite being bumped at the start. He has had seven runs to date and faces a wide draw ten, so some caution is advised. SHANJOMI is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys and has her first outing. She has however had two encouraging barrier trials and although drawn just one inside the top choice, she may prove good enough to win on debut. SUNNY EKCELS returns from a lengthy 32 week break, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials, finishing third in the latest to prove his fitness. He has a far kinder draw four. 

Race 5

The fillies and mares could dominate the finish to this race and complete the trifecta. IVY’S DREAM has her hat-trick run after winning her last two starts at this venue, the latest over 1410M by just over a length. She will have to negotiate gate seven out of nine, but is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card. RED IMPULSE was denied a clear passage in the home straight when ending up in second place last time out over a mile, just a shorth head back from the winner. She is drawn one outside the top choice and could be her biggest danger. ANTILIA stayed on well in the latter stages to finish third last time out over 1410M, just under two lengths adrift of the victor. She is drawn one outside the latter and should be involved in the finish.

Race 6

STELLA REALE is a 3yr old filly taking on males. She tried to go from jump to wire last time out before being run out of it very late to fail by just a head. The form of that race has been franked and although facing gate nine, she might be difficult to peg back over the closing stages of the race. VOLFONI on the other hand finished strongly to just fail by a neck when ending up in second place in his latest run over 1410M. He has a wide draw eleven, but will probably be dropped out of the race early and start picking off the frontrunners over the closing stages. ANACREON is a 6yr old mare who is drawn one inside the latter. She finished third over 1410M at this track last time out, two lengths behind the winner. She should not be easily overlooked in this line-up. 

Race 7

Although TIKKITALA is recorded as finishing eleventh last time out over five furlongs, just over six lengths adrift of the victor, that was in a Class 3 race at a stronger center. The gelding is drawn gate six and looks to be the value bet on the day. LUCAP has finished second in his last two runs and was hampered at the top of the straight before finishing just over a length behind the winner in his latest outing over 1410M. He is drawn one inside the former and needs to be taken seriously. JET A ONE has cracked pole position and showed plenty of speed before finishing fourth in his last start over 860M. He has his first run for his new trainer and if fully settled into his new surroundings, he should be right up there when they hit the line.