Winning Form brings you all of their best bets and tips for Sunday’s Australian racing taking place at Grafton.
Best Bet: AUSBRED COOEE (Race 7)
Value Bet: FIELD REGIMENT (Race 5)
Jackpot (race 4 – 7)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
3 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
5 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
2 | 9 | 12 | |
Cost: R54.00
Race 4
AUNTIE MONNIE is a 5yr old mare taking on the boys, but she has put in two solid recent efforts, the latest when second over 1250M, just over one length behind the winner. She came three-wide into the home straight that day and then had to be steadied at the 200M mark, before only seeing daylight at the 100M pole. However, it should be noted that two runners out of that contest have subsequently won. She will have to negotiate draw nine but should give the males a good run for their money.
FRANKLIN CORNERS on the other hand has a handy draw two and followed up his penultimate run victory over six furlongs with a fourth-place finish next time out over 1310M, one and a half lengths back from the winner. The gelding overraced in the early stages, but then stayed on well over the latter stages.
CAMP RIFLE raced up with the pace when ending up in fourth place last time out over seven furlongs, 2.2L adrift of the victor. He is drawn one outside the latter and has his peak run since returning from a 12-week rest.
Race 5
Today’s value bet, FIELD REGIMENT has only had the two runs to date, finishing fourth on both occasions, the latest when stepping up to today’s distance, four lengths behind the winner, but he was bumped at the 300M mark that day and then his jockey dropped his crop at the 200M pole. From gate two and with better luck in running here, he could prove too good for this line-up.
BLADNOCH stayed on well when finishing fifth in his last outing over seven furlongs, 6.2L back from the winner. He has his peak run today after returning from a lengthy 44-week absence. He gets to jump from gate six and should be right up there when they hit the line.
MIKADO is drawn one inside the latter and had finished fourth in his last two runs since returning from a 20-week break, the latest over this c&d, 4.2L behind the winner, but was immediately rested for 19 weeks and moved to a new trainer. He returns here without having had the benefit of a barrier trial, so his fitness will have to be taken on trust, but the form of that last outing has been franked and he is not without a chance in this line-up.
Race 6
HIT THE TARGET won his penultimate start over a mile and then finished sixth next time out when dropping down to 1300M, 3.3L behind the winner. He tried to go from jump to wire that day but lost valuable ground by shifting out in the home straight, but the form of that race has stood up well with two runners from that contest having subsequently won. He has cracked pole position and could be the one that they all have to beat. JAZZLAND finished ninth in his latest start over seven furlongs, nearly seven lengths adrift of the victor, but that was in a stronger centre and the form of that race has been franked. He is drawn wide in gate ten out of thirteen, but has his peak run after returning from a 37-week break and should be doing his best work late.
TEXAS STORM is seldom far off the action and came three-wide into the stretch last time out before ending up sixth, 3.3L off the winner. He has a far kinder draw two and should be included in all bets.
Race 7
AUSBRED COOEE had his consistency rewarded with his maiden win last time out over seven furlongs, putting just over four and a half lengths between himself and the opposition, this despite overracing early and coming four wide into the home straight. He kicked clear at the 175M mark that day and the form of that race has been franked. From draw six, he is taken to be the best bet on the day’s program.
HUBBLE showed marked improvement to finish third last time out over seven furlongs, 1.7L back from the winner. He gets gate two and if he has continued down that same path of improvement, he could be the biggest threat to the top pick. UNLEASH THE RED came four-wide into the home straight before making good late progress to finish fourth last time out, just over half a length behind the winner. He jumps from a wideish draw seven but nevertheless should be involved in the finish.
