Winning Form brings us their best bets and tips from Monday’s Australian Racing from Muswellbrook.
Best Bet: OAKFIELD NAVAJO (Race 5)
Value Bet: SHE’S SPICY (Race 6)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8).
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
2 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| 2 | 4 | 7 |
|
|
| 2 |
|
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| 9 |
Cost: R90.00
Race 5.
OAKFIELD NAVAJO followed up his penultimate run victory over six furlongs with a second place finish next time out over this c&d, just over a half length behind the winner. The gelding attracted plenty of betting support that day and kicked clear of the field at the 200M mark, only to be run out of it very late. He jumps from a handy draw two and will be hoping to make amends today and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
TWO DUCKS ARTIE finished sixth in his latest outing over six furlongs, 4.3L back from the winner, but the form of that race has stood up well with four runners out of that contest subsequently winning. He returns from a 19 week break and has not had the benefit of a barrier trial, so his fitness will have to be taken on trust, but he has cracked pole position and could be the biggest threat to the top choice.
CLOGS went from jump to wire to win his maiden race over seven furlongs in his penultimate start and then tried the same tactics before ending up in fifth place next time out over the same trip, just over four lengths adrift of the winner. He gets gate six and should be involved in the finish.
Race 6.
SHE’S SPICY is seldom far off the action and although recorded as finishing fifth in her last start over six furlongs, she was just 1.3L behind the winner, this despite coming four wide into the home straight. She stayed on well that day and notwithstanding a wideish draw seven, she is made the value bet on the day’s program.
CIAO UNO finished her race off strongly when fourth in her latest outing over 1100M, three lengths adrift of the victor, but the form of that race has been franked and, on that effort, she should enjoy the extra ground on offer today. From a kinder gate three, she should not be lightly overlooked in this lineup.
ISLAND GRANGE is another who made good late progress in her last outing over 1100M, finishing third, suggesting that she too will enjoy the additional distance of today’s contest. From draw six, she should be included in all bets.
Race 7.
A 4yr old and two 3yr old fillies could fight out the finish to this race and secure the trifecta, but MISS KOJIKI is taken to lead the pack home. She has consistent formlines to her name having finished second in her last three runs prior to ending up in third spot last time out over five furlongs, just under a length and a half behind the winner. She had to be held up approaching the home turn that day and from gate six, she is likely to turn in another honest performance here.
IN SPADES has only had the three runs to date, but she was hampered down at the start and then came four wide into the home stretch before finishing strongly to win by a half length last time out over 900M. She has her first run after a 19 week rest, but did finish second in her only barrier trial to prove her well-being. She is drawn the widest of them all in gate thirteen, but she should be doing her best work late.
TIDAL IMPACT returns from a slightly longer 22 week absence and has also not had a barrier trial. She won over 1100M on debut and then disappointed when finishing tenth next time out over the same distance, 15.6L adrift of the victor, but she was reported to have overraced in the middle stages and hit the running rail at the 700M mark before then not getting the clearest of passages in the home straight. She was immediately rested for 22 weeks and returns here without having had a barrier trial. She gets a wide draw eleven, but if recapturing her maiden effort, she should be a big runner here.
Race 8.
This looks to be a tricky race to close off the day’s Jackpot with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is suggested. The tentative top pick goes to OAKFIELD HIAWATHA who finished seventh last time out over a mile, just over seven and a half lengths behind the winner. He has pulled a cozy draw four and will be hoping to bounce back to the form that saw him finish second over a mile three runs back.
PREVISO stayed on well when ending up in fourth place last time out over 1300M, 3.8L back from the winner and seems certain to enjoy the extra distance of today’s contest. He jumps from gate seven and should be right up there in the firing line.
WEATHER CHANNEL came from some way back when finishing fourth in his last outing over a mile, 3.7L off the winner. He gets a kinder draw two and should make his presence felt in this contest.
