Australian Racing: 26 December – 28 December 2020

The Winning Form Team preview the festive racing taking place at centres across Australia on Sunday 27 December and Monday 28 December.

Sunday 27 December 2020 – Sapphire Coast.

Best Bet: BETHPAGE (Race 5)

Value Bet: HOT BAHAMA (Race 6)

Jackpot: Races 4-7

Cost: R54.00.

Race 4

A 4yr old and a 3yr old filly could fight out the finish to this race and complete the exacta, but FREAKY FRECKLES is preferred. She showed good improvement when finishing second last time out over seven furlongs, just under three and a half lengths behind the winner. She did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight that day and should have finished closer to the winner as a result. She will have to negotiate draw nine, but she could be the one to side with here. DIVINE BREATH stayed on well to win her maiden race last time out over five furlongs by 1.3L when returning from a 20-week break. She is drawn in gate six and takes on stronger today, but she may well be up to the task on hand. Although CALIFORNIA AUGUST is recorded as finishing fifth in his latest run, he was just under a length and a half behind the winner, this despite coming wide into the straight. He was returning from a 13-week absence and from a kinder draw two, he could trouble the top two selections. 

Race 5

All three of the top selections have pulled wide draws in this race, but nevertheless should be respected in this line-up. BETHPAGE has gate sixteen and is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys. She showed solid improvement when a half-length second last time out over 1100M, despite being trapped four wide. She looked a possible winner that day before being run out of it in the shadow of the post. She should be doing her best work late. IN DE SUN IWILCOME is a 3yr old filly who is drawn one inside the top choice. She has only had the one run to date, finishing sixth over 1100M, 3.7 lengths behind the winner. She will have learned from that experience and with the natural improvement that can be expected here, she should not be lightly overlooked. ALAN is drawn one inside the latter and returns from a 19 weeks break but did win his only barrier trial to prove his well-being. He raced three wide when ending up eighth last time out over 1310M, 5.7L adrift of the winner, but the form of that race has stood up well. He should be involved in the finish.  

Race 6

HOT BAHAMA has only had the three runs to date but did win his last start over seven furlongs by a neck when returning from a 13-week rest. The gelding went from jump to wire that day and from gate six, he is likely to attempt the same tactics today. He could prove difficult to reel in over the closing stages. FRANCISCO PIZARO battled to find a clear run entering the straight and finished fifth last time out over seven furlongs, just under two and a half lengths back from the winner. He is drawn one outside the top pick and could be his biggest danger. RIVER CHARGE has on the other hand cracked pole position. He hit the front at the 200M mark when going on to win his last outing over seven furlongs by a head. He should be included in all bets. 

Race 7

As with race five, the top three rated here are all drawn out wide. BOOMAHNOOMOONAH has gate seventeen out of eighteen, but he stayed on well when finishing second in his latest run over 1300M, just a head behind the winner, this despite hanging out in the latter stages. PORT DOUGLAS has gate thirteen and has his first run since returning from a lengthy 47-week absence, during which time he was gelded. He has not had the benefit of a barrier trial, so his fitness will have to be taken on trust, but he has his first run for his new trainer and if fully settled into his new surroundings, he should be considered in this field. HAUNTING SPIRIT is drawn the widest of them all and also has his first outing for his new conditioner. He returns from a shorter 17-week break, but has had three barrier trials and should not be ignored.  

Monday 28 December 2020 – Orange.

Best Bet: TOO MUCH CLASS (Race 4)

Value Bet: BUZZONI (Race 5)

Jackpot: Races 4-7

Cost: R54.00

Race 4

A 3yr old and a 4yr old filly could fight out the finish to this race and complete the exacta. TOO MUCH CLASS won by one length over seven furlongs at the third time of asking. She drew clear of the opposition at the 100M mark and on that effort, she would appear to have more to offer. She faces a wideish draw nine, but she could prove good enough to complete her double and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card. TIMELY SHADOW finished strongly to end up in second place last time out over seven furlongs, suggesting that the extra ground on offer here will be to her liking. She will have to overcome a wide gate seventeen, but could still trouble the top choice. SCOTTISH SOLDIER made good late progress when third last time out over seven furlongs, just a neck behind the winner. The gelding has a far kinder draw two and should be involved in the finish. 

Race 5

BUZZONI returns from a lengthy 57-week break but has won both of his barrier trials to showcase his well-being. The fact that his connections have brought him back into racing after such a long absence would suggest that they believe that he has more to offer them. He has a handy gate three and is seen as the value bet on the program. CHARLIE CHAP is drawn one inside the former and followed up his penultimate run victory over this c&d with a second-place finish next time out over the same c&d, two lengths behind the winner. He did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight that day and should just about have won that contest. MISS HUGO A GOGO is a 7yr old mare taking on the boys, but she finished fifth last time out over 1120M, two and a half lengths adrift of the victor and was immediately rested for 20 weeks. She returns here after finishing second in her only barrier trial and should keep the males honest. 

Race 6

DYNAMIC IMPACT made good improvement to win his maiden race in his last start over six furlongs by nearly four and a half lengths. He struck the front at the 200M mark and was geared down at the line to record a cozy victory. He was friendless in the betting markets that day and takes on stronger here, but could prove good enough to complete his double today. BRONZIE won by nearly a length over five furlongs on debut. He is a speedy sort who is drawn one outside the top pick and should be right up there in the dash down to the wire. SOLVA came the widest into the home straight, but still managed to win his last outing over 1100M at this track by a half-length. That was only his second run and he would have come on further with the run under his belt. His handy draw two will do him no harm. 

Race 7

PATRICK MAY has his hat-trick run after winning his last start over this distance by over three and a half lengths. He went from start to finish that day and although drawn wide at gate ten, he is likely to attempt similar tactics today. MORETHANNUMBERONE was outrun very late when finishing third in his latest outing over a mile when attracting plenty of betting support. He has drawn gate five and is sure to enjoy the drop in trip today. WHITCHETY GRUB on the other hand was friendless in the betting market when finishing third last time out over 1280M, just over four lengths adrift of the winner when returning from a 17-week break. He is drawn one inside the latter and should be included in all bets.