Australian Racing: 30 & 31 January 2021

Winning Form brings you all of their best bets and tips for this Weekend‘s races taking place in Australia. 

Saturday 30 January 2021 – Rosehill Gardens

Best Bet:MASKED CRUSADER (RACE 9)
Value Bet: BETCHA FLYING (Race 8)

Jackpot (race 6 – 9). – Cost: R54.00.

Race 6

ULYSSES followed up his penultimate run victory over 1500M with a second place finish next time out over today’s journey, just over one length behind the winner. He tried to go from jump to wire that day and was only reeled in over the closing stages. He has cracked pole position and is likely to attempt similar tactics today. GENERAL SOHO had finished second over six furlongs in his two runs prior to ending up in third place last time out over 1100M, 0.4L back from the winner. He jumped awkwardly that day and then had to be steadied at the 800M mark, so did well to get as close to the winner as he did. He will have to negotiate gate nine, but he should nevertheless be right up there when they hit the line. Something clearly went amiss with STARSPANGLED RODEO penultimate run where he finished a tailed off last and he was immediately rested for a lengthy 30 weeks. He returns here after having had three barrier trials, where he won the second of these and then finished second in the latest to prove his well-being. From a handy draw two, he should be respected in this line-up.

Race 7

SAVATIANO is a 6yr old mare taking on the boys. She hit the front at the 300M mark when winning her last start at this track and then held off all challengers over the latter stages to record a half length victory. She returns from a 12 week rest, but did finish fourth in her only barrier trial to prove her fitness. She jumps from gate two and should enjoy the drop in distance. OLE KIRK returns from a 16 week rest, but has had the benefit of a barrier trial, where he finished fourth. He is looking to complete his hat-trick here after winning his latest outing over a mile by just under half a length and from pole position, the trio of wins is very much on the cards. FLIT is a 4yr old filly who was a little disappointing when finishing tenth last time out over 1500M in heavy going, but she did come wide into the home straight on that occasion. She has her first run after a 13 week absence, but did finish fourth in her only barrier trial. If returning to the form that saw her win her penultimate start over 1300M, she should keep the top two selections honest.

Race 8

BETCHA FLYING is a 4yr old filly taking on males, but she has cracked pole position and is seldom far off the action. She battled all the way down to the wire when finishing second last time out over a mile, just a head behind the winner and is taken to be the value bet on the day’s card. ABOVE AND BEYOND took over the lead at the 150M pole before going on to put two and a half lengths between himself and the opposition to claim victory last time out over this c&d. He is drawn in gate three and looks to be the immediate danger to the top choice. MOUNT POPA comes back from a lengthy 32 week break and one barrier trial. He had his consistency rewarded with a two and a half length win last time out over ten furlongs before embarking on his break and the form of that race has stood up well. He is drawn one outside the latter and should be included in all bets.

Race 9

Today’s best bet, MASKED CRUSADER drops in distance after finishing eighth in his last outing over seven furlongs at this track, just over four and a half lengths behind the winner. It must however be recorded that he was hanging all the way down the straight that day, and that the form of that race has been franked. He returns from an 18 week rest, but did win his only barrier trial with some ease and did post a second and third place finish in two runs over 1100M prior to this last outing. He jumps from draw six and may prove difficult to topple here. MO’S CROWN made good late progress to finish fourth last time out over six furlongs, just 1.2L back from the victor. He has an even kinder gate three and should test the top pick. BIG PARADE is a speedy sort who won his penultimate run over this distance by some 3.3L and then went on to finish second next time out over the same c&d, just over a length behind the winner. He is drawn wide in gate ten, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy. 

Saturday 31 January 2021 – Sapphire Coast

Best Bet: DIP ME LID (Race 5)

Value Bet: PEYTON PLACE (Race 7)

Jackpot (race 5 – 8) – Cost: R54.00.

Race 5

DIP ME LID goes for his hat-trick here after he fought back well when he looked beaten to win his last start over 2010M by just over one length. He is likely to be taken to the front again today and if showing the same determination, the gelding could complete this trio of victories. As such, he is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card. SHOOT FOR COOMAAH was only run out of it very late when finishing a head second last time out over 1765M. He steps up in distance and will have to overcome a wide draw thirteen, but he could well be looking for this greater test of stamina. DEVIL DAN jumped awkwardly, but then stayed on well to end up in fourth place last time out over 1900M, just under a length back from the victor. He has a kinder draw five and should be involved in the finish.

Race 6

REVITUP REDNUT is a 6yr old mare taking on the boys. She was hampered shortly after the start before finishing third last time out over 1250M, just under two lengths behind the winner. Her jockey also put up 0.5kgs overweight and so she should have finished closer to the winner than she did. From her handy gate four, she looks to be the one to side with here. Although EASY BEAST is recorded as finishing tenth last time out over 1100M, he was only 4.8L back from the winner. He was staying on well that day and should appreciate the extra ground on offer today. He will have to negotiate a wide draw ten, but nonetheless he should not be easily overlooked in this line-up. COOLOTTA finished fifth in his last start over six furlongs, just over four lengths behind the winner, but the form of that race has been franked and he should make this presence felt here.

Race 7

The day’s value bet, PEYTON PLACE led from jump to wire when showing good improvement to win his last outing over 1435M by nearly two lengths. He is likely to employ similar tactics here from draw eight and could prove difficult to peg back over the latter stages of the contest. LET’S REBELLE is a 6yr old mare taking on males. She jumped awkwardly before recovering well to finish second last time out over seven furlongs, just under a length back from the victor. She tried hard to get on terms over the closing stages that day and from gate three, she should give the boys a good run for their money. EAST INDIAMAN renews his rivalry with the top choice. He finished second in the race mentioned above, 1.8L behind, but is 2.5kgs better off at today’s weights. He is however drawn very wide out in gate fifteen and although his weight advantage should bring the pair closer together, he may have to settle for the same result.

Race 8

QUIANO QUEEN is an 8yr old mare taking on boys, but she hit the front as they entered the home straight and then went on to post a solid 1.8L win last time out over 1435M. She faces a wideish gate nine, but she should be right up there in the firing line once again. NIECES AND NEPHEWS on the other hand has cracked pole position. He raced handy and then took the lead at the 200m pole last time over seven furlongs, only to be denied victory in the latter stages of the race, getting beaten by under a length. EARP is a 4yr old filly who showed marked improvement to win her last start over 1300M by just under two and a half lengths. She faces a wide draw fourteen, but if she is able to repeat that last effort, she could find herself in the winner’s box once again.