Australian Racing – Saturday 4 September 2021 – Randwick

Race 7

ZAAKI completed his hat-trick when winning a Group 2 event over eleven furlongs last time out by one and a half lengths. He drops considerably in distance, but in his last three outings, he has won one Group 1 and two Group 2 races, so his connections will be hoping that his class will see him victorious once again. From draw seven, he is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.

LION’S ROAR is seldom far off the action and came the widest of them all into the home straight before ending up in fourth place last time out over ten furlongs, 2.7L behind the winner in a Group 3 contest. He returns from a 19-week rest but has put in two encouraging barrier trials. He is drawn one outside the top choice and could emerge as his biggest threat.

DREAMFORCE was a tad disappointing when finishing eleventh last time out over seven furlongs, 3.3L back from the victor, but that was in a Group 1 race and he was returning from a 17-week break. He tried to go from jump to wire that day and from a handy gate three, he is likely to attempt similar tactics here.

Race 8

CASCADIAN won over this c&d three runs back and has then had two outings over seven furlongs, finishing fifth in the latest, but just a length behind the winner when returning from a 17-week rest. He came the widest of the field into the home stretch that day and then had to be steadied off the heels of other runners at the 350M mark. He reverts back to what appears to be a more suitable distance today and from his cosy draw three, he looks to be the one to side with.

THINK IT OVER has consistent formlines to his name and although recorded as finishing sixth last time out, he was only just over half a length behind the winner. He was returning from an 18-week absence that day and did not get the clearest of passages in the straight. He faces a wide draw ten but nevertheless should be right up there when they hit the line.

KUKERACHA followed up his penultimate run victory over twelve furlongs with a second spot finish next time out over a mile, just a neck off the winner, despite having to be switched at the 350M pole. He was returning from an 11-week rest that day and is drawn the widest of them all in gate fourteen, but he’s likely to be doing his best work late and should be included in all bets.

Race 9

KING OF SPARTA has won two out of his last three runs, the latest when putting 3.3L between himself and the opposition over six furlongs. He hit the front at the 150M mark and the race was effectively over as a contest from that point. His jockey put up 0.5kgs overweight that day and although draw very wide in gate nineteen, with a bit of luck in running, he may once again prove to be too good for this line-up.

GEIST is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she has consistent formlines to her name, finishing strongly to fill second place last time out over six furlongs, one and a half-length back from the winner when returning from a 17-week break. She has pulled gate thirteen, but nevertheless, she should still give the males a good run for their money.

FASTCONI won over this c&d three runs back and was then somewhat disappointing in his latest start over the same c&d, ending up eleventh, five and a half lengths adrift of the winner, but it should be noted that he had to be held up entering the home straight and was then denied a clear run all the way down to the wire. As such, that effort is best ignored and despite a wideish draw nine, he should not be easily overlooked.

Race 10

MATOWATAKPE missed out on his hat-trick when finishing second last time out over seven furlongs at this track, 1.3L behind the winner, but he overraced in the middle stages and had to be held up between the 350M and 250M marks. He renews his rivalry with ATISHU who was the winner of that race, but as he is 2.5kgs better off at today’s weights and is better drawn in gate six as opposed to a wide gate thirteen for the latter, this should be enough for that result to be reversed.

ATISHU is a 4yr old filly taking on boys, but she was completing five wins on the trot that day and did jump awkwardly. She was also returning from a 17-week break and won’t be giving up the hope of completing a six-timer too easily.

ITZ LILY is a 6yr old mare who has finished closer to the winner in each of her last three outings, culminating with a short-head victory last time out over a mile. She finished strongly to win that contest, despite running four-wide approaching the home turn. She will have to overcome a wide draw seventeen, but given her style of running, she is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and the start to chase down the frontrunner over the closing stages.