Winning Form brings us their best bets and tips from Saturday's Australian Racing from Randwick
Best Bet: EQUATION (Race 10)
Value Bet: ENTENTE (Race 9)
Jackpot (race 7 – 10)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
2 | 2 | 14 | 8 |
6 | 11 | 4 | |
Cost: R54.00
Race 7
The Everest, the world’s richest turf race, should be a cracker. The marginal top choice goes to NATURE STRIP who has his peak run after returning from a 21-week rest. He won his penultimate start in a Group 3 event over five furlongs and then finished second in his next outing, a Group 2 race over 1100M, beaten just under a half-length.
He raced just behind the leaders that day and then hit the front as the field entered the home straight, only to be collared in the shadow of the post. He will have to negotiate draw ten, but he should be right up there when they hit the line.
CLASSIQUE LEGEND won this race last year and was then sent overseas to contest the Hong Kong Sprint where he faired badly. He returns to Australia and has his first outing since a lengthy 43-week absence, but he has had the benefit of three barrier trials, winning all three to prove his well-being. From a kinder gate five, he will be hoping to repeat last year’s victory.
MASKED CRUSADER has won two of his last three runs, the latest when winning a Group 2 event over six furlongs by just under half a length, despite being slow away and hampered shortly after the start. In addition, he had to be steadied at the 200M mark and then only saw daylight at the 150M pole. He gets a wideish gate nine, but with better luck in running, he should be considered a big runner here.
Race 8
THINK IT OVER has consistent formlines to his name having won two of his last three outings, the latest a short-head victory over this c&d in a Group 2 race. He finished strongly that day, timing his run to perfection. He faces a wide draw eleven, but given his style of racing, he will likely be dropped out of it in the early stages and the start to pick off the frontrunners over the closing stages of the contest.
He renews his rivalry with SHARED AMBITION who finished second in the race mentioned above. The latter tried to go from jump to wire that day and does get a better draw six, but as the pair meet on the same weight terms today, he may have to settle for the same result.
HUNGRY HEART is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys. She finished eighth last time out in a Group 1 race over a mile, but just 2.8L back from the winner, this after coming wide into the home stretch in order to get a clear run down to the wire. On that effort, she should appreciate the extra ground on offer here and notwithstanding a wide draw ten, she should be included in all bets.
Race 9
With the late scratching of one of his main rivals, the door may have opened for today’s value bet, ENTENTE to chalk up his seventh career victory. He followed up his penultimate run victory in a Group 3 event over twelve furlongs with a second-place finish next time out in a Group 1 race over the same distance, just a short-head behind the winner, despite coming five wide into the home straight. He attracted plenty of betting support that day and finished his race off well. From draw five, he will be hoping to make amends here.
HIGH EMOCEAN is a 5yr old mare taking on males, but she put her disappointing penultimate start effort firmly behind her when ending up in second spot last time out over twelve furlongs, 0.8L back from the winner. She made good late progress that day and is sure to give the boys a good run for their money.
FUN FACT tried to go from gun to tape before finishing third last time out in a Group 2 event over twelve furlongs, just over three lengths adrift of the victor. He gets a cozy gate four and should be right up there in the mix.
Race 10
EQUATION won over this distance three runs back and was then hampered at the 800M mark and checked off the heels of other runners at the 400M pole, before ending up in sixth place last time out over 1300M, 2.2L behind the winner. He jumps from draw five and will get 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice to aid his cause. As such, he is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
PROMISE OF SUCCESS is a 6yr old mare taking on boys, but she won her penultimate start over 1300M and then followed that up with a second-place finish next time out over seven furlongs, 1.3L behind the victor after coming four wide into the home straight. She finished strongly that day and from gate seven, she should be doing her best work late.
SUAVE has cracked pole position and had his consistency rewarded with a short-head win last time out over seven furlongs. He only got a clear run at the 150M mark that day, so that effort was most encouraging and he should be involved in the finish here.
