Winning Form brings you all of their best bets and tips for Friday’s racing taking place at Ascot, Australia.
Best Bet: SAMIZDAT (Race 8)
Value Bet: BLANKENBERGE (Race 9)
Jackpot (race 6-9). – Cost: R54.00
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Race 6.
NURHACI has consistent formlines to his name and overraced last time out when finishing fifth over six furlongs, just under two lengths behind the winner. He returns from a 26 week break, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials, finishing second in the first and winning the latest. The form of his last race has stood up well with five runners from that contest subsequently winning. From pole position, he looks to be the one to side with here. Two 4yr old fillies could chase him home, with the slight preference going to HARIASA. She made solid improvement in her last two starts, winning her maiden race last time out over five furlongs by 0.8L when returning from a 26 week rest. She takes on stronger here and faces the widest draw of them all in gate twelve, but she is a speedy sort who should be able to move across without using up too much energy. FEMME PUISSANTE showed plenty of pace to win her last outing over 1100M by half a length and the form of that race has been franked. She returns from a 19 week absence and has not had a barrier trial, so her fitness will have to be taken on trust, but from gate three, she should be included in all bets.
Race 7.
QUEEN TAKES KING is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she raced three wide approaching the turn before finishing strongly to win her last start over twelve furlongs by a length. She will have to negotiate draw eleven, but she is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and should be picking off the frontrunner over the closing stages of the contest. FINAL CHILL also won his last outing, but in his case, over this c&d and by two and a half lengths. He made his move mid-way through the race that day and then kept on going to hold off all the late challengers. He is sure to put his handy draw three to good use. THE ESCORT on the other had faces a wide draw ten, but he has finished second and third in his last two runs, the latest when 2.8L off the winner. He seems likely to put in another honest performance today.
Race 8.
The top three selection for this race renew their rivalry and we could get a form reversal and the confirmation of the result of that last contest. SAMIZDAT raced six wide into the home straight, but then made good late progress when finishing a head behind DIG DEEP last time out over 1500M. As he meets the latter on 1.5kg better terms at today’s weights, he should be able to turn the tables on his opponent. His draw six should not be an issue and he is made the best bet on the card. DIG DEEP has cracked pole position and did battle all the way down to the wire for that victory, but may find the top pick carries too many guns for him here. SERENITY BAY is a 5yr old mare taking on males and did finish 1.6L behind the latter in the race mentioned above. She stayed on well that day and is drawn one outside the second choice, but as she faces him on the same weights here, she could struggle to reverse that last result.
Race 9.
BLANKENBERGE is a 5yr old mare taking on boys, but she is seldom far off the action and finished second in her latest outing over five furlongs, just a half length adrift of the victor. She was returning from a 20 week rest that day and only saw daylight at the 150M mark, so did well top get as close to the winner as she did. She will have to overcome a wide draw thirteen, but nevertheless she is taken to be the value bet on the program. KING’S AUTHORITY followed up his penultimate run victory with a seventh spot finish next time out over the same c&d, just over three lengths behind the winner. It must however be noted that his jockey got his crop tangled up in the reins that day and he stop riding his mount out over the closing stages. From his draw two, he could emerge as the biggest threat to the top pick. CRYSTAL SPIRIT came three wide into the home straight before ending up in seventh place last time out over this c&d, 3.4L back from the winner. He is drawn in gate four and has his peak run after returning from a 25 week absence. He should not be lightly dismissed in this line-up.
