Australian Racing: Monday 31 May 2021 – Port Macquarie

Best Bet: BLACK JACAMAR (Race 5) 

Value Bet: TWO UP (Race 8) 

Jackpot (race 5 – 8)

 Cost: R54.00

 Race 5

The day’s best bet, BLACK JACAMAR is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she has only had the four runs to date, posting two wins, one second and one third place finish. She missed out on her hat-trick last time out when finishing third over six furlongs, just over a length and a half behind the winner. She raced up with the leaders that day and was only run out of it late, suggesting that the drop in trip will be very much to her liking. She will have to negotiate gate twelve, but could prove hard to topple in this line-up.

Although ALPHA GO is recorded as finishing fourth last time out over 1300M, he was just a head back from the victor. He stayed on well that day and the form of that race has stood up well with four runners out of that contest subsequently winning. The gelding is drawn one inside the top choice and could emerge as her biggest danger. 

POITA made solid improvement to win his last outing over 1025M by a head when returning from an 18 week rest. He has a kinder gate four and should be involved in the finish.  

Race 6

OAKFIELD tried to go from jump to wire before ending up in second place last time out over seven furlongs, just under two lengths adrift of the winner. He has his peak run here after returning from a 15 week break and jumps from gate five. He is sure to attempt similar tactics here and could prove difficult to reel in over the closing stages of the race. 

HIDDEN HILLS is seldom far off the action and despite coming four wide into the home straight, he managed to finish third in his latest outing over 1500M, just over a length back from the winner. He has pulled draw seven and should be right up there when they hit the line. 

DR COPPER has solid recent form and jumped awkwardly before staying on well to end up in fifth spot in his last start over 1450m, 7.4L adrift of the winner. On the face of it, that does not install confidence, but two runners from that race have subsequently come out and won. He has also cracked pole position, which he is sure to put to good use. 

Race 7 

Two 3yr old fillies could fight out the finish to this race and complete the exacta, but PAXOS MISS is taken to lead the pack home. She won her maiden race over six furlongs by two lengths at the third time of asking when returning from a lengthy 44 week absence. She went from start to finish that day and although taking on stronger here, she has a cozy gate two and could be good enough to secure her double. 

IMPULSE CONTROL on the other hand will have to deal with draw thirteen, but she finished second last time out over five furlongs at this venue, just under a length behind the winner. She showed plenty of toe that day and should use that early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy. 

GREENHEART has consistent formlines to his credit and finished sixth in his latest start over 1100M, three lengths back from the winner. He jumps from gate five and should turn in another honest performance today. 

Race 8 

TWO UP struck the front at the 50M mark when winning his last start over this c&d by one and a half lengths. He finished strongly from off the pace that day, so his draw ten should not be an issue as he is likely to be dropped out of it early and then come storming home over the latter stages of the contest. As such, he is taken to be the value bet on the program. 

QUICK NICK came very wide into the home straight before going on to win his last outing over 1100M by 0.7L. He faces an even wider gate ten, but is another who will surely be doing his best work late. 

DOLLSON reared at the start losing valuable ground, but was then chased up to join the leaders before being crowed and eased at the 250M pole, eventually finishing sixth, 8.8L adrift of the winner. That run should be ignored, but if recapturing some of his earlier form, he should be included in all bets.