Winning Form brings you all of their best bets and tips for Thursday’s Australian racing taking place at Hawkesbury.
Best Bet: BLACK BOLT (Race 8)
Value Bet: PLUCK AND LUCKY (Race 7)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8).
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
7 | 3 | 8 | 1 |
2 | 6 | 2 | 4 |
9 | 2 | 7 |
|
Cost: R54.00.
Race 5
STAR CHERIE is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she finished strongly to end up second last time out over five furlongs, just a half-length behind the winner and the form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest having subsequently won. She jumps from a handy draw two and should give the males a good run for their money.
STOICAL followed up his penultimate run victory over this c&d with a fourth-place finish next time out when stepping up to 1100M, three lengths back from the winner. He jumped awkwardly that day, but then took the lead after recovering well, only to be run out of it late. He is drawn the widest of them all in gate ten but does have his peak outing after returning from a 17-week rest.
STORMBORN is another 3yr old filly in the race. She is seldom far off the action and came four-wide into the home straight when finishing fifth in her last start over five furlongs, just under two and a half lengths adrift of the victor. She has a far kinder draw three and also had her peak outing since returning from a lengthy 46-week absence.
Race 6
DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM showed marked improvement to win his maiden race last time out over 1500M by half a length. He went from jump to wire that day, holding off all the late challengers over the closing stages and the form of that race has been franked. He is drawn eight out of nine, but nevertheless could be good enough to chalk up a quick double here.
PENSERA is a 4yr old filly taking on males, but she has only had the two runs to date and showed the expected improvement to win by 1.3L second time out over seven furlongs. She made good late progress that day and from her cosy draw three, she should be right up there when they hit the line.
EDGE OF DARKNESS won his penultimate start over seven furlongs and then battled all the way down to the wire when finishing second next time out over today’s trip, two lengths back from the winner. He is drawn the widest of them all in gate nine, but on the plus side, he will have 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.
Race 7
PLUCK AND LUCKY has consistent formlines to her name and had nothing go her way when finishing third last time out over seven furlongs, one length off the winner. She overraced in the early stages and had to be steadied at the 1200M mark, before not getting the clearest of passages in the home straight. She is drawn the widest in gate ten, but seems likely to turn in another honest performance here and is taken to be the value bet on the day’s card.
SILENT TRYST won her penultimate start over seven furlongs and then finished fourth in her next outing over 1500M, just under four lengths adrift of the winner. She has her first run since an 11-week rest but did win her only barrier trial to showcase her well-being. Jumping from gate six, she will have 1.5kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice to aid her cause.
INDIGENOUS jumped awkwardly and then found herself at the rear of the field, but finished well to end up in fourth place last time out over six furlongs, three lengths off the winner. She has cracked pole position and should be included in all bets.
Race 8
Today’s best bet, BLACK BOLT has finished third in his last two starts, the latest over a mile, just under a length and a half back from the winner. He was hampered at the start that day and then had to be restrained off the heels of other runners at the 800M pole, before coming five wide into the home straight. He returns from a 22-week break but has had the benefit of three barrier trials, finishing third in the latest to prove his fitness. He drops in distance but did win over seven furlongs three runs back, so this should not be an issue. In addition, he will get 1.5kgs taken off his back for the services of his claiming and is sure to put his pole position to good use.
LUCKY TO WIN raced up with the pace when showing solid improvement to win his maiden race last time out over 1300M by one and a half lengths. The colt takes on stronger today but will jump from gate five and if confirming that latest effort, he could emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice.
UNDOUBTED won his penultimate run over a mile and then although recorded as finishing sixth last time out over 1900M, he was just 1.7L behind the winner, this despite jumping awkwardly and then only seeing daylight at the 150M mark and having to check 100M from the wire. He has his first run since a shorter 17-week rest and has had two barrier trials, finishing second in the latest. He has pulled draw two and should be involved in the finish.
