Winning Form brings you all of their best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing taking place at Newcastle, Australia.
Best Bet: MUCH MUCH BETTER (Race 6)
Value Bet: NOTHINSWEETABOUTME (Race 7)
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Jackpot (race 5 – 8). – Cost: R54.00
Race 5
Three 3yr old fillies can fight out the finish to this race and complete the trifecta, but NOT A CHOICE is taken to lead them home. She has only had the two runs to date, finishing second on debut over six furlongs and then, although fifth last time out over this c&d, she was just over a length behind the winner. She tried to go from jump to wire that day and was only reeled in late. From her handy gate two, she is likely to attempt similar tactics here. SHEER TREASURE showed good improvement in her last outing over six furlongs, finishing third, just over a length and a half back from the winner. She was returning from a 30 week rest that day and was friendless in the betting markets. She jumps from gate seven and could emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice. CRYSTAL WATERS was returning from a shorter 21 week break when finishing strongly to end up in second place last time out over six furlongs, a half length adrift of the victor. She is drawn one outside the latter and should be included in all bets.
Race 6
Today’s best bet, MUCH MUCH BETTER showed marked improvement to win his last outing over seven furlongs by two lengths. He came three wide into the straight that day, but then hit the front at the 200M mark before holding off all the late challengers over the closing stages. The form of that race has stood up well. He returns from a 13 week absence, but has finishes second and third in his two barrier trials to prove his fitness. He has pulled gate eight, but could chalk up his second career victory in this line-up. KAHAYLAAN is a speedy sort who finished fifth in his latest run over six furlongs, 3.7L behind the winner, but the form of that race has been franked. He has his peak run after returning from a 25 week break and although facing a wideish draw nine, he will get the services of ex-SA jockey Keagan Latham, so he will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle. SO FAR AWAY is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she had her consistency rewarded with a one and a half length victory last time out over 1300M. She has her first run since an 18 week break, but has had two barrier trials, finishing third in the latest to showcase her well-being. From gate five, she should be involved in the finish.
Race 7
NOTHINSWEETABOUTME came the widest into the home straight before going on to win by one and a half lengths over this distance when making her debut. She would have learnt from that experience and with the natural improvement that can be expected, she could prove good enough to chalk up a quick double. From her handy draw two, she is taken to be the value bet on the day’s program. SILENT TRYST had finished second in her two runs over 1300M prior to winning her last start over six furlongs by half a length when returning from an 18 week rest. She hit the front at the 180M mark and then battled all the way down to the finishing post. She jumps from draw six and should be right up there when they hit the line. HAVIN’ FUN is seldom far off the action and finished third last time out over this trip, one length off the winner. She has her first run for her new trainer and if fully settled into her new environment, she should not be lightly dismissed in this field. She will have to deal with a wide draw ten, but she is likely to be doing her best work late.
Race 8
With the three late scratchings in the race, one of which was potentially his main rival, the way may have been cleared for PURE FUEGO to notch up his fourth career victory. He goes for his hat-trick here after winning his last two starts over six furlongs, the latest by just under a length. He made good late progress in that contest, suggesting that the extra ground on offer here will be to his liking. He jumps from gate five and looks to be difficult to topple. MEDIA STARGUEST on the other hand has finished second in his last two runs over 1500M and six furlongs, the latest when just a head back from the winner. He was returning from a 19 week break that day and although having to negotiate a wide gate eleven, he will get 1.5kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice. JOSEPHUS finished strongly from second last entering the home straight to mow down the opposition to win his last outing over six furlongs by 1.3L. when returning from a 28 week absence. He steps up in distance here, but did finish second over 1500M in his penultimate start, just over a half length behind the winner, so this should not be an issue.
