Australian Racing: Thursday 27 May 2021 – Gosford

Best Bet: SINBA (Race 5)

Value Bet: VIBRANT (Race 6)

Jackpot (race 4 – 7)

Cost: R72.00

Race 4

There are four unraced runners in the field, so as is always the case in these types of races, a keen eye should be kept on the betting markets to get some indication as to whether the connections believe that they can win first time out.

Any betting support for a runner or runners should be respected. Of the raced runners, LONIESHA may prove to be the best. She is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she did finish second in her penultimate start over 1300M, just a head behind the winner and then followed that up by finishing in sixth place next time out over today’s trip, 3.3L back from the victor. She returns from a 20-week rest but has had the benefit of two barrier trials, finishing third in the first. She will have to negotiate draw seven but gets cheekpieces fitted for the first time and if these have the desired effect, she could be the one that they all have to beat.

TOGUCHI had to be held up at the 400M mark, before finishing well to end up in third place last time out over six furlongs, 2.3L back from the winner. He jumps from a handy gate two and he should be right up there when they hit the line.

ALMAHERO has cracked pole position and stayed on well when eleventh last time out over 1100M, just over five lengths adrift of the victor. He should be included in all bets.  

Race 5

Today’s best bet, SINBA is a 2yr old colt taking on older horses, but he won by two lengths when making his debut over seven furlongs. The victory was made more encouraging by the fact that he only saw daylight at the 380M mark but accelerated well to hit the front at the 200M pole and was then eased down approaching the finishing post. He has a cozy draw four and retains the services of ex-SA jockey Keagan Latham, so he will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle.

The biggest danger may be LEGAL CHALLENGE who has finished second in his last two outings over seven furlongs, the latest when finishing strongly to be 0.8L behind the winner. He attracted plenty of betting support that day and on that effort, he should appreciate the extra ground on offer here, despite facing a wideish draw seven.

MR CANTANKEROUS showed marked improvement to finish second in his last start over six furlongs, 0.8L back from the winner when returning from a 38-week break. He has an even wider draw nine, but if he has continued down that same path of improvement, he should be involved in the finish.

Race 6

A 3yr and a 4yr old filly can fight out the finish to this race and secure the exacta, but the top pick goes to the day’s value bet, VIBRANT who had her consistency rewarded with her maiden win last time out over 1100M by one and a half lengths. She overraced in the early stages of that outing, but was still able to lead the field into the straight and then hold off all challengers in the dash down to the wire. She has gate five and should turn in another honest performance today.

EYE SEE THINGS made good late progress when finishing third in her latest start over 100M, 4.8L adrift of the victor and should enjoy the extra ground available here. She has a wideish draw seven, but she should be doing her best work late.

TAMERLANE has his first run after an 18-week absence, during which time he was gelded, but he did win his only barrier trial to prove his fitness. He had to be checked off the heels of other runners when ending up in sixth spot last time out over 1300m, just under two and a half lengths back from the winner. He is sure to put his draw two to good use.

Race 7

DAPHNE JEAN is a 4yr old filly taking on males, but she missed out on her trio of victories, which had previously come at this track, when finishing sixth in her last outing over six furlongs, just over three and a half lengths adrift of the winner and was immediately rested for a lengthy 60 weeks. She returns here after having finished second in both of her barrier trials and the fact that her connections have brought her back into racing after such a lengthy absence would seem to suggest that they believe that she still has something more to offer them. She is drawn the widest of them all in gate fifteen, but she should give the boys a good run for their money.

MIX jumped awkwardly before ending up in second place last time out over six furlongs, 0.8L behind the winner, but he battled all the way down to the wire that day after finding plenty of betting support and from gate three, he will be looking to make amends today.

READY TO SOAR is a 3yr old filly who had won three on the bounce at this venue before missing out on her quartet of victories when finishing ninth last time out over 1100M, just over nine and a half lengths adrift of the winner, but the form of that race has been franked with four runners out of that event having subsequently won. She was then put away for some 22 weeks and returns here after having had two barrier trials, finishing third in the latest. She jumps from draw six and will have 3kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice to aid her cause.