Australian Racing Tips – 5 October 2021

Best Bet: VERBEK (Race 6)

Value Bet: GLAMOUR RUNS DEEP (Race 7)

Jackpot (race 5 – 8).

Cost: R54.00

Race 5.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE has cracked pole position and has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three starts, the latest when fourth over 1500M, 0.8L behind the winner, despite being friendless in the betting markets. He raced towards the back of the field that day, but finished off his race strongly and could be the one to side with in this line-up.

A 3yr old and a 4yr old filly could chase him home, with the slight preference going to FESTIVAL DANCER who was way out of her ground turning for home, but produced a powerful finish to end off in third place last time out over seven furlongs, just over two and a half lengths back from the victor. She is drawn the widest of them all in gate twelve, but is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and then start to pick off the frontrunners in the dash down to the finishing post.

POSEIDON JEWEL has turn in two solid last two runs and was making good late progress when finishing second in her latest outing over seven furlongs, 1.3L behind the winner. She is drawn one inside the latter and should be doing her best work late.

Race 6.

With the late scratchings of two of his main rivals, the door may have opened for today’s best bet, VERBEK to chalk up his maiden victory. He put his disappointing penultimate run over 1500M firmly behind him when finishing second in his last start over five furlongs, beaten just a short-head. He has in fact finished second in four of his last five outings and did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight last time out and the form of that race has been franked. He will have to negotiate gate ten, but he could prove hard to topple here.

SPATS PAV BOWIE raced up with the leaders when finishing second on debut over 1100M, just under a half length off the winner. He attracted no interest in the betting markets that day, but would have learnt from the experience and with the natural improvement that can be expected, he could emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice, jumping from a kinder draw five.

VAAROOM was slow away and raced green over the latter stages before ending up in fifth spot last time out over six furlongs, 4.4L adrift of the winner. He returns from a 10 week rest and has not had the benefit of a barrier trial, so his fitness will have to be taken on trust and has a wideish draw eight, but nevertheless he should be involved in the finish. There are two unraced runners in the field, so a keen eye should be kept on the betting markets to get some indication as to whether the connection believe that they can win first time out. Any betting support for a runner or runners should be respected.

Race 7.

A 4yr old and two 3yr old fillies could fight out the finish to this race and complete the trifecta, but the day’s value bet, GLAMOUR RUNS DEEP is taken to lead the pack home. She won her penultimate start over six furlongs by 5.8L and the finished sixth next time out when stepping up to seven furlongs, just over five lengths back from the winner and was immediately rested for 24 weeks. She overraced in front in that last start and then understandably had not much to offer over the latter stages. She returns here without having a barrier trial and faces a wideish gate eight, but the form of that last contest has stood up well with three runners out of that race subsequently winning.

SILK TIE has only had the two runs to date and made the expected improvement when winning by a neck over 1300M at the second time of asking. She hit the front at the 200M mark that day and then fought off the chasing pack over the latter stages and the form of that race has been franked. She has her first run since a slightly shorter 23 week absence, but has had the one barrier trial, where she finished fourth. From her kinder draw three, she should be right up there when they hit the line.

FIELD WIRI is drawn one outside the latter and also returns from a similar 23 week break, but she has had two barrier trials, finishing second in the latest. She has only had the two starts to date, improving to finish second in her second start over five furlongs, just a half length behind the winner, despite hanging out in the home stretch.

Race 8.

ROLE PLAY is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she goes for her hat-trick after two wins over seven furlongs, albeit the latest by just a short-head. She finished powerfully from some way back that day to collar the frontrunner in the shadow of the post. She faces a wide draw ten, but given her style of racing, she should be doing her best work late.

MYSTIC VEIN had solid formlines to his credit before finishing tenth last time out over 1500M, just under six and a half lengths back from the winner, but he jumped awkwardly that day and was then taken to the front. He then hung out all the way down the straight, so perhaps he can be forgiven of that effort. He jumps from draw five and will be hoping to bounce back to his prior form.

ART OF EXCELLENCE did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight before finishing fourth in his latest start over six furlongs, just over a length and a half behind the winner. He gets a wideish gate nine, but nevertheless should be included in all bets.