Australian racing tips – Friday 14 January 2022 – Gosford

Best Bet: FLYING WITNESS (Race 5)

Value Bet: STAR DYNASTY (Race 4)

Jackpot (race 4 – 7).

Cost: R90.00  

Race 4.

With the late scratching of one of her main rivals, the door may have opened for today’s value bet, STAR DYNASTY to chalk up her third career victory. She followed up her penultimate run victory with a fourth place finish next time out over the same c&d, 1.3L behind the winner when returning from a lengthy 44 week absence, but she had nothing go her way that day. She was slow away and bumped shortly after the start, overraced in the middle stages and then finally bumped again at the 100M pole, so can be considered an unlucky loser. She has cracked pole position and will have 1.5kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice 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. WOLF QUEEN is drawn one outside the top choice. She finished second on debut over 1100M and then made the expected improvement to win by 1.3L next time out over five furlongs and the form of that race has been franked. She could prove good enough to complete a quick double here. SMOKESHOW won her penultimate start over 1100M and then stayed on well when third next time out over the same trip when returning from an 18 week rest. She jumps from gate seven and should not be lightly overlooked in this line-up.

Race 5.

The day’s best bet, FLYING WITNESS is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she is seldom far off the action, having finished second in her last two runs, the latest over a mile when just a head behind the winner. She attracted plenty of betting support that day, but was bumped shortly after the start and then came four wide into the home straight, but nevertheless struck the front at the 100M mark, only to be snared in the shadow of the post. She faces a wide draw ten, but she will be hoping to make amends today. ROYAL COURT finished third first time out over a mile, despite jumping awkwardly and finding himself at the back of the field, before making good late progress over the closing stages, suggesting that he should enjoy the extra ground on offer here. He would have learnt from that experience and with the natural improvement that can be expected, he could emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice. MADAM PRANCEALOT is another 3yr old filly in the race. She has only had the two outings to date and improved when stepping up in distance, finishing second last time out over a mile, beaten just a short-head. She on the other hand was friendless in the betting markets that day and tried to go from jump to wire. From a cozy draw three, she should be involved in the finish.

Race 6.

SHADOW DEVIL won by two lengths when making his debut over 1100M after having had four barrier trials. He raced just behind the leaders in that race and then shot clear of the field at the 120M mark and the race was over as a contest at that point. He would have come on further with the run under his belt and from draw five, he should be right up there when they hit the line. SECRETIVELY is drawn one inside the top choice and did not get a clear passage in the home straight last time out when finishing eighth over 1100M, 2.2L back from the winner and that effort is best ignored. With better luck in running today, he should be considered a big runner here. LOCH LOMOND has finished second twice in his last four runs, the latest over 1300M, 2.2L behind the winner and the form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning. He is in turn drawn one inside the latter and will have 3kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice to aid his cause.

Race 7.

This looks to be a tricky race to end off the day’s Jackpot with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is suggested. The tentative first choice goes to WAY TO THE STARS who showed plenty of toe when putting 3.3L between himself and the opposition to win first time out over 1100M. He returns from a 20 week break, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials, finishing second in the first and winning the latest to prove his fitness. He will have to overcome a wide gate twelve, but should use that early speed to move across without expending too much energy. A 3yr and a 4yr old filly could chase him home with the slight preference going to PETULANT who finished second on debut over five furlongs and then won by one length over the same sprint distance at the second time of asking, notwithstanding hanging out in the home stretch. She is drawn even wider out in gate fourteen but with a bit of luck, she should be in the mix. VERY SHARP on the other hand has pulled pole position and had her consistency rewarded with a head victory last time out over 1100M and the form of that race appears strong as four runners out of that contest have subsequently won. She returns from a 17 week rest, but did win her only barrier trial and will have 1.5kgs taken off her back for the service of her claiming apprentice.