Australian racing tips – Monday 27 December 2021 – Sapphire Coast

Best Bet: HARDY (Race 6) 
Value Bet: ANNUAL (Race 7)

Jackpot (race 4 – 7)

Cost: R120.00  

Race 4

There are five 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 any of 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, TIFF’S FINALE may prove to be the best. She is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she has finished second in her last two runs, the latest over five furlongs when beaten a head. She hit the front at the 200M mark that day and was only collared in the shadow of the post. From gate six, she should be right up there when they hit the line.

LA MIA VIA is a 3yr old filly who has only had the two runs to date, finishing second on debut over five furlongs and then disappointing next time out when eighth over the same trip, just under nine lengths adrift of the winner and was immediately rested for 24 weeks. She returns here without having had a barrier trial, so her fitness will have to be taken on trust, but she gets a handy draw three and will have 1.5kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice to aid her cause.

WOODBRAID LAD could be the first male home. He has cracked pole position and stayed on well when third last time out over 900M, 2.7L behind the winner and the form of that race has been franked. 

Race 5

IT’S BUSINESS TIME has won two of his last three runs, the latest over 900m by a short-head when returning from an 82-week absence. He is a speedy sort who battled all the way down to the wire that day and from pole position and with having a 1.5kgs claiming apprentice in the saddle, he looks to be the one to side with here. The fact that his connections have brought him back into racing after such a lengthy absence would also seem to suggest that they believe that he still has something more to offer them.

A 5yr old mare and a 3yr old filly could chase him home with the slight preference going to FACTORIZE who gets the services of a 2kg claiming apprentice and who missed out on her hat-trick last time out when finishing sixth over 1100M, 4.8L back from the winner. She was making good late progress in that race and will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways today. She does return from a 25-week rest but did post an encouraging barrier trial to showcase her well-being.

LITTLE RIVER ROSE showed plenty of toe when winning her maiden race last time out over 900M by just over half a length and the form of that race has been franked. She will have to negotiate gate eight out of nine, but she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy and should be included in all bets. 

Race 6

The day’s best bet, HARDY has only had the four runs to date, winning one, finishing second in one and third in the other two, including last time out over seven furlongs when 0.7L behind the winner. He was bumped at the start but stayed on well over the latter stages and the form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of the contest subsequently winning. The gelding has his first run since a 15-week break but did finish third in his only barrier trial to prove his fitness.

KIRKTON returns from a longer 32-week absence and won his only barrier trial. He goes for his hat-trick after victories over six furlongs and the latest over 1300M by a head. He only saw daylight at the 200M pole that day, but finished strongly and the form of that race has stood up well with no less than seven runners out of the race subsequently winning. He will have to overcome draw nine, but on the plus side, he will have 1.5kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice jockey and looks the obvious danger to the top choice.

CRACKALACKA on the other hand has cracked pole position and has won two of her last three outings, the latest over this c&d by a head. She is a 4yr old filly taking on males, but she turned for home in last place before taking off over the last 200M to win going away from the field. She was returning from a 31-week rest that day and should be involved in the finish here. 

Race 7

As with the first leg of today’s Jackpot, there are a number of unraced runners in this field, so the same advice about watching the betting applies here as well. A 4yr old filly and a 5yr old mare could dominate the finish to this race and secure the exacta, but the value bet for the day, ANNUAL is taken to lead the pack home. She has finished closer to the winner in each of her last three outings, the latest when second over 900M, just over a half-length behind the winner. She stayed on well that day suggesting that the extra ground on offer here will be to her liking. She has her peak run after returning from a 21-week rest, has a handy draw three and will have 1.5kgs removed from her back for the services of her claiming apprentice.

DARN SHAME raced just behind the leaders into the home straight and then finished well to get to within one length of the winner last time out over this c&d. She has pulled gate six and will have a greater 4kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice.

DENSAUR returns from a 29-week break but did finish third in his only barrier trial. He finished fifth in his last outing over 1300M, six lengths off the winner before taking that rest and the form of that race has been franked. He faces a wide gate ten, but he should use his early pace to shuffle across without consuming too much gas.