Australian racing tips – Saturday 22 January 2022 – Royal Randwick

Best Bet: SALINA DREAMING (Race 7)

Value Bet: YIYI (Race 9)

Jackpot (race 7 – 10).

Cost: R90.00  

Race 7.

With the late scratching of one of her main rivals, the door may have opened for today’s best bet, SALINA DREAMING to chalk up her sixth career victory. She is a 5yr old mare taking on the boys, but she stayed on well when finishing sixth last time out over this sprint trip, just over three and a half lengths behind the winner and the form of that race has stood up well with six runners out of that contest subsequently winning. She also won over the 1100M three runs back and although returning from a 36 week absence, she has posted two encouraging barrier trials to showcase her well-being. She is sure to put her pole position to good use and could prove hard to topple in this line-up. NIKOHLI BEAGLE has his consistency rewarded with a head victory last time out over 1100M when returning from a 17 week break. He finished well that day, despite coming three wide into the home straight and from his handy gate four, he could emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice. OSAMU is another who won over today’s distance three runs back and made good late progress to end up in sixth place last time out over the same trip, 1.8L back from the victor. He gets draw six and will have the cheek pieces removed for the first time. If this move has the desired effect, he should be involved in the finish.

Race 8.

This looks to be a tricky race with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is advised. The tentative first pick goes to THROUGH THE CRACKS who is seldom far off the action, finishing third in his latest outing over six furlongs, one and a half lengths behind the winner. He was returning from a 55 week absence that day and found a good finish to be closing quickly on the leaders. He faces a wide draw twelve, but the fact that his connections have brought him back into racing after such a lengthy absence would seem to suggest that they believe that he still has something more to offer them. HOLYFIELD has not fared too well with his draw either, starting one inside the former, but he followed up his penultimate run victory over seven furlongs with a second place finish over the same journey, beaten a short-head in the shadow of the post. He raced just behind the leaders that day and is likely to adopt similar tactics here. SPECIAL REWARD also won his penultimate start, but in his case, over six furlongs and was then hampered at the start when finishing second next time out over six furlongs, 1.3L off the winner. He gets a kinder draw two and the services of ex-SA jockey Glyn Schofield, so will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle.

Race 9.

YIYI missed out on his hat-trick when finishing second last time out over seven furlongs, 1.3L back from the winner when returning from a 13 week rest. He battled all the way down to the wire in that contest, suggesting that the extra ground on offer here will be to his liking. He will have to negotiate a wide draw eleven, but nevertheless he is taken to be the value bet on the day’s card. LACKEEN has cracked pole position and has consistent formlines to his name, finishing fifth last time out over seven furlongs, just under two lengths off the winner. He found himself towards the back of the field in that race, but finished the contest off strongly and should turn in another honest performance today. KINGSHEIR is the stable companion to the top selection and is drawn one inside him. He had finished second and third in his two starts prior to winning his latest outing over seven furlongs by 1.3L. He represents a solid back-up for the yard should the top pick fluff his lines.

Race 10.

WAIHAHA FALLS won his penultimate start over 1500M and then although recorded as finishing sixth last time out over a mile, he was just 1.2L behind the winner and the form of that race has stood up well with three runners out of that contest subsequently winning. He jumps from a wide gate ten, but gets a set of blinkers fitted for the first time and if these help him keep his mind on the job at hand, he should be a big runner here. O’MUDGEE put his disappointing penultimate effort firmly behind him when winning his last start over 1500M by half a length. He found a good finish for that victory and from his cozy draw three and with having 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice, he should be right up there when they hit the line. MORE SUNDAYS get an even better pole position and came the widest of them all into the home stretch before going on to win his last start over 1300M by 2.3L. He struck the front at the 50M mark and effectively put the race to bed at that point. The gelding should be included in all bets.