Australian Racing Tips – Thursday 02 December 2021 – Coffs Harbour (Grafton)

Best Bet: HAURAKI GULF (Race 6)

Value Bet: DEMYKANI MISS (Race 8)

Jackpot (race 5 – 8).

Cost: R120.00

Race 5.

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 the connection believe that they can win first time out. Any betting support for a runner or runners should be respected. Of the raced runners WANJINA ROSE may prove to be the best. She finished second on debut over five furlongs and then ended up in seventh place next time out when stepping up to six furlongs, just over eight lengths adrift of the winner, but she had to be steadied at the 100M mark that day and the form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning. She faces a wide draw eleven, but she should be doing her best work late. ATTESTAR is a speedy sort who showed marked improvement when second last time out over 1100M, finishing just a neck behind the winner. She was only collared in the shadow of the post and whilst drawn even wider out in gate thirteen, she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy. The drop in distance will also be to her liking. ZENIA has finished closer to the winner in each of her last three runs, the latest when fourth over five furlongs, 3.7L lengths back from the victor. The 4yr old filly had to be held up between the 400M and 200M that day and if she has continued down that same path of improvement, she should be considered a big runner in this line-up.

Race 6.

With the late scratching of one of his main rivals, the door may have opened for today’s best bet, HAURAKI GULF to chalk up his second career victory. He followed up his penultimate run win over five furlongs with a second-place finish last time out over six furlongs, just a length behind the winner, notwithstanding overracing in the early stages. He found extra and chased the winner all the way down to the wire. He jumps from draw six and could be the one that they all have to beat. GREY ENUFF won his debut outing over 1100M and then finished in third spot next time out over six furlongs, 3.8L off the winner. He was forced to race wide in the early stages of that contest, but has cracked pole position today and will also have 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice. He could emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice. TITRATION has posted two solid last performances, the latest when trying to go from jump to wire before ending up in fifth place, but just 1.2L behind the winner. He has a handy gate five and will have 4kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice to aid his cause.

Race 7.

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 suggested. STORM ATTACK is seldom far off the action, his last five runs yielding two seconds, two thirds and one unplaced effort, the latest one of those seconds over seven furlongs, beaten just a short-head. He faces a wide draw eleven, but he is likely to post another honest effort here. IN HEART’S WAKE is a 6yr old mare taking on the boys, but she won her penultimate start over seven furlongs and then went on to finish fourth in her last outing over the same c&d, just under three lengths adrift of the winner, when coming the widest of them all into the home straight, and the form of that race has been franked. From her far kinder gate two, she should give the males a good run for their money. HAVIERON also won his penultimate start over seven furlongs and then finished third next time out over the same trip, just under a length back from the winner. He had to be eased off the heels of other runners as the field entered the home stretch that day, so should have finished closer to the victor than he officially did. He is drawn wide in gate ten, but nevertheless, the gelding should still be included in all bets

Race 8.

DEMYKANI MISS is a 5yr old mare taking on males, but she followed up her penultimate run victory over five furlongs with an eighth place finish last time out over the same sprint distance, 3.7L off the winner and the form of that race has been franked. She stayed on well in that contest and from a cozy draw five, she is taken to be the value bet on the day’s card. PHOENIX RIVER is drawn one outside the top pick and took a bump down at the start and found himself at the back of the pack, before having to be held up between the 500M and the entrance to the straight, but still managed to make good late progress over the closing stages when finishing third last time out over five furlongs, just under a length behind the winner. COTTON CAPER is another 5yr old mare in the race, but she won over 1300M three runs back before disappointing in her penultimate start over six furlongs, but she put that effort firmly behind her when finishing second last time out over this trip, just a short-head back from the victor, despite coming three wide into the home straight. From her useful draw three, she should not be easily overlooked.