Australian racing tips – Tuesday 11 January 2022 – Taree

Best Bet: ZARU (Race 7)

Value Bet: THUNDERBOLT TWO (Race 5)

Jackpot (race 4 – 7).

Cost: R54.00  

Race 4.

With the late scratching of one of his main rivals, the way may have been cleared for FARMER’S FRIEND to notch up his third career victory. He was slow away and came four wide into the home straight, but still managed to finish well to end up in third place last time out over this c&d, just under four lengths behind the winner. He returns from a 37 week rest and has not had the benefit of a barrier trial so his fitness will have to be taken on trust and he also has his first run for his new stable, but if fully settled into his new surroundings, he should give a good account of himself here. He jumps from gate five and will have 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice to aid his cause. READY TO CHASE was bumped at the start before making solid improvement to finish third last time out over this c&d, just under a length and a half back from the winner. He was forced to race wide from the 600M mark in that contest, but stayed on well over the business end of the race and whilst having to deal with a wideish draw nine, he should be right up there when they hit the line. BONCHEVO is drawn one outside the latter and has won two of his last three runs. He put his disappointing penultimate effort firmly behind him when victorious by a short-head last time out over five furlongs when returning from a 21 week rest. He was friendless in the betting markets that day, but hit the front at the 50M mark and then held off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire.

Race 5.

THUNDERBOLT TWO is seldom far off the action and was slow away before finishing second last time out over this c&d, 2.3L off the winner. He made good late progress that day and if getting away on terms from gate nine, he should be doing his best work late and is taken to be the value bet on the day’s card. LOOK OUT LEE is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she has consistent formlines to her name, finishing fourth in her latest start over five furlongs, just under a length and a half back from the winner. The form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning. She is drawn the widest of them all in gate thirteen, but she should use her early gate speed to move across without consuming too much energy. HIGHBURY has not fared too well with his draw either, pulling gate eleven, but he followed up his penultimate run victory over 1300M with a third place finish next time out when stepping up to 1500M, just a head behind the winner. He jumped awkwardly on that occasion but stayed on well over the closing stage and was immediately rested for 67 weeks. He returns here after having had the one barrier trial where he finished third and 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.  

Race 6.

ESSOESS made marked improvement to win his last start over 1500M by just under half a length. He had to be switched out for a run at the 250M pole and then finished off his race well which makes the effort that much more encouraging. He gets a handy draw four and could be the one to side with here. BARRY’S LANE drops further in distance after finishing third last time out over a mile, a half length back from the winner. He came four wide into the home stretch that day, but battled all the way down to the wire. From gate seven, he could emerge as the biggest threat to the top choice. WIKI is drawn one outside the latter and is seldom far off the action, having finished fourth over this trip last time out, just under three lengths adrift of the winner. He moved four wide approaching the home turn and then hung in over the latter stages of the contest, so should have finished closer to the winner than he officially did.

Race 7.

As with the first leg of today’s Jackpot, the late scratching of one of his main rivals may have opened the door for today’s best bet, ZARU to chalk up his second career victory. He has consistent formlines to his credit and hung out approaching the home turn before making good late progress to finish a short-head second last time out over six furlongs and the form of that race has been franked. He was returning from a 20 week break that day and whilst drawn wide in gate eleven, he should be doing his best work late. Two 3yr old fillies could chase him home, with the slight preference going to HARD TO DISMISS who put two and a half lengths between herself and the opposition when winning her maiden race last time out over six furlongs, notwithstanding coming three wide into the home straight. She showed plenty of speed that day and from draw seven, she should give the males a good run for their money. Although LITTLE PROPHET is recorded as finishing fifth last time out, she was just 1.8L back from the winner. She did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight that day and from one gate inside the latter and with better luck in running today, she should be involved in the finish.