Australian Racing: Wednesday 17 March – Randwick

Winning Form brings you all of their best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing taking place at Randwick, Australia. 

Best Bet: NAJMAH (Race 8)

Value Bet: BLACK DUKE Race 7)

Jackpot (race 5-8). – Cost: R54.00

Race 5.

Two 3yr old fillies and a 5yr old mare can fight out the finish to this race and complete the trifecta, but FLEXIBLE is taken to lead them across the finishing post. She finished strongly when missing out on her hat-trick last time out when sixth over a mile, 6.7L behind the winner, but on that effort, she should have little difficulty coping with the step up in distance here. She has only had the five runs to date, but has posted two wins and one second place finish so far. She will have to negotiate gate eight, but she could bounce back to winning ways today. FRENCH BONNET has won two of her last three outings, including the latest over seven furlongs by just under a length and a half. She stayed on well that day and the step up in trip should be well within her grasp. She jumps from draw five and could emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice. JOIGNY is drawn one outside the latter and was checked at the 50M mark before ending up in third spot last time out over a mile, one and a half lengths back from the victor. She had also finished third in her penultimate start over 1550M and did finish second in a subsequent barrier trial. She should be included in all bets.

Race 6.

RELUCENT is seldom far off the action and finished fourth in his last outing over twelve furlongs, two lengths adrift of the winner. He returns from a 15 week break, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials and should turn in another honest performance here, despite facing a wideish draw ten out of the eleven runners. PETRONIUS tried to go from jump to wire before ending up in third place last time out over this distance. He was however only run out of it late over the closing stages that day. He is drawn one outside the top pick, but given his racing style, he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy. SENOR TOBA is the stable companion to the top selection and has only had the two runs to date. The Chris Waller inmate showed the expected improvement to win at the second time of asking, this over a mile by nearly two lengths. She has a kinder draw six and although taking on stronger here, he may well be up to the task at hand.

Race 7.

BLACK DUKE steps up in trip after finishing fifth last time out over seven furlongs just over three lengths behind the winner, but that was in a Listed race and he may well do better in this company and is taken to be the day’s value bet. He hit the front as the field entered the home straight and then battled all the way down to the wire. He has a wide draw twelve, but on the plus side, he will get 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice. SIGNORA NERA is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys and is having her first start in Australia for her top trainer/jockey combination. She posted an encouraging barrier trial to showcase her well-being and is drawn one inside the former. If fully settled into her new surroundings, she should give the males a good run for their money. CHAMPAGNE VEGA missed out on his hat-trick when third last time out over a mile, just a head back from the winner. He was hampered at the 150M peg that day and then raced in tight quarters in the closing stages. He jumps from draw five and with better luck in running, he should be involved in the finish.

Race 8.

With the late scratchings of two of her main rivals, the door may have open for today’s best bet, NAJMAH, to chalk up her third career victory. She has only had the three outings to date and missed out on her trio of wins when finishing a head second last time out over 1100m when returning from a 15 week absence. She bumped into the running rail at the 400M mark that day and should just about won the contest but for that incident. The late scratchings have also help her draw and now from gate seven, she could prove difficult to topple in this line-up. SELBUROSE also missed out on her hat-trick last time out when finishing fourth over 1100M, just under one and a half lengths back from the winner, but the form of that race has stood up well. She returns from a 13 week rest, but did finish third in her only barrier trial. She is unfortunately drawn the widest of them all, but she should nevertheless not be easily overlooked in this field. EITHER OAR is the third of the selections to have lost out on completing her hat-trick in her latest start over 1100M, finishing 1.7L adrift of the victor. Two runners out of that race have subsequently won, so that form is turning out to be reliable. She returns from an 18 week rest, but did finish second in her only barrier trial and has a far kinder draw four.