International Racing: 23-24 January 2021 – Australia

Winning Form brings you all of their best bets and tips for this Weekend‘s races taking place in Australia. 

Saturday 23 January 2021 – Randwick

Best Bet: BANDERSNATCH (Race 8)

Value Bet: STRANGE CHARM (Race 9)

Jackpot (race 7 – 10). – Cost: R54.00.

Race 7

ULYSSES has won two of his last three runs, the latest over 1500M, by nearly a length. He went from jump to wire that day and the form of that race has been franked. He will have to negotiate draw eight, but given his style of running, this may not be too big an issue. ZEGALO is having his first start in Australia without the benefit of a barrier trial, but he has solid UK form and hails from the top stable of Chris Waller, so his fitness should not be an issue. Keep an eye on the betting markets to get some indications if the connections believe that he can win first time out for the yard. His handy draw two is a plus. BLONDEAU is the stable companion to the latter. He jumped awkwardly before finishing strongly to win his last start over 1300M by a head, suggesting that the extra ground on offer today will be to his liking. He faces gate nine, but he should be doing his best work late. 

Race 8

BANDERSNATCH was making good late progress before ending up in second place last time out over six furlongs, just failing by a short head and on that effort, he should appreciate going the extra trip. He gets a set of cheek pieces fitted for the first time and if these have the desired effect, he could prove difficult to topple here, jumping from his draw two. As such, he is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card. CHAT is seldom far off the action and was hampered at the jump last time out when finishing fifth over six furlongs, 1.4L behind the winner. He gets gate five and could emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice. GAULOIS has finished closer to the winner in his last three outings, the latest when fourth over a mile, just a neck back from the victor. He was hampered at the 100M mark that day and could just about have won the race. From draw three, he should be involved in the finish. 

Race 9

STRANGE CHARM has her hat-trick run after winning her last two starts over 1500M, the latest by almost two lengths. She hit the front at the 200M pole that day and then strode away from the balance of the field to record a comfortable victory. She has a wideish draw eight, but she nevertheless looks to be the one to side with here and is made the value bet on the program. ZING had her consistency rewarded with an end to end, one length win, last time out over this c&d. She is drawn the widest of them all in gate fourteen, but she is likely to use that good early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy. DAME KIRI missed out on her hat-trick when a two length third last time out over 1500M at this track, but she was badly hampered at the 400M mark that day and should have finished closer to the winner as a result. She jumps from gate eight and should be included in all bets.

Race 10

ALL TIME LEGEND has won his last four races on the bounce, the latest by half a length over seven furlongs at this venue. He has his peak run here after returning from a 16 week rest and, as a known front runner, he is sure to put his pole position to good use. SNOWFIRE also likes to be up with the early pace and did just that when leading all the whole way to record a short-head victory last time out over 1500M. He is drawn wide in gate ten, but he has won four of his last five outings and is sure to turn in another honest performance today. BETCHA FLYING is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she followed up her penultimate run victory over this c&d with another win next time out over 1500M at this track. She finished strongly that day and from gate eleven, she is likely to be dropped out of the race in the early stages and then start picking off the frontrunners in the dash down to the wire. 

Saturday 24 January 2021 – Wyong

Best Bet: LEXI’S CHOICE (Race 6)

Value Bet: AEECEE POWER (Race 7)

Jackpot (race 4 – 7) – Cost: R54.00.

Race 4

DESERT FLAME is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she overraced in the early and middle stages and then understandably had nothing to come in the latter stages to end up in third place last time out over seven furlongs, 6.8L behind the winner. She did however finish fourth in her penultimate start over this c&d, just over one length back from the winner and the form of that race has been franked. She is drawn in gate six and is trained by ex-SA jockey/trainer David Payne and will be partnered by ex-SA jockey Keegan Latham. RED HOT ZONE raced three wide to finish eighth last time out over a mile, nearly four lengths adrift of the victor. He has his peak run here after returning from a 20 week rest and has a handy draw four, so could be the biggest danger to the top choice. AUSBRED COOEE raced wide into the home straight to finish seventh last time out over seven furlongs, five and a half lengths behind the winner. From an even better draw two, he could complete the trifecta.

Race 5

SO UNITED has cracked pole position and was only collared very late before finishing a half length second in his latest outing over ten furlongs. He tried to make every post a winning post that day and is likely to attempt similar tactics here. SOUCHONG is a 5yr old mare taking on males. She is also a front runner who has won two of her last three runs, the latest over ten furlongs, by just over half a length. She jumps from draw five and should give the boys a good run for their money. TERONITO finished fourth last time out over 1900M, 4.3L behind the winner, but it should be pointed out that the gelding jumped awkwardly that day and then did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight. He faces gate nine, but is likely to be doing his best work late. 

Race 6

Today’s best bet, LEXI’S CHOICE is a 5yr old mare taking on boys, but she has pulled pole position and has posted two solid last performances, the latest when second in her latest run over seven furlongs, beaten just a head. She came wide into the straight that day and should be right up there when they hit the finishing post today. ALWAYS SURE made good late progress to mow down the opposition to win his last start over seven furlongs by over one and a half lengths. He will have to negotiate draw nine, but he should be doing his best work late. DINADO is a 3ur old filly who although is recorded as finishing seventh last time out over this mile journey, she was only 3.3L adrift of the winner and has had the benefit of a barrier trial since then. She is drawn even wider in gate eleven, but will get a set of blinkers fitted for the first time and if these help her to keep her mind on the matter at hand, she should not be lightly overlooked in this line-up. 

Race 7

AEECEE POWER is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she has only had the three runs to date, winning at the second time of asking over 1100M when returning from a lengthy 50 week absence, but then turning in a flat effort next time out when 13.1L behind the winner over six furlongs in heavy going. She was reported to be lame after that outing and a line should be drawn through that effort. Her trainer is obviously happy that she has fully recovered and from gate six, she will be looking to bounce back to winning ways here. MR POLAR had to be eased at the 500M pole before ending up in second spot last time out over five furlongs, just over a half length behind the winner. The form of that contest has stood up well and although drawn the widest of them all in gate eleven, the gelding could threaten the top pick. MY RUBY is another 3yr old filly in the race. She had nothing go her way last time out when finishing over thirteen lengths behind the winner over 1300M in heavy going. She was crowded jumping and then overraced in the early and middle stages, so that run is best ignored. She has gate seven and if returning to her better form, she should be included in all bets.