International Racing: Friday 16 October 2020 – Australia

ATTUNED had his consistency rewarded with a head victory last time out over six furlongs. He hit the front as they entered the straight and then held off all challengers in the dash down to the line. He jumps from a wideish gate eight but nevertheless looks to be the one to side with here. BLAZING BEAU has finished second in his last two outings, the latest when a head back from the winner over six furlongs. He is drawn one inside the top choice and will have 3kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice to aid his cause. MICHEAL OSCAR is seldom far off the action and raced three wide before ending up in fifth place last time out over five furlongs, 1.6L behind the victor, when returning from a 28-week break. He will have to negotiate a wide gate eleven, but he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy. 

With the two late scratchings, one of which was his main rival, the way may have been cleared for HENSCHEL to chalk up his fourth career victory. The gelding showed good improvement to win his last start over six furlongs by half a length. He went from jump to wire that day and may prove difficult to reel in over the latter stages. His handy draw three is a plus and he is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card. ROMEO VELLA is a 6yr old mare taking on the boys. She steps up in trip after posting two solid effort over five furlongs, the latest when just over a length behind the winner. She will have to overcome a wide draw 10, but she has her peak run today and could emerge the biggest threat to the top pick. UNIVERSAL THIEF on the other hand takes a drop in distance after finishing 2.7L behind last time out over 1300M, but the form of that race has been franked. He has his first run after an 18-week rest and has not had the benefit of a barrier trial, but starting from gate two, he should be involved in the finish.

SMART AIN’T HE has solid form to his credit and won his latest outing over a mile. He had finished second over today’s distance in his two runs prior to that, so the drop in trip should not be an issue. He likes to race up with the pace in his races, so his draw eight should not present too big a problem. ARCTIC THUNDER is a 3yr old filly taking on males. She has only had the two runs to date, winning over 1300M on debut and then only being run out of it late next time out over this distance, just a half-length behind the winner. She has a kinder draw two and she should give the boys a good run for their money. KYPREOS finished strongly to put two and a half lengths between himself and the opposition when winning last time out over six furlongs. He is drawn 11, but should be doing his best work late.

WE ALL AGREE has shown steady improvement in his last three runs, culminating with a one-length maiden victory last time out over 1300M, despite being hampered soon after the start. He has gate four and may prove good enough to complete his double in this line-up. AUTUMN FALLS is a 3yr old filly taking on boys, but she followed up her second-place finish in her penultimate start over seven furlongs with her maiden win by two and a half lengths over the same trip. He made good late progress in that race and from a wide gate thirteen, she is likely to be dropped out early and should be picking off the frontrunners over the closing stages of the contest. ANY WISH is a 5yr old mare who jumped awkwardly before ending up in fourth place last time out over 1300M, three and a half lengths behind the winner. He will have to deal with draw ten, but should still be included in all bets.

MOONHAWK has finished second in his last two runs but got closer to the winner last time out when just a neck back over 1100M. He was only collared in the shadow of the post that day and is sure to appreciate the drop in distance here. From his draw three, he could be the one that they all have to beat. ELEAZAR jumped awkwardly, but then finished strongly to end up in fifth place last time out over 1100M, 1.8L behind the winner. He is drawn one outside the top choice and looks to be his biggest danger. FOXY XENIA is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys. She also jumped awkwardly when making her debut before staying on well to win by just over a length in a five furlongs sprint. She starts from gate six and may well be good enough to record her double today. 

ALL FROM SCRAP had his consistency rewarded when winning his last outing over six furlongs by a head. He was hampered at the 900M mark that day which makes the victory that much more encouraging. From gate four, he is taken to be the value bet on the day’s program. ASUDEM is seldom far off the action and finished third in his latest start over 1300M, 0.7L off the victor. He has his peak run today and from a handy draw two, he should be right up there when they hit the line. CLASSIC GAMING was slightly disappointing when stepping up to seven furlongs last time out and quickly returns to what appears to be a more suitable distance. It must however be noted that he was slightly hampered in the straight in that last run. He jumps from gate six and with better luck in running here, he should make his presence felt in this line-up. 

NEW TYCOON was a short-head winner of his last start over a mile and the form of that race has been franked. He is a versatile sort who won over 1300M three runs back. He gets to jump from gate two and is made the best bet on the card. OH SO HOT is a 4yr old filly taking on males, but she finished strongly to be a narrow winner of her last outing over seven furlongs. She will have to negotiate a wide draw ten, but the manner in which she finished off that last victory suggests that the extra ground on offer here will be to her liking. MEYER is also a 4yr-year-old filly. She showed marked improvement last time out when finishing sixth, 3.6L back from the winner despite being forced to race four wide. She made good late progress that day and if she has continued down that same path, she should be involved in the finish.  

 

SHEN GUI returns from a lengthy 98-week absence during which time he was gelded. He has however had two barrier trials to showcase his well-being and has his first run for his new trainer. The fact that his connections have brought him back into racing suggests that they still feel that he has something to offer them. He has draw gate 10, but if fully settled into his new surroundings, he should be right up there in the mix. WANDZEL has his first outing after a 38-week rest and has not had the benefit of a barrier trial, so his fitness will have to be taken on trust. Nothing went his way in his last outing over 1500M and he drop in trip here and with better luck in running today, he should be involved in the finish. BEING NAUGHTY has only had the two runs to date and showed the expected improvement to finish sixth last time out over six furlongs, 2.2L behind the winner, despite overracing in the early stages. He has pulled pole position and should be included in all bets.