International Racing: Friday 21 August 2020 – Australia

Race 6

SCANTOON has consistent formlines to his name and finished well to end up in second place last time out over 1500M, a head behind the winner. He lost a shoe in running that day and was also the subject of solid betting support. He gets a set of blinkers fitted for the first time here and will jump from gate seven. He could prove difficult to topple and is taken to be the best bet on today’s card. THE PRES followed up his penultimate run victory when returning from a 18-week rest with a third-place finish over seven furlongs, just under a length behind the victor. He has his peak run here and is drawn one outside the top choice. HINCHPIN returns from a lengthy 47-week break and has not had the benefit of a barrier trial. He is however seldom far off the action and had posted two solid efforts over this trip prior to his rest.  

Race 7

ANTAGONISER made good late progress when finishing second last time out over seven furlongs and on that effort, he should have no issues going over the extra ground of today’s contest. He jumps from gate nine and could be the one to side with here. SILENT COMMAND is drawn one inside the former and was a little disappointing in his last outing over 1500M. The form of that race has however been franked and may prove to be stronger than this line-up. As such, he is afforded another opportunity here. SMOKIN’ ROMANS missed out on his hat-trick when finishing fifth last time out over a mile. He battled on gamely that day and whilst still drawn wideout at thirteen as a result of the late scratchings in the race, he is likely to be doing his best work late and should be included in all bets. 

Race 8

HYPERSONIC failed to complete his trio of wins last time out when finishing eleventh last time out over six furlongs, but he did jump awkwardly that day and never appeared to recover from that. His two prior wins had been posted over five furlongs and he may be better suited to the slightly shorter trip. In addition, the blinkers are removed for the first time and he may do better as a result. EAGLE SPIRIT has cracked pole position and did win just eight days ago over this distance. He could prove good enough to complete his double today. BONNE SENSATION is an 8yr old mare taking on the boys. She returns from a 20-week rest and no barrier trial, but she too missed out on her hat-trick last time out before the rest when finishing twelfth over this trip, 5.3L behind the winner. She has a handy two gate and will have 2kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice to aid her cause. 

Race 9

ELEGIST finished third last time out over 1100M, just over two lengths off the winner, but that was on the synthetic track and he may prove to be better on the grass. He jumps from a handy four draw and has his peak run here. He could be the one that they all have to beat. WINNING RED has only had the two runs to date, finishing second over this distance on debut and then winning next time out over six furlongs by nearly two lengths. He was immediately rested for 40 weeks and now returns here without having had a barrier trial. He also has his first run for his new trainer, but if fully settled into his new surroundings, he could be the biggest danger to the top pick. BEAUTY BETTY is a 4yr old filly taking on males and returns from a 23-week break with no barrier trial. She finished fifth in her latest run over five furlongs and should give the boys a good run for their money.   

Race 1

With the late scratching of one of his main rivals, the door may have been opened for TOTAL RECALL to record his second career victory. He drops back in distance after finishing sixth last time out over nine furlongs to the mile over which trip he won going away by 2.6L in his penultimate start. He jumps from a handy two gate and looks to be the best bet on the day’s program. SAPPHIRES SON won his maiden race last time out over 1700M by nearly three lengths and despite having to deal with a wide eleven draw, he could complete the exacta here. FLYING MOJO drops back in trip after ending up in fourth place in his last outing over ten furlongs and may do better as a result.

Race 5

STAR RAIDER and PEACHIES DREAM renew their rivalry here and a form reversal seems likely. The former has consistent formlines to his credit and finished fourth last time out over this c&d, 1.2L behind the winner when returning from a lengthy 43-week break. He has cracked pole position and will have 4kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice. The latter is a 5yr old mare taking on the boys. She showed marked improvement in her last run when finishing just a head off the winner in the race mentioned above when returning from a 19-week rest. She now meets the top choice on 1.5kgs worse terms and is drawn slightly wide in gate eight. As such, she may find it difficult to confirm that last result. A FORTUNATE LASS is another 5yr old mare. She was only run out of it late when fourth in her latest outing over six furlongs and could enjoy going over the shorter trip.

Race 6

As with the previous race, there may also be a form reversal here when CONDOVER HALL and THE KROC clash once again. The former has finished second in his last two outings, the latest when two lengths behind the winner over nine furlongs. He battled all the way down to the wire that day and should appreciate the extra ground on offer here. The latter did win that mentioned race when friendless in the betting market, but she only just kept the chasing pack at bay and might not be as effective over the extra distance. The top pick is also 2kgs better off at today’s weight terms and is drawn in gate seven as opposed to ten for the second choice. REPOSITION was hampered at the 300M mark before ending up in seventh place last time out over nine furlongs. He has a wide draw of twelve to negotiate, but on the plus side, he will have 2kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice. 

Race 7

O’DRISCOLL put nearly three lengths between himself and the opposition when winning last time out over 1500M. He hit the front at the 175M mark and kept finding more over the closing stages of the contest. He starts from gate two and could prove good enough to chalk up his double here. HOLY REIGN showed marked improvement when making good late progress to win his last start over 1300M by some two and a half lengths. His draw five will do him no harm. DANZIBAR DANCER is a 6yr old mare taking on males. She tried to go from jump to wire when finishing second in her last outing over 1300M. She only failed by a head that day and from gate four, she is likely to attempt similar tactics once again. 

Race 8

BANDAHARA had his consistency rewarded with a victory last time out over a mile. He stayed on well to post a one-length win that day and from gate six, he appears to be the one to side with here in what looks to be a tricky contest. NEW YORK NICK has pulled pole position. He jumped awkwardly is his last outing, before going on well to win his last start over six furlongs by three lengths. He attempts his hat-trick today and the manner in which he dealt with the opposition in that last run suggests that this is very much on the cards. FEARLESS MILA is a 5yr old mare taking on boys, but she finished second in her latest outing over seven furlongs, just a half-length back, despite coming wide into the straight. She has a wideish draw of nine, but should still be involved in the finish today. DISCOMBE returns from a 20-week rest but has had two barrier trials, winning the latest. He drops down from the mile of his last two outings, but from gate four, he should be right up there when they hit the line.