International Racing: Gawler – Sunday 26 April 2020

7 races carded this Sunday 26th April at Gawler will provide some solid betting entertainment for punters and pundits alike. 

ALMADRAVA appears to be the best bet on the card despite this being her first run this year. The trial would’ve helped, and she has the credentials to win this. In the very next race, JUSTA JILLAROO should provide some steady value in a wide-open contest. See more about their chances and more here.

Best Bet: ALMADRAVA (Race 3)

Race 1 – 06:05 – 1515m – Maiden Plate
HOLY SANGRIA could be worth following in a competitive opener on the card. The 3-year old daughter of Akeed Mofeed ran on nicely in her latest effort when coming from off the pace and from a useful draw this time, she should have the scope to be involved once again. DALAKARA stayed on well in the closing stages of his last start when stepping out for the third time in his career. He has shown good improvement in his last two starts and looks likely of going very close to winning here. Paul Gatt retains the ride and they must be included. EXTRA MILE made up lots of ground in the closing stages last time out when 2nd up after a rest. He will be cherry ripe for his peak run back and with only the 3-starts to his name, deserves plenty of respect.

Race 2 – 06:40 – 1200m – Maiden Handicap
OLIVE GROVE has been knocking on the door in his last three starts and he was just outgunned last time out when finding one better on the day. The drop to this trip clearly suited and if repeating that run, he looks to have the credentials to win this. LOFTY TYCOON enjoyed his first run over this course and distance last time out when stepping up to the 1200m. The son of Written Tycoon was run down in closing stages, but he has scope for further improvement and must be considered in this lineup. RANGER CEE JAY wasn’t quite ready for the step up to 1400m last time out and he will enjoy this drop back in trip. He went a lot closer to winning in his penultimate start over this trip and a repeat of that effort will bring him right into contention here. VICTORY ROYALE gave a good account of himself in that recent trial and he should show up well on his debut here.

Race 3 – 07:20 – 1100m – 3YO Maiden Plate
ALMADRAVA has her comeback run here, her first this year. The daughter of Sebring hasn’t been too far off the winner in her three starts to date and if not too in need of the run, she should be involved at the business end. Apprentice Kayla Crowther retains the ride after a solid recent trial, and they look the likeliest winners in a very modest affair. TOSCA ROCKS has two very promising efforts under his belt so far and despite the fact that he returns from a 2-month absence, he should have plenty of scope for more progression. He was very unlucky not to have won last time out and with Krystal Bishop retaining the ride, he could be the biggest threat to the top one. JUSTEDEE appears to be the best of the rest, but he will have to raise his game to have any sort of chance against the top two selections. With only 4 starts to his name he has scope to improve and with Barend Vorster up, could fight out the minor money.

Race 4 – 07:50 – 1100m – Class 2 Handicap (Heat 12)
JUSTA JILLAROO followed up well last time out, after that impressive 6,5-length victory in his penultimate start. This Class 2 event will be a decent test for the son of Dr Doute’s and if finding daylight a fraction earlier this time, he will be tough to collar in the closing stages. He has plenty of improvement to come and looks the right one here. SIDESTREET won his last start when fighting on bravely in the closing stages. With this being his peak run back, he will strip a lot fitter now and the son of Bel Esprit cannot be discounted on what he has shown so far. Dom Tourneur has ridden him in his last two starts and he could make his presence felt once again. GRINZINGER EXPRESS and PARTY HACK are both on the verge of finding best form and must be included in wider perms.

Race 5 – 08:20 – 1200m – BM58 Handicap
ANTRIM’S SECRET found one better over the concluding stages last time, after going forward in the early parts and he was beaten by just under a length. That was on the back of a good third over this course and distance prior to the run. Back up to the 1200m here and if placing his best foot forward at the business end, he could just about win this. ARCTIC BLAZE made steady progress to finish 6th last time out, when having her 2nd run in a row over this course and distance. She is a 4-time winner over this 1200m trip and if settling closer to the early speed from a plum draw this time, she could be the biggest danger to the top one. ALASCAN JADE has gone close in her last two starts against her own sex and she will be looking to make a similar impression in this field. The top weight gets the services of the 4kg claiming apprentice and she’ll be a major threat to the top two.


Race 6 – 08:55 – 1515m – BM58 Handicap
WITH PLEASURE attempts the hat-trick of wins after landing the double from two wide draws in her last two starts. A three-time winner from seven outings so far, she now gets the services of the 3kg claiming apprentice and will be looking to repeat that last effort in a similar class of opposition. From a slightly improved draw, she’ll give her followers another very good run for their money. TURF BURNER won on debut over 1200m and she will attempt to follow that up with another big effort over the extra. The daughter of Sizzling will have plenty more to come and with her smart turn of foot in mind, she will be closing down rapidly in the closing stages. She doesn’t face a bunch of world-beaters in her handicap debut and must be included as a result. HE WILL BOOM is another contender worth mentioning. He has been right there in his two comeback runs after a rest and with this being his peak run back, the extra ground will suit, and he must be considered.

Race 7 – 09:25 – 1722m – BM68 Handicap
STAN THE CADDY has been impressive in both starts so far and the son of Rebel Raider is going to relish this step up in trip, despite finding a wide barrier to overcome. He was running on strongly when stepping up to the 1400m last time out when ridden off the speed and that was on the back of an encouraging debut win. Todd Pannell retains the ride and they should be the ones to beat in the concluding event on the card. GETOUTTHEWAY won impressively last time out over this sort of trip, on the back of two solid performances in similar class prior to that. Ryan Hurdle knows the son of Floral Pegasus well and if building on his recent form, he could give the top one a bit of cheek in the closing stages. CASINO FOURTEEN and MANZALA both have 3-career wins to their name and come into this race with some fair recent form behind them. Both have yet to be tested over this trip but must be included for minor money.