International Racing: Gulfstream Park – Thursday 02 April 2020 (Turf/Dirt)

We back at Gulfstream Park for a nine-race programme on both the turf and dirt surfaces. The best bet on the card is HARTLING in the 6th race. She has won her last four starts and will be looking to add to that tally here. The two main jockeys to follow on today’s card are Luis Saez and Joel Rosario.   

More international tips for tomorrow:
Gulfstream Park
Gosford
Cairns
Pakenham

Neil Morrice


Best Bet: HARTLING (Race 6)
Value Bet: DIXIEINCANDYLAND (Race 8) 

Race 1 
LIVING VICARIOUSLY showed good improvement in his last start over this course and distance. He showed good pace that day and dug down deep in the closing stages, but the winner just had a little more firepower. Emisael Jaramillo retains the ride from a good barrier position and the pair may be hard to peg back in the closing stages. VIOLENT FIGHT is an unraced son of Violence from the Mark Casse stable. He has produced some decent breeze-ups leading into this race and if not too green on his first day at school, he may be right there in the run down to the finishing post. The betting will be the best guide with regards to his chances.

Race 2
MARKISTAN produced a good effort in her first start for her new trainer. She was chased around runners on the turn and ran on well in the closing stages. The drop to 1100m is no concern as she has finished second once from two starts. Luis Saez takes the ride from a wide draw, but that should not pose an issue as she likes to switch off early and do her best work up the straight. MYSTIC COMIN HOME produced a good effort in her last start over six furlongs on this course. She won her penultimate race, before losing it in the boardroom. Gaddiel Martinez knows her well and if the pair can stay on a straight line, she may be the biggest threat to the top choice.

Race 3 
PAPA’S LITTLE GIRL has not finished too far off the winner in recent outings. She came into the home straight widest of all last time, but the manner in which she finished off the race over this course and distance was encouraging. She has a good record on this course with a win, two seconds and four third-place finishes from twelve outings. From her good draw of three, she may be the one to side with here. TALKTHETALK has fair recent formlines to her credit. Those efforts have been over further and she may be looking for the drop back in distance as her record over the six furlongs consists of a win, a second and two third-place finishes from five starts. On best form shown, she should pose the biggest threat to the top choice.

Race 4
CAT LADY made the necessary improvement to finish second in her last start over this course and distance. She was bumped at the start that day and the jockey lost his irons briefly, but she was game in the run down to the wire. With a bit of luck in running, she should go one better today under top jockey Luis Saez. TOO SEXY produced a promising debut effort over this course and distance. She raced handy that day and had to do it the hard way by racing three-wide. Tyler Gaffalione would have learned a lot from that debut effort and the pair should be right there at the business end of the contest.

Race 5 
WORTH AVENUE showed good signs of a form return in her first start for her new conditioner. She may have just been in need of that outing as she lacked a finish up the straight. She has a good record over this distance with four wins, four seconds and two third-place finishes from 14 outings. She should strip much fitter for today’s race and may take a power of beating. TUESDAY’S ROSE’S recent form has been decent. She too has a good record over this trip with four wins, a second and two third place finishes from twelve attempts. Emisael Jaramillo has won aboard the daughter of Tiz Wonderful in the past and the pair merit healthy respect.

Race 6
HARTLING has been an impressive winner of her last four starts. She is a very versatile sort as she is suited to both the turf and the dirt surfaces. Luis Saez who was aboard the daughter of Mucho Macho Man when she won her first start, steps back into the saddle and the pair may be hard to beat. DAYS OF SPRING has good consistent formlines to her credit. She has won twice and finished second twice from as many outings over today’s distance. It is interesting that Saez, who has ridden this daughter of Uncle Mo in her last six starts has opted to the ride the top selection. However, she merits healthy respect in this line-up.

Race 7 
TOKEN showed huge improvement when stepping up to the mile in her last start. She set the pace that day and was outrun in the closing stages. Joel Rosario does duty from pole position and if the pair have their own way in front today, they should be hard to peg back in the finish. NEVER FORGET has produced three decent efforts thus far. She makes her course debut this afternoon and tries the distance for the first time. If seeing out the extra trip, she should be right there in the run down to the finishing post.

Race 8
DIXIEINCANDYLAND’S last three starts have been good. She found one too good over this course and distance in her last start. Her best form has been on the grass surface with a win, two seconds and a third-place finish from as many outings. Joel Rosario does duty this afternoon and the pair should find themselves in the winner’s enclosure. SMACK is yet to be unplaced from eight career outings. She raced from a handy position in her last start and the manner in which she drew off at the finish was encouraging. Tyler Gaffalione knows her well and the pair cannot be ignored.

Race 9
BEAR ALLEY has shown good improvement in each of his outings. He set the pace in his last start over this distance and tired in the closing stages. If building on that effort from a mid-field barrier position, he should be the one they all have to beat. THIS ILL DEFEND has not finished too far behind the winner in recent outings. The run that catches the eye is that of 08 December last year when finishing third over this distance. If repeating that run, he should pose a big threat to the top choice.