International Racing: Weekend Races – Australia

Winning Form brings you all of their best bets and tips from weekend’s racing taking place in Australia. 

Flemington

Best Bet: BIVOUAC (Race 6)

Value Bet: THE GAUCH (Race 9)

Jackpot (race 6-9) – Cost: R90.00.

Race 6.

BIVOUAC finished strongly after having to be steadied at the 900M mark to end up second last time out in The Everest, the world’s richest race on turf. That was over today’s trip and he was just two and a half lengths off the winner, despite that incident. He has his peak run today after returning from a 22 week break and will jump from draw six. LIBERTINI is drawn one inside the top choice and did finish 1.6L behind him in The Everest, but he raced wide that day and may have better luck in running down the straight six furlongs journey. He also has his peak run here after winning a Group 1 event over this distance on his return from an even longer 30 week rest. The pair meet on the same weight terms, so he may have to settle for the same result. NATURE STRIP was in tern 1.3L behind the top pick in that same race mentioned above and will also meet him on the same weight terms today, so could also struggle to turn the tables on his conqueror. He did however jump awkwardly that day and is a speedy sort who won this race last year. He should not be easily overlooked. 

Race 7.

CHAILLOT ran on strongly when fourth last time out over a mile in a Group 1 race, just under a length behind the winner. On that effort, she should have little issue with the step up in distance and from her handy draw four, she could be the one to side with here. IN GOOD HEALTH tried to go from jump to wire before ending up in fifth position last time out over twelve furlongs, a length and a half off the victor. She is drawn one inside the former and should appreciate the drop on journey. SHE’S IDEEL made good late progress when finishing a neck second last time out in the Gold Cup over ten furlongs. She will have to negotiate a wide gate fourteen, but is likely to be dropped out of the race in the early stages and should be picking off the frontrunners in the dash down to the wire. Although VANNA GIRL is recorded as finishing ninth in her last start over a mile, she was only two lengths behind the winner. She only got going late that day, suggesting that the step up in distance will be to her liking. She has a far kinder draw five and should be included in all bets.

Race 8.

ARCADIA QUEEN is a 5yr old mare taking on the boys, but she clipped heels at the 1000M mark and almost fell before recovering well to finish fifth, 3.8L back from the winner last time out in the Group 1 Cox Plate over 2040M. Given that interference, she did extremely well to get as close to the winner as she did. She gets gate five and will be looking to bounce back to winning ways today. MUGATOO made good late progress to finish fourth last time out in the same Cox Plate race, three and a half lengths behind the winner. Although the pair meet on the same weight terms here, a form reversal seems likely as the impediment suffered by the top selection was significant. MELODY BELLE is a 6yr year old mare who is a winner of twelve Group I race’s so far. She has her hat-trick attempt here after winning two Group I events in a row, the latest over 2040M by almost three lengths. She jumps from gate six and should turn in another honest performance today. 

Race 9.

THE GAUCH has consistent formlines to his name and finished second in his latest outing over 1100M, just a head behind the winner. He hit the front at the 150M mark that day and was only run out of it close to home. He has cracked pole position and is taken to be the value bet on the day’s card. METEORITE showed plenty of toe when winning his last start over five furlongs by nearly two and a half lengths. He has his hat-trick run here and could be the biggest danger to the former. EXPRESS PASS on the other hand missed out on his trio of victories when finishing second last time out over six furlongs, one and a half lengths off the winner. He drops back in trip today and could do better as a result.

Sunday 08 November 2020 – Sunshine Coast

Best Bet: RAMTASTIC (Race 6)

Value Bet: ELGIN (Race 4)

Jackpot (race 4 – 7).

  Cost: R54.00

Race 4.

ELGIN has
cracked pole position and is seldom far off the action. He stayed on well when
third last time out over this c&d, just under two lengths behind the winner
and seems likely to turn in another honest performance here. BELLICOSE returns
from a 23 week break, but did finish second in his only barrier trial to prove
his fitness. He jumped awkwardly before trying to go from jump to wire to end
up in fourth place in his last outing over a mile and should enjoy the drop in
trip. THREEPOINT
MISSILE has shown good improvement in his last two runs
and finished a head second in his last start over 1100M. He faces the widest
draw of them all in gate fourteen, but he is likely to be dropped out of the
race in the early stages and should be picking off the frontrunner over the
closing stages.

Race 5.

WEWANDA has
finished second in her last three runs and was only collared in the shadow of
the post last time out over this c&d. She has pulled pole position and will
be hoping to go one better here. MY GIRL SKY has only had the two
runs to date and showed the expected improvement to finish fifth in her second
start over the c&d, before embarking on a 23-week break. She returns here
after finishing fourth in her only barrier trial. She is drawn one outside the top
choice and could emerge as her biggest danger. HAIRDO has her
first run after a 19-week rest but has been placed in both of her barrier
trials to showcase her well-being. She has the blinkers removed for the first
time and if this move has the desired effect, she should make her presence felt
jumping from draw four.

Race 6.

RAMTASTIC has
his hat-trick run after winning his last two starts over this six furlong dash,
the latest by just under a length. He has the widest gate of the field of nine,
but the trio of victories is very much on the cards and he is taken to be the
best bet on the program. THE SINNER stayed on well to end up
in third place last time out over 1300M. He is drawn one inside the top pick
and has his peak outing today. He looks to be the immediate danger to the
former. BOLD STYLE jumped awkwardly and also bumped at the
start of his latest outing when finishing sixth over 1100M, 3.8L off the
winner. He gets gate five and should be involved in the finish.

Race 7.

COURTING VERITY made solid
improvement to win her last start over this c&d by just under a length,
despite taking a heavy bump down at the start. She was friendless
in the betting markets that day and possesses good early gate speed to aid her
to move across from draw seven. She could prove good enough to rattle off her
double. SUNRISE DANCER was only outrun late when finishing fifth
in her last outing over the c&d, nearly three lengths adrift of the winner.
She has her peak run here after returning from a 24 week absence and is sure to
put her pole position to good use. ST JUST disappointed in her last outing when stepping up
to seven furlongs and quickly returns to what appears to be a more suitable
1300M journey. She also has her peak run here after finishing third in her
penultimate start over six furlongs. She jumps from a wideish gate eight, but
on the plus side will have 3kgs removed from her back courtesy of her claiming
apprentice. 

Monday 09 November 2020 – Lismore.

Best Bet: TARA JASMINE (Race 2)

Value Bet: WAMWARRA (Race 6)

Jackpot (race 4 – 7)

Cost: R81.00.

Race 2.

Two 3yr old and one 4yr
old filly could fight out the finish to this race and complete the trifecta,
but the overwhelming top choice goes to TARA JASMINE who
finished strongly to win by two lengths on debut over 1100M. She would have
come on with the run under her belt and from her draw two, she could prove to
be difficult to topple here. SUPER SLICK was hanging in the
closing stages when ending up fourth last time out over 1100M, three lengths
behind the winner when returning from an eighteen week break. She is drawn one
outside the top choice and could be her biggest danger. ADELITA ROSE won
on debut over five furlongs, but was then disappointing next time out when
fading in the home straight to end up 6.3L behind the winner. She is drawn the
widest of them all in gate eight, but she should use her early gate speed to
move across without expending too much energy.

Race 4.

STARS ARE TRUMPS was
bumped at the start before staying on well to finish third last time out over
seven furlongs, just over two lengths behind the winner. The form of that race
has been franked and from her handy gate three, she should be right up there
when they hit the line. QUEENS DO DREAM did not get the
clearest of passages in the home stretch before finishing fourth, 2.7L behind
the winner in the same race mentioned above. She is drawn one inside the top
pick, but may have to settle for the same result today. BULLA BULLA makes
her debut after finishing third in her only barrier trial. She is drawn the
widest in gate eight, but any betting support for her should be respected.

Race 5.

ATOMIC FEATHER had
to be held up at the 600M mark and then switched out to obtain a clear run once
he was in the home straight, so the gelding did well to finish eighth in his
last start over 1300M. He jumps from a wideish gate seven, but with better luck
in running today, he may be the one to side with here. DIRECT DRIVE stayed
on well when ending up seventh in his last outing over 1300M, five lengths
adrift of the victor. He is stuck out the widest of the lot in gate ten, but he
should be doing his best work late. Although MONEY TRAVELS finished
eight in his last start over 1410M, over six lengths behind the winner, the
form of that race has been franked and from a far kinder draw two, he could be
involved in the finish today.

Race 6.

WAMWARRA finished third in
his latest start over 1526M, just 0.7L behind the winner when returning from a
10 week rest. Two horses out of that race have subsequently won a race, so from
draw three, he should be right up there in the firing line. MR AZRAY finished
sixth in his last outing over seven furlongs, just over three lengths adrift of
the winner. He will have to deal with the widest draw of them all in gate
twelve, but he likely to be eased out of the race in the early stages and then
start picking off the frontrunner in the latter stages. TYCOON ROSSA was
held up between the 600M and 400M mark in his last outing over seven furlongs,
when ending up in eighth place, 5.6L off the winner. With a cleared run today,
he should be included in all bets.

Race 7.

DISARMED has
consistent formlines to his name and was making good late progress when
finishing up in the runners-up berth last time out over seven furlongs, just a
half length behind the winner. He has pulled pole position and should be a big
runner in this line-up. ATYAAF returns from a nine week rest, but did finish
third in his only barrier trial. He held on to second place last time out over
a mile, a half length back from the winner, despite hanging in over the latter
stages. He will have to negotiate draw nine, but he should not be overlooked.
Although BOSENDI raced three wide before finishing fifth
in his last start over 1526M at this track, he was just two lengths back from
the winner. He is unfortunately drawn out in gate thirteen, but he nevertheless
should be respected in this field.