Australian racing tips – Friday 01 July 2022 – Muswellbrook

Best Bet: OAKFIELD DUKE (Race 7)

Value Bet: ARIMATHEA (Race 8)

Jackpot (race 5 – 8).

Cost: R90.00  

Race 5.

There are four unraced runners in the field, so as is always the case in these types of races, a keen eye should be kept on the betting markets to get some indication as to whether any of the connection believe that they can win first time out. Any betting support for a runner or runners should be respected. Of the raced runners VALORIA may prove to be the best in a race dominated by fillies filling the top three selections. She finished second on debut over six furlongs, just a neck behind the winner, despite coming four wide into the home straight, but did run on well over the closing stages. She would have learnt from that experience and with the natural improvement that can be expected, she could be the one that they all have to beat. She jumps from a wide draw eleven, but she should be doing her best work late.

KWIK AZ HELL is a 2yr old filly taking on older horses, but she was slow away and crowded shortly after the start when ending up in third place first time out over five furlongs, 3.3L back from the winner. She would have come on with that run under her belt and the extra ground on offer here should be to her liking. She gets gate seven and should be right up there when they hit the line.

ALL TOO SCOTTISH disappointed when finishing seventh in her penultimate run over 1300M and was immediately rested for 31 weeks. She then finished third over 1100M on her return, just over three lengths off the winner, but she stayed on well that day, suggesting that she should appreciate the extra ground on offer here. From a handy draw three, she should be included in all bets.

Race 6.

DENETTA is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she goes for her hat-trick after two victories over 1300M, albeit the latest by just a short-head. She came four wide into the home straight that day, but finished off her race strongly to get up in the shadow of the post. She has pulled a useful gate three and should give the males a good run for their money.

THE CHOSEN ONE is the stable companion to the top choice and was slow away and overraced in the middle stages of the race, but still battled all the way down to the wire to end up in third place last time out over 1350M, 1.8L adrift of the winner. He was returning from a 16 week rest that day and has cracked pole position here and represents a solid back-up for the yard.

PATAGONIAN is seldom too far off the action and had to be eased out of the race from a wide draw last time out when tenth over six furlongs, 3.3L adrift of the victor. He is drawn one outside the latter and may be the one to spoil the sable mate’s party.

Race 7.

OAKFIELD DUKE has only had the two runs to date, finishing third on debut over 1100M and then showing the expected improvement to win his next start over five furlongs by 1.3L. That effort was made even more encouraging by the fact that he raced four wide without cover. No doubt he would have come on further with that run and notwithstanding being drawn wide in gate eleven, he is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.

Two 3yr old fillies could chase him home, with the slight preference going to ALICIA ROMA, who’s last three runs have yielded a first and two second spot finishes over this sprint trip, the latest by just a neck when returning from a 22 week spell, even though she was hanging out over the closing stages. She is drawn the widest of them all in gate fifteen, but given her style of racing, she is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and then start to pick off the front runners over the closing stages of the race.

FLASHY GIFT won first time out over five furlongs by 0.8L and would have come on further with the run under her belt. She on the other hand is drawn in gate two and will have 1.5kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice, so should be involved in the finish.

Race 8.

With the late scratching of one of her main rivals, the door may have opened for today’s value bet, ARIMATHEA to chalk up her third career victory. She is a 4yr old filly taking on males, but she followed up her penultimate run win over 1100M with a fifth place finish next time out over five furlongs, four lengths behind the winner, but she was crowded at the 250M pole that day and should have finished closer to the winner as a result. She has her peak run after returning from a 14 week break and will have to negotiate draw eleven, but on the plus side, she will get 2kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice.

HOLY TYCOON is a 3yr old filly who missed out on her hat-trick when finishing sixth last time out over six furlongs, just over nine lengths adrift of the winner, but the form of that race has been franked. She returns from a 17 week rest and has not had a barrier trial, but she has a kinder gate six and will also be in receipt of a 2kgs apprentice claim to aid her cause.

TITAN STAR has consistent formlines to his credit and raced wide throughout when ending up in second place last time out over five furlongs, 2.3L back from the winner. The colt is sure to put his pole position to good use.