Australian Racing Tips – Saturday 15 April 2023 – Randwick

Race 7

MILITARIZE put his disappointing penultimate run firmly behind him when winning a Group 1 event over seven furlongs last time out by three and a half lengths. He struck the front at the 200M mark to win going away and from draw seven, he looks to be the one to side with here.

DON CORLEONE did not get the clearest of runs in the home straight, only seeing daylight at the 250M mark, but finishing well to end up in second place in the same race mentioned above, that three and a half lengths behind the former. The pair meet on the same weight terms today and the latter is drawn wide in gate eleven, so he may well have to settle for the same result, but it should be noted that he did beat the top pick in their penultimate start.

TOM KITTEN has won two of his last three starts, the latest over a mile by a head, this despite jumping awkwardly and being inconvenienced at the 150M mark. He gets a kinder draw six and should be included in all bets.

Race 8

GIGA KICK has consistent formlines to his name, finishing second last time out in a Group 1 contest over six furlongs, just a half-length back from the victor, but it should be noted that he was bumped at the start and crowded at the 600M pole and becoming unbalanced. He nevertheless finished off his race powerfully and whilst drawn wide in gate eleven, he should be doing his best work late.

MAZU did finish third in the race mentioned above, 1.3L off the winner and as he meets the top choice on 0.5kgs worse terms at today’s weights, he may battle to reverse that result. The gelding raced up with the leaders that day and then stayed on well over the closing stages and although drawn wide in gate nine, he should use his early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.

ZAAKI is a four-time Group 1 winner who won his last outing over ten furlongs by just under a half length and was immediately rested for 23 weeks. He returns here after having had the benefit of three barrier trials and drops in trip, but he has won over this distance before and the engaging of champion jockey James McDonald would suggest that his connections are expecting a big run from the gelding.

Race 9

The day’s value bet, TAMERLANE has won two of his last three starts and finished second in the other, the latest victory coming over seven furlongs by 1.3L when going from jump to wire. He will have to deal with a wide draw eleven, but he has his peak run after returning from a 16-week break and will have 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd to aid his cause.

COTEHELE is seldom far off the action, finishing third last time out over seven furlongs, just a neck back from the winner. The gelding returns from a 17 week rest, but did win his only barrier trial to prove his well-being. From his handy draw four and with him having 1.5kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice, he should be right up there when they hit the line.

JOJO WAS A MAN missed out on his hat-trick after two victories over a mile when finishing tenth last time out when dropping down to six furlongs in a Group 3 event, four and half-length adrift of the winner, but he had nothing go his way that day. He jumped awkwardly, raced three wide without cover and was then hampered at the 800M pole. With better luck in running and from gate six, he should be considered a big runner in this line-up.

Race 10

DEMOCRACY MANIFEST has consistent formlines to his name and followed up his penultimate run victory over seven furlongs with a third-place finish next time out over a mile, just under a length and a half behind the winner, but he jumped awkwardly in that event, finding himself some way back, but finished well over the closing stages. He returns from a 16-week spell, but he has had the benefit of two barrier trials and has won before when returning from a break. The gelding has pulled draw six and could give the trainer/jockey combination of Chris Waller and Joe Moreira two legs of the day’s Jackpot should the top pick have won the opening leg and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.

MAOTAI also won his penultimate outing, but in his case over 1300M and then finished second next time out over seven furlongs, 1.3L back from the winner. He raced just behind the leader, but had to be held up between the 350M and 200M mark, before finishing well over the latter stages. He faces a wide gate thirteen, but he is a speedy sort who should be able to work his way across without using up too much gas.

SUBSTANTIAL is another who won his penultimate start, but over a mile and then finished fifth in his next outing over seven furlongs in the same race as the latter, 2.8L back from the victor, but that was his first run after a 24 week break and his first for his new trainer. He meets the second pick on 1kg better terms at today’s weights and has a kinder draw three, so there should not be too much separating the pair when they hit the line.