Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Port Macquarie on 19 May 2023.
Best Bet: REGINA’S GIRL (Race 5)
Value Bet: PRINCESS ZEDDY (Race 8)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
9 | 5 | 5 | 8 |
1 | 2 | 7 | 2 |
| 6 | 4 | 3 |
Cost: R54.00
Race 5
There are three 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 connections believe that they can win first-time out. Any betting support for a runner or runners should be respected.
Of the raced runners, the day’s best bet, REGINA’S GIRL may well prove to be the right one. She is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys, but she was hampered at the start but stayed on well over the closing stages to finish second on debut over five furlongs, one and a half lengths behind the winner. 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 is drawn in gate five and gets the cheek pieces fitted for the first time and if these have the desired effect, she could prove hard to topple.
CARDSHARP is the stable companion to the top choice and was slow away when finishing third first time out over 1100M, just under a half-length behind the winner. He would have come on further with that run under his belt and although drawn the widest of them all in gate ten, he makes a solid back-up for the yard.
ICON OF STYLE is another 3yr old filly in the race. She raced wide throughout when finishing fifth in her latest outing over 1100M, 1.8L back from the winner and jumping from gate six and with having 1.5kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice, she should be involved in the finish.
Race 6
BETTER JUDGEMENT is a 3yr old filly taking on males, but she won over five furlongs three runs back, finished fourth in her penultimate start over six furlongs and then second in his latest outing over 1100M, just a neck behind the winner. She does return from a 19-week break, but she has had the benefit of two barrier trials and from her handy draw four, she looks to be the one to side with here.
WHERE’S THE FIRE showed solid improvement to win his maiden race last time out over 1100M by 2.8L at the fourth time of asking. He was returning from a 27-week break that day and was hampered at the 800M mark, before striking the front at the 200M pole to win going away. The gelding is drawn wideish in gate eight, but nevertheless, he should be right up there when they hit the line.
MOTHER JOY is another 3yr old filly in the contest and put her disappointing penultimate start over five furlongs behind her when winning her latest outing over the same c&d by a neck. She was hampered at the 800M mark that day and was trapped three wide the whole way, but she hit the front at the top of the home straight and then held off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. From draw five, she should be included in all bets.
Race 7
Two 3yr old fillies could fight out the finish to this race and complete the exacta, but BOOMSITA is taken to lead the field home. She had consistent formlines to her name prior to being a tad disappointing when fishing eighth in her latest outing over six furlongs, 6.3L adrift of the winner, but she jumped awkwardly that day, losing ground at the start and then overraced in the early and middle stages, before being checked at the 800M mark, so she had her excuses. She has her first run since a 14-week rest but did win her only barrier trial to showcase her well-being and whilst drawn wide in gate twelve out of thirteen, she should turn in another honest performance today.
CHILLINGME SOFTLY showed the expected improvement to finish sixth second time out over 1100M, just 1.8L behind the winner, this despite overracing in the early stages and was immediately rested for 21 weeks. She returns here without having had the benefit of a barrier trial, so her fitness will have to be taken on trust, but she gets a kinder draw three and should not be easily overlooked.
TWIN SEAS is seldom too far off the action, having finished third in his last two runs, the latest over five furlongs, just under one and a half lengths back from the winner, but it should be noted that he was hampered in the early stages of that event. The gelding has pulled gate seven and gets a set of blinkers re-fitted for the day’s run. If these have the desired effect, he should be a big runner here. As with the first leg of the day’s Jackpot, there are unraced runners in this contest, so the same comment in respect of keeping an eye on the betting moves applies here as well.
Race 8
The day’s value bet, PRINCESS ZEDDY is a 5yr old mare taking on boys, but she won her last start over seven furlongs, albeit by just a short-head. That effort was full of merit as she overraced in the early and middle stages and came three wide into the home stretch, before kicking clear at the 100M pole and then fighting off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. She jumps from gate seven and could chalk up her third career victory today.
NARNIA was returning from a 14-week break and raced three wide into the home straight when showing good improvement to finish third last time out over six furlongs, just over a half-length off the winner and the form of that race has been franked. The gelding is drawn one outside the top pick and could emerge as the biggest threat to the former.
KERMANTIC had to be held up in the home straight when ending up in fifth place last time out over seven furlongs, two lengths behind the winner. He will have to negotiate draw eleven, but he will be having his peak run after returning from an 18-week spell.
