Australian racing tips – Friday 20 September 2024 – Newcastle

Race 5

TERRA MATER is a winner of two of her last three starts, the latest over 1350M, albeit by just a head, but she had to be held up in the home straight that day and only saw daylight at the 120M, before finishing powerfully to get up in the shadow of the post. The mare has her peak run after returning from an 18-week break and gets a handy draw two and is made the value bet on the day’s card.

ROOTS has cracked pole position and raced three wide throughout, but finished strongly from some way back to end up in seventh place last time out in a Group 1 event over 1400M, just over one and a half lengths back from the winner. She has her first run after an 11 week rest, but has had the benefit of a barrier trial.

OVERRIDING is seldom far off the action and although recorded as finishing sixth last time out over 1200M, she was just over one and a half lengths back from the winner. She was returning from a 15 week break on that occasion and was slow away, but made good late progress over the closing stages. The mare has pulled a useful draw four and should be included in all bets.

Race 6

The day’s best bet, REDSTONE WELL went from jump to wire to win his last race, a Listed event over 2400M, by putting four lengths between himself and the opposition. He gets gate seven and is likely to attempt similar frontrunning tactics today to prove difficult to reel in over the latter stages.

TOURISTIC has finished second in his last three outings, the latest over 2000M (G3), just a half length behind the winner, but he did come four wide into the home straight and was hampered at the 300m mark, so he had his excuses. From his cozy draw two, he will be hoping to go one better here.

LUNCIES came three wide into the home stretch, but stayed on well to finish second in his latest outing over 2100M, just a half length off the victor. The gelding is sure to put his pole position to good use and get involved in the finish.

Race 7

HERE TO SHOCK won over 1300M three runs back, finished eighteenth in his penultimate start in a Group 1 event over 1400M and then second in his latest outing over the same journey, just a head behind the winner. He was returning from a 11 week rest that day and raced wide throughout, before being grabbed on the line. The gelding will have to deal with a wide gate nine, but he will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways today.

CHORLTON LANE has turned in two solid last runs, the latest when third over 1400M, 1.3L adrift of the winner, but he finished strongly from too far back on that occasion and from his kinder draw three, he could emerge as the biggest danger to the top pick.

ST LAWRENCE is the stable companion of the latter and his last four outings have produced two second and two third place finishes, the latest one of those seconds over 1400M, 0.8L off the winner, when he chased hard all the way down to the wire. The gelding is drawn one outside the latter and makes a solid back-up for the yard.

Race 8

CORMAC T goes for his hat-trick after victories over 1800M and the latest over 2000M by 0.8L, this despite coming four wide into the home straight. He has his first run for his new trainer and his first outing after a 23 week break, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials. If settled into his new surroundings, he should give a good account of himself here and although drawn wide in gate fourteen, on the plus side, he will have 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.

IRISH KISSES on the other hand has pulled pole position. She is a 7yr old mare taking on the boys and tried to go from gun to tape when ending up in fourth spot last time out over 1400M, just over a length and a half behind the winner. The mare gets a set of blinkers fitted for the first time and if these have the desired effect, she should be a big runner here.

WHATADILEMMA was returning from a 25 week spell when finishing second last time out over 1600M, beaten just a short-head, but he did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight that day, so he can be considered an unlucky loser. From gate seven, he could complete the trifecta.