Australian racing tips – Friday, 23 May 2025 – Inverell

Race 7

CHURCH ROCK followed up his penultimate run victory over 1500M with a tenth place finish next time out over 1200M, 4.7L back from the winner, when returning from a 17 week rest. He jumped awkwardly that day, but he would have come on further with that run under his belt and with 1.5kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice, he is made the value bet on the day’s card.

YELLOWHAMMER is a 5yr old mare taking on the boys, but she had solid form prior to being hampered and becoming unbalanced when ending up in eighth place last time out over 1600M, 6.8L behind the winner, so that effort is best ignored. That was also at a stronger center and with better luck in running, she should be right up there when they hit the line, despite a wide draw eleven.

LESGO DON missed out on his hat-trick after two victories over 1400M when finishing fourth last time out over 1200M, one and a half lengths back from the winner. He was returning from a 19 week break that day and jumped awkwardly, before coming four wide into the home straight. The gelding will have to negotiate a wide draw nine, but on the plus side he will have 1.5kgs removed from his allocated weight courtesy of his claiming apprentice.

Race 8

The day’s best bet, NAVY STEEL has won two of his last three outings, the latest over 1200M by just under a length. He finished strongly to record a well timed victory and the form of that race has been franked. The gelding faces a wide draw ten, but he should be doing his best work late and prove hard to topple.

MAZITA had solid form prior to finishing twelfth last time out over 1400M, 5.8L behind the winner, but it should be noted that he was trapped very wide without cover throughout in that event, so he had his excuse. The gelding is drawn in gate seven and will have ex-SA jockey Donovan Dillon in the irons, so he will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle. RAINBOW LASS is a 3yr old filly bumping males, but she had her consistency rewarded with a one length victory last time out over 1000M. She struck the front at the 100M mark on that occasion and then held off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. The filly gets a handy draw three and should be involved in the finish.

Race 9

A 3yr old and a 4yr old filly could fight out the finish to this race and complete the exacta, but ULTIMATE SAY is taken to lead the field home. She showed plenty of toe to win by a half length when making her debut over 1100M and would have learnt from that experience. With the natural improvement that can be expected and from a useful gate three, she could be the one that they all have to beat.

STAFFA won over 1000M three runs back, finished fourth in her penultimate start over the same sprint trip and then a disappointing fourteenth in her latest outing over 1200M, 14.3L behind the winner, but that was at a stronger center. She now returns from a 14 week rest, but has finished third in her only barrier trial to showcase her well-being. The filly faces a wide draw nine, but gets the services of Donovan Dillon.

BELLZEN was returning from a 17 week rest and jumped awkwardly, but produced a powerful finish to win his last start over 1000M by 0.7L and the form of that race has been franked. From his kinder draw two and with 1.5kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice, he should be included in all bets.

Race 10

Two 3yr old fillies and a 5yr old mare could dominate the finish to this race and secure the trifecta, but CONFEDERATE LADY could prove to be the best. She won over 1000M three runs back, finished third in her next two runs over the same sprint trip, the latest by just under a length, but she was reported to have lost a shoe in running that day. Nevertheless, she battled all the way down to the line and with her having her peak run after returning from an 18 week spell, as well as having 1.5kgs removed from her back courtesy of her claiming apprentice, she will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways here. Her cozy draw two will do her no harm.

KIRRA’S SISTER won her maiden race over 860M by a half length at the sixth time of asking. She finished well for that win despite hanging out over the closing stages. The filly takes on stronger here, but is drawn one outside the top pick, gets the services of a 1,5kg claiming apprentice and may well be up to the task at hand.

TAKEMINE is seldom far off the action and although recorded as finishing fifth last time out over 1000M, she was just under a length and a half off the victor. The mare did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight that day and with better luck in running here and from draw seven, she should not be easily overlooked.