Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Warwick Farm on 26 January 2024.
Best Bet: NAVAL COLLEGE (Race 6)
Value Bet: SHEZANALISTER (Race 7)
Jackpot (race 4 – 7)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
3 | 8 | 2 | 10 |
9 | 2 | 7 | 12 |
1 | 3 |
| 4 |
Cost: R54.00
Race 4
FRANZ JOSEF struck the front at the 350M mark and then fought off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire to win over seven furlongs on debut, albeit by just a head. He has moved stables since then and now has his first run for his new trainer, but he would have learnt from that first outing and if fully settled into his new surroundings, he should give a good account of himself here, jumping from draw six.
ZARROSE is a 3-year-old filly taking on the boys, but she has won two of her last three runs, the latest over seven furlongs by a half-length when returning from a 19-week break. She came the widest of them all into the home straight that day but finished off her race well. The filly is drawn one inside the top pick and will have cheek pieces re-fitted for today’s run. If this move has the desired effect, she should be a big runner here and the double is very much on the cards.
CANADIAN RULER came three wide into the home stretch but made good late progress to finish second in his latest outing, just a head back from the winner and the form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning. The gelding is drawn wideish in gate eight, but he should nevertheless be included in all bets.
Race 5
KANGAROO COURT has cracked pole position and followed up his penultimate run victory over 1500M with a seventh-place finish next time out over a mile, four lengths back from the winner. He sat just behind the leaders in that event and stayed on well over the closing stages. The gelding returns from a 24-week break, but he has had two barrier trials, finishing third in them both. He should have little issue with the drop in trip and could provide jockey Tim Clark with the first two winners of the day’s Jackpot.
STYLISED has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three starts, the latest when third over 1500M, 1.3L behind the winner, but it should be noted that he had to weave his way through traffic in the home straight that day. The gelding returns from a 34-week spell, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials and gets the services of non-claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd to aid his cause, as will a handy draw two.
MASTER SHOWMAN is seldom far off the action, finishing third last time out over six furlongs, 0.7L back from the winner. He was slow away on that occasion and came four wide into the home straight, before finishing off his race strongly. The gelding must overcome a wide gate fifteen, but he should be doing his best work late.
Race 6
NAVAL COLLEGE goes for his hat-trick after two victories over ten furlongs, the latest when putting 3.8L between himself and the opposition. He raced just behind the leaders in that event, before kicking clear of the field at the 200M mark to win easing down coming up to the line. The gelding has pulled gate five and could prove hard to topple. As such, he is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
YANKEE HUSSEL on the other hand, completed her trio when winning her last start over today’s journey by one and a half lengths, this despite overracing in the early and middle stages. She is a 4-year-old filly taking on males and does face a wide draw twelve, but she clearly has some ability and could be the biggest threat to the top pick.
LOVE TAP finished strongly from some way back to end up in fifth place last time out over eleven furlongs, 1.3L off the winner. He is sure to put his pole position to good use and be involved in the finish.
Race 7
A 4-year-old and two 3-year-old fillies could fight out the finish to this race and complete the trifecta, but the day’s value bet, SHEZANALISTER is taken to lead the field home. She had her consistency rewarded with a length-and-a-half victory last time out over 1100M, notwithstanding being bumped shortly after the start. She recovered quickly to take up the lead and then fought off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. The filly was returning from a 22-week rest that day and will have to negotiate a wide draw eleven here, but she is likely to adopt the same frontrunning tactics.
SATIN AND SILK has won two of her last three outings and finished second in the other, the latest victory coming after showing plenty of toe to cruise to a comfortable one-and-a-half length win over five furlongs. She will have to deal with a wide gate nine, but she is a speedy sort with apprentice Zac Lloyd aboard and he should be able to work her way across without using up too much gas.
DIPSY DOODLE missed out on her hat-trick after two victories over 1100M when finishing second last time out over the same sprint trip, beaten just a short-head, but she did hang out approaching the home turn. She has her first run after a 36-week spell, but has had two barrier trials, finishing third in the first and second in the latest. The filly will have to deal with a wide gate twelve, but she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy and be right up there when they hit the line.
