Australian racing tips – Friday 27 January 2023 – Scone

Best Bet: KANGAROO COURT (Race 6)
Value Bet: EXTRA FLASH (Race 8)

Jackpot (race 5 – 8)

Cost: R150.00

Race 5

There are five 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 HE’S PURRING may well prove to be the best. He raced three wide without cover but stayed on well when finishing third last time out over 1100M, four and a half lengths behind the winner. He does face a wide draw nine, but he should be doing his best work late.

DANCEDES is a 3yr old filly taking on the boys and is making her debut, but she has won both of her barrier trials and won’t have to be a superstar to win this contest. Her handy draw four is a further plus.

SUPER STORY is drawn one outside the latter and hung in at the top of the home straight and was hampered at the 400M mark when finishing third first time out over 1100M, 4.7L back from the winner. He would have learnt from that experience and with the natural improvement that can be expected, he should not be easily overlooked.

Race 6

KANGAROO COURT had nothing go his way when finishing seventh on debut over six furlongs, 3.2L behind the winner. He hung out approaching the home turn and cornered the widest of them all into the home straight, before being hampered shortly thereafter and lost all interest in racing from that point. He would have learnt from that experience and with the natural improvement that can be expected, he could be the one that they all have to beat and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card. He is drawn in gate seven and hails from a powerful yard. Two 3yr old fillies could chase him home with the slight preference going to

BALLON BLEU who has consistent formlines to her name, finishing fourth last time out over seven furlongs, just over one and a half lengths back from the winner. She jumped awkwardly on that occasion and came four wide into the home stretch, before staying on well over the closing stages. She will have to overcome a wide gate sixteen, but she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy and emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice.

SERENE NIC finished seventh first time out over six furlongs and then made the expected improvement to end up in third place next time out over seven furlongs, just over a half-length off the victor. She raced three wide without cover that day and despite having to negotiate draw twelve, she should be involved in the finish.

Race 7

There are four unraced runners in the field, so, as with the first leg of the day’s Jackpot, the same comment in respect of keeping an eye on the betting moves applies here as well. SUPER STORY hung in on the home turn and was then hampered at the 400M pole before ending up in third place last time out over 1100M, 4.7L adrift of the victor. He would have come on with that run under his belt and from gate six, he could find himself in the winner’s box at the second time of asking. A 4yr old and a 3yr old filly could be the ones to follow him home.

DOT COM has finished third in her last three outings, the latest over 1300M, three lengths behind the winner and came four wide approaching the home turn before making good late progress over the latter stages. She returns from a 28-week spell without having had the benefit of a barrier trial, so her fitness will have to be taken on trust and is drawn the widest of them all in gate eighteen, but she should be right up there when they hit the line.

PRESS LIGHTLY has her first run after a shorter 22-week rest and has also not had a barrier trial, but she finished third first time out over six furlongs, 1.2L behind the winner, this after being hampered at the jump. She found herself towards the back of the field after that incident, but delivered a powerful finish of the closing stages. She faces a wide draw fourteen, but she is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and then start to pick off the front runners over the latter part of the race and should be included in all bets.

Race 8

The day’s value bet, EXTRA FLASH has consistent formlines to his name and jumped awkwardly and did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight, only seeing daylight at the 250M mark when finishing fifth last time out over five furlongs, three lengths back from the winner. That was at a stronger centre and the gelding has finished fifth in a subsequent barrier trial. From a useful gate four, he could prove hard to topple.

A GUINEA is drawn one inside the former and followed up his penultimate run victory over five furlongs with a fourth spot finish next time out over 1100M, 1.3L behind the winner when returning from a 14-week rest. He raced wide throughout in that contest, but nevertheless still managed to finish off his race well.

MOETTA is a 6yr old mare taking on the boys, but she showed plenty of toe when finishing second in her latest outing over 1100M, beaten a short-head in the shadow of the post. She has pulled a wide gate twelve, but on the plus side, she will get 2kgs taken off her back thanks to her claiming apprentice.