Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Coffs Harbour on 29 December 2023.
Best Bet: BURDEKIN (Race 5)
Value Bet: KEVIN MCKEEN (Race 8)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
6 | 10 | 5 | 4 |
5 | 3 | 11 | 3 |
| 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 |
|
|
| 17 |
|
|
Cost: R90.00
Race 5
BURDEKIN had his consistency rewarded with a one-length victory last time out over six furlongs. He delivered a powerful finish from well back to record a well-timed victory and from a handy draw three, he will be looking to chalk up his fifth career win. As such, he is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
OLAKAU’ATU was slow away, finding himself towards the back of the field and then had to weave his way through traffic in the home straight, but still managed to win his last start over seven furlongs, by just under a half-length. He returns from a 16-week rest without having had the benefit of a barrier trial, so his fitness will have to be taken on trust, but from gate five, he could emerge as the biggest danger to the top choice.
KAPSALI is the stable companion to the top choice and was slow away, overraced in the early stages, before coming the widest of them all into the home stretch when ending up in seventh place last time out over 1500M, 3.3L off the winner. The gelding returns from a 22-week break, but has finished third in his only barrier trial to showcase his well-being and from one gate outside the latter, he should be involved in the finish and makes a solid back-up for the yard.
Race 6
There are two unraced runners in the field, so keep an eye on the betting markets to determine whether any of the connections believes that they can win first time out. Any betting support for either, or both, should be respected. Of the raced runners, COOL MACHINE may prove to be the best, but this also looks to be a tricky race with plenty of runners in with a realistic chance of finding the winner’s box, so some caution is suggested. She is a 3-year-old filly taking on the boys, but she showed plenty of toe when finishing fifth on debut over six furlongs, two 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 has her first run after a 22 weeks, but she did win her only barrier trial. The filly faces a wide gate fifteen, but she should use her early gate speed to move across without expending too much energy.
THE RIDDLER had not finished too far off the action before being a tad disappointing when slow away and over racing to finish sixth in his latest outing over 1500M, 7.8L adrift of the victor and was immediately moved to another yard. He has his first run for his new trainer and returns from a 23-week spell, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials. The gelding will have to overcome an even wider draw sixteen, but if fully settled into his new surroundings, he should give a good account of himself here.
OOJAH CAPOW stayed on well from some way back when ending up in fourth spot last time out over five furlongs, just over four lengths behind the winner. He is not drawn that much better in gate fourteen, but he should be doing his best work late.
Race 7
MORE FOR US had finished second in his two runs prior to winning his latest outing over a mile, albeit by just a short-head. He jumped awkwardly in that event, but finished off his race strongly to get up in the shadow of the post. The gelding has pulled gate seven, and will be looking to chalk up a quick double.
ROSE BETWEEN THORN is a 4-year-old filly taking on males, but she has won two of her last three runs, the latest over seven furlongs by a short-head. She raced three wide in that contest, but finished strongly over the latter stages. From her kinder draw two, she should be right up there when they hit the line.
IDEEL HERO has finished closer to the winner in each of his last three starts, the latest when overracing throughout, but still managing to battle all the way down to the wire to finish third over 1900M, 2.3L behind the winner. He resumes after a 17-week absence, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials and from a useful draw four and should be included in all bets.
Race 8
The day’s value bet, KEVIN MCKEEN showed plenty of speed to win by a short-head from the front when making his debut over five furlongs. He gets a cozy draw two and whilst taking on stronger here, he may well be up to the task at hand.
A 4-year-old filly and a 5-year-old mare could chase him home, with the slight preference going to MONOPOLY GIRL, who had her consistency rewarded with a head victory last time out over 1500M. She was bumped at the start, but recovered quickly to take up the lead and then fought off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. She returns from an 11 week rest, but did finish sixth in her only barrier trial. The filly has pulled gate five and should turn in another honest performance today.
EXTRA SMART finished seventh over seven furlongs, just under eight and a half lengths behind the winner when having her first run for her new stable. She would have come on further with that run under her belt and although drawn wideish in gate eight, she should not be lightly dismissed.
