Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Orange on 30 December 2022.
Best Bet: LISTEN TO THE BAND (Race 5)
Value Bet: ENZINA (Race 7)
Jackpot (race 4 – 7)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
13 | 4 | 6 | 1 |
15 | 1 | 7 | 8 |
4 |
| 4 | 4 |
5 |
|
|
|
12 |
|
|
|
Cost: R90.00
Race 4
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 SEMINARA may well prove to be the best. She is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she was hampered at the 200M mark before staying on well to finish third last time out over six furlongs, 3.3L behind the winner and the form of that race has been franked. She is drawn wide in gate nine and has her first run for her new trainer. If fully settled into her new surroundings, she should give a good account of herself here.
PETROGRAD is a 3yr old filly who has finished closer to the winner in each of her last three runs, the latest when fifth over 1100M, three lengths adrift of the victor. She raced green the whole way around and had to be eased at the 800M mark, so that effort was encouraging. She gets draw seven and will be having her peak run after returning from a 30-week break.
LIFE’S A PARTY is another 4yr old filly in the race. She makes her debut after winning her only barrier trial and whilst facing a wide gate twelve, she won’t have to be a superstar to win here.
Race 5
LISTEN TO THE BAND has only had the four runs to date, but he put five lengths between himself and the opposition when winning his maiden race last time out over five furlongs and the form of that race has been franked. He was returning from a 127-week spell that day and the fact that his connections have brought him back into racing after such a lengthy absence would seem to suggest that they believe that he still has something more to offer them. He has cracked pole position and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.
NO DEBT showed solid improvement to win his last start over five furlongs by two and a half lengths when returning from a 24-week break. He will have to negotiate a wide draw nine, but on the plus side, he will get 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.
EAST HARLEM finished sixth first time out over 1100M and then made the expected improvement to win his next outing over the same sprint trip, albeit by just a head. The gelding was returning from a 20-week rest on that occasion and struck the front at the 200M mark and then just lasted long enough to claim victory. From a useful gate two, he should be involved in the finish.
Race 6
LARYNX has finished third in three of his last five runs, the latest over seven furlongs, just a length off the winner, but he hung out in the home straight that day, so should have finished closer to the winner than he is officially recorded.
SEA TREASURES tried to go from jump to wire when ending up in fifth place last time out over a mile, 3.8L adrift of the victor. He has his first run for his new trainer and gets a cosy draw three. If fully acclimatized in his new environment, he should keep the top pick honest.
DOM TYCOON stayed on well when showing marked improvement to finish fourth in his latest outing over seven furlongs, just over two lengths behind the winner. He will have to deal with a wide gate ten, but if he is able to confirm that last effort, he should not be easily overlooked in this line-up.
Race 7
Two 3yr old fillies could fight out the finish to this race and complete the exacta, but the day’s value bet, ENZINA is taken to lead the field home. She is seldom far off the action, finishing second last time out over six furlongs, one and a half lengths back from the winner. She showed plenty of toe that day and then battled all the way down to the wire. She jumps from a handy gate four and will have 3kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice.
COVALENT is drawn in gate two and followed up her penultimate run victory over 1300M with a second spot finish next time out over the same journey, just a half lengths back from the winner, but she had to be steadied off the heels of other runners at the 800M pole on that occasion. She struck the front at the 150M mark and was only snared very late.
SIZZLE MINIZZLE is in turn drawn one outside the latter and has consistent formlines to his name. The gelding sat just behind the leaders before making his move in the home stretch, only to fail by a head in the shadow of the post, finishing second last time out over 1300M. He gets a set of blinkers fitted for the first time and if these have the desired effect, he should be a big runner here.
