Winning Form share all of their best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Canterbury on 5 January 2024.
Best Bet: BANGETTA (Race 6)
Value Bet: AMNESTY (Race 8)
Jackpot (race 5 – 8)
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
1 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
2 | 8 | 1 | 2 |
7 |
| 8 | 12 |
Cost: R54.00
Race 5
ROMA AVENUE goes for his hat-trick after victories over seven furlongs and the latest over nine furlongs when putting 3.8L between himself and the opposition. He went from jump to wire that day and the result was never in doubt from the 300M mark. The gelding gets a handy draw two and will have non-claiming apprentice, Zac Lloyd, son of ex-SA champion jockey, Jeff Lloyd in the irons to aid his cause.
EDMOND won over seven furlongs three runs back, finished third in his penultimate start over 1500M and then second in his latest outing over a mile, 1.3L behind the winner, but he raced tight at the 1000M mark before making good late progress over the closing stages, suggesting that he should appreciate the extra ground on offer today. The gelding jumps from gate six and should be right up there when they hit the wire.
THE ENGLISHMAN followed up his penultimate run victory over nine furlongs with a fifth-place finish next time out over the same c&d, four lengths adrift of the winner, but he was slow away that day, was hampered at the 200M mark and then finished well after switching to get a clear run at the 150M pole. From his useful gate four, he should be included in all bets.
Race 6
BANGETTA has won two of her last three starts, the latest victory coming over seven furlongs by 1.8L. She had to be checked at the 800M mark before delivering a powerful finish to win going away. She has pulled draw five and will be hoping to chalk up her third career win here and is taken to be the bets bet on the day’s card.
MARE OF MT BULLER has only had two runs to date, finishing fourth on debut over 1300M and then showing the expected improvement to win by 0.8L next time out over seven furlongs. She was returning from a 23-week break that day and would have come on further with that run under her belt. The filly has a cozy draw two and could be the biggest danger to the top pick.
CIREBON showed good improvement to win her last outing over 1300M by two and a half lengths when having her second run for her new trainer and returning from a 17-week rest. She sat just behind the leaders in that event and then accelerated smartly for a comfortable win. She jumps from gate six and should be involved in the finish.
Race 7
TARAASHOQ raced just behind the speed and struck the front at the 300M mark, but was nabbed late to end up in third spot last time out over a mile, just over three and a half lengths adrift of the victor. The gelding has gate four and should enjoy the drop in trip. Although
IMRAHOR is recorded as finishing twelfth last time out over seven furlongs, he was just 3.7L behind the winner and was immediately rested for 27 weeks. He returns here after having had the benefit of a barrier trial and from his handy draw two and with 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice, he should be right up there when they hit the line.
SOPHIA’S MAGIC is a 6-year-old mare taking on the boys and has finished closer to the winner in each of her last three starts, the latest when ending up in fifth spot over seven furlongs, 2.3L behind the winner. She was returning from a 16 week rest on that occasion and was bumped at the start, came five wide into the home straight, before having to be eased at the 200M pole, so she had her excuses. The mare has pulled gate seven and should not be easily discarded.
Race 8
The day’s value bet, AMNESTY is seldom far off the action and was returning from a 21-week spell when finishing sixth last time out over six furlongs, just three and a half lengths back from the winner. She is a 4-year-old filly taking on males, but she jumped awkwardly in that contest bumping another runner, but recovered quickly to pick up the lead, before ultimately being run down late. She has gate five and will have 2kgs removed from her allocated weight courtesy of her claiming apprentice.
CHIEF CONDUCTOR won his penultimate start over 1100M and then finished seventh next time out over six furlongs, 4.2L behind the winner, but he was bumped at the start before trying to go from gun to tape. His jockey did, however, report that he felt something amiss with his mount and did not persevere with his ride, so that effort is best ignored. The gelding will have to negotiate gate eight, but he is not without a chance here.
DAKOTA VROOM is another 4-year-old filly in the race. She did not get the clearest of passages in the home straight, only seeing daylight at the 200M mark before finishing well, ending up in fifth place last time out over seven furlongs, two and a half lengths behind the winner. She has her first run after a 21-week absence but did finish fifth in her only barrier trial. The filly has pulled gate six and could complete the trifecta.
