Australian racing tips – Friday 8 July 2022 – Rockhampton

Best Bet: BOLD AND LUCY (Race 6)

Value Bet: NUMBERS GAME (Race 8)

Jackpot (race 5 – 8).

Cost: R54.00  

Race 5.

YULONG SOVEREIGN goes for his hat-trick after two wins over today’s sprint trip, the latest by 0.8L. He showed plenty of toe that day and then held off all the late challengers in the dash down to the wire. The form of that race has stood up well with two runners out of that contest subsequently winning. The gelding gets a wideish gate eight, but should be right up there when they hit the line.

MILL ROSSA has yet to miss the first three places in his twelve runs to date and lost out on his hat-trick when staying on well to finish third last time out over six furlongs, 3.8L behind the winner. He gets a handy draw four and will have 2kgs taken off his back thanks to his claiming apprentice.

THE LIONESS is a 4yr old filly taking on the boys, but she is a five-time winner from ten starts and has won two of her last three outings, the latest over 1300M by a head. She returns from a 20 week rest, but has had the benefit of two barrier trials, winning the latest. She jumps from gate seven and will have ex-SA jockey Robbie Fradd in the irons, so will get all the necessary assistance from the saddle.

Race 6.

BOLD AND LUCY has won two of her last three runs, the latest when putting 3.3L between herself and the opposition. She delivered a powerful finish over the closing stages of that race and despite facing the widest draw of them all in gate ten, she should be doing her best work late and is taken to be the best bet on the day’s card.

DREAM DECISION on the other hand has cracked pole position and has her hat-trick run after wins over 1300M and the latest over 1100M, albeit by just a short-head. She was returning from a 22 week break that day and could emerge as the biggest threat to the top choice.

STARHATTAN had her consistency rewarded with a head victory last time out over six furlongs, notwithstanding jumping awkwardly. She finished off her race strongly in that contest and from draw three, she should be involved in the finish.

Race 7.

With the late scratching of one of his main rivals, the door may have opened for PALLADAS to chalk up his fourth career victory. He had solid form prior to being a tad disappointing last time out, finishing eleventh over 1300M, just under five and a half lengths back from the winner, but he was slow away that day and was also stuck out wide the whole way, so understandably has little to offer over the latter stages of the race. He has pulled gate seven and will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways today.

AMMOUDI BAY goes for his hat-trick after victories over 1100M and the latest, a one length win over six furlongs. He had to be held up turning for home that day, but then kicked clear of the field at the 200M mark. He faces a wide draw eleven out of thirteen, but given his style of racing, he is likely to be dropped out of it in the early stages and then start to pick off the front runners over the closing stages of the race.

VINCO is the stable companion to the top choice who followed up his penultimate run victory over 1500M with a tenth place finish last time out over 1300M, just a length off the winner. The gelding was slow away that day and had to be steadied at the 100M mark and then did not get a clear passage from then to the winning post, so that effort is best ignored. He jumps from a wideish gate eight, but he makes a solid back-up for the yard.

Race 8.

The day’s value bet, NUMBERS GAME faulted at the 150M pole and then hung in from that point before ending up in fifth spot last time out over 1300M, just under four and a half lengths behind the winner and the form of that race has been franked. He has his first run for his new trainer, but did win his only barrier trial and, if fully settled into his new surroundings, he should give a good account of himself here to give Robbie Fradd his second win in the day’s Jackpot.

ARGYLE PINK is a 3yr old filly taking on males, but she won her maiden race last time out over six furlongs by half a length when returning from a 21 week rest. She was bumped at the 200M mark that day, but recovered quickly to chase down the frontrunners close to home. She will have to negotiate gate nine, but all the same, she should be a big runner in this line-up.

BARNEY’S BLAZE has consistent formlines to his name, winning his penultimate run over 1100M at this track and then finishing second last time out over six furlongs, one length back from the winner. He came four wide into the home stretch that day, but then made good late progress over the latter stages, suggesting that he should appreciate the extra ground on offer today. He gets a set of blinkers re-fitted for today’s run and if these have the desired effect, he should be a big runner here, jumping from his useful draw three.